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Species ID
OC-SP-0002292
Discovered
Phylum
Mollusca
Species ID
OC-SP-0002292
Provisional Species Name
Melanella sp_MNHNCL MOL 205494
Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS
Melanella
Lowest Known Rank
Genus
Status
Discovered
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Embargo
No
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Littorinimorpha
Family
Eulimidae
Genus
Melanella
Date Identified
01/02/2026
Taxonomic Remarks
The present material is assigned to Melanella sp. nov. and differs from the only species currently reported from the Magellanic region, Melanella subantarctica (Strebel, 1908), in several consistent shell characters. The new species shows a more elongate and slender shell with approximately eight whorls, whereas M. subantarctica has been described as possessing about seven whorls. The whorls are weakly convex and regularly increasing in size, producing a more evenly tapering spire. The body whorl is proportionally smaller, occupying less than 50% of the total shell length, while in M. subantarctica the last whorl is relatively larger. The aperture is correspondingly shorter and narrower. In addition, the columellar region is less broadly rounded, forming a more oblique and comparatively acute columellar–basal transition than in M. subantarctica, where the basal region is more obtuse.
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
05/03/2026
Description of Material
Slender, elongate and glossy, thin and moderately translucent, pale horn-coloured to yellowish-white. Spire high and regularly tapering; profile nearly straight. Whorls about eight, only slightly convex, separated by shallow but distinct sutures. Protoconch small, smooth, bluntly rounded, clearly set off from the teleoconch. Teleoconch whorls smooth; sculpture absent except for very faint growth lines and weak incremental marks. Last whorl is relatively short, occupying less than half of the total shell length, only weakly inflated and narrowing gradually toward the base. Aperture elongate-ovate and narrow, aperture length less than half of total shell length. Outer lip thin and simple, weakly curved in profile. Columella smooth and nearly straight, slightly oblique; transition between the columellar region and basal margin forming a relatively acute angle. Basal margin gently curved, not expanded. Umbilicus absent. Surface smooth and glossy throughout, without spiral or axial sculpture. Shell translucent, especially on the last whorl.
Distribution
Known only in the Magellan region
Scientific Name Authorship
Rosenfeld
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