Stacked from 23 images. Method=B (R=8,S=4)
Stacked from 22 images. Method=B (R=8,S=4)
Species ID
OC-SP-0002589
Discovered
Phylum
Mollusca
Species ID
OC-SP-0002589
Provisional Species Name
Zafra sp_MNHN_IM_2000_40434
Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS
Zafra
Lowest Known Rank
Genus
Status
Discovered
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Embargo
No
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Neogastropoda
Family
Columbellidae
Genus
Zafra
Taxonomic Remarks
This species is close to Zafra fijiensis Monsecour & Raines, 2024. It differs from this species by its smooth upper teleoconch whorls, more obese shell shape with straigher whorls, less clear sinus and a different color pattern. Zafra obesula (Hervier, 1900) has more or less the same color pattern, but differs in having a multispiral protoconch, axial ribs on all whorls, a less elongate aperture and a higher number of denticles on the inside of the outer lip. Zafra hahajimana (Pilsbry, 1904) shares the smooth first axial whorls with the new species, but is bigger, has a multispiral protoconch and less straight whorls.
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
01/04/2026
Description of Material
Shell of average for the genus, adult size up to 2.4 mm; fusifom, elongate. Rather straight whorls. Suture slightly impressed. Protoconch paucispiral, consisting of about 1.3 smooth whorls. Transition to teleoconch very weak. Teleoconch consisting of about 3.7 whorls. Axial sculpture absent ont the first teleoconch whorls. Starting during the penultimate whorl and clearly present on the last whorl. This axial sculpture consists of close set axial ribs with narrow interspaces. There are about 20 of these axial ribs on the last whorl. On the last quarter of the last whorl there ribs become very weak and become obsolete closer to the aperture, there they are only visible on the adapical side of the whorl. Spiral sculpture absent, apart from the basal cords, which ventrally range to about 2/3 of the columellar height. Aperture typical for the genus: narrow and elongate, about 50% of shell height. Outside of outer lip slightly thickened, with the continuation of the basal cords on the abapical end. Inside of outer lip with a weak sinus on the adapical end and a row of 7-8 denticles near the edge of the lip. Adapical most denticles strong, the most most abapical very weak. Columellar callus clearly present, slightly raised, with a ridge of semi-merged denticles. Parietal callus rather thick. Siphonal canal short, open, slightly recurved. First teleoconch whorl off-white to cream without pattern. Second whorl irrgularly white whith cream, with a white dashed line just above the suture. Last whorl slightly translucent with a white zone just below the suture. Just below this zone is a dashed alternating brown- white line. Further on this whorl there are orange-brown spots. On the adapical end of the basal cords is another alternating white-brown dashed line. Aperture white with deeper the colors of the last whorl shining through. Columella white. Protoconch white with a brown spot near the nucleus. Height of holotype: 2.3 mm
Ecology
Direct developing species with paucispiral protoconch, so non planctotrophic larvae. Most likely endemic.
Distribution
MNHN SPANBIOS expedition: stn DW5137, 20°16,8’S, 163°51,9’E, 289-325m, 2 dd (holotype incl); stn DW5153, 20°06,5’S, 163°45,4’E, 262-292m, 1 dd; stn DW5271, 20°33,8’S, 164°53,5’E, 420-474m, 1dd.
Scientific Name Authorship
Monsecour, Kevin
Stacked from 23 images. Method=B (R=8,S=4)
Stacked from 22 images. Method=B (R=8,S=4)
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