A Global Mission

The mission of the Ocean Census is to accelerate the discovery of ocean life to advance fundamental science, empower conservation, and fuel innovation for the future of our planet.

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Gallery

Phylum

OC-SP-0003295

Species ID

OC-SP-0003295

Discovered

Phylum

Mollusca

Species ID

OC-SP-0003295

Accepted Binomial Name

Aplus dissimilis

Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS

Aplus

Lowest Known Rank

Genus

Status

Discovered

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Embargo

No

Embargo End Date

10/04/2027

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Mollusca

Class

Gastropoda

Order

Neogastropoda

Family

Pisaniidae

Genus

Aplus

Date Identified

01/01/2025

Taxonomic Remarks

Aplus scacchianus (R. A. Philippi, 1844) is the species most similar to the new taxon described herein. Both possess shells with rounded whorls and numerous but relatively weak primary spiral cords compared with the other members of the genus. A. scacchianus differs by its smaller size (~9–15 mm vs. ~14–22 mm), a blunt and white coloured with orange dots protoconch tinged with orange dots, sculptured with weak spiral ribs, and its pattern in the teleoconch consisting of a yellowish background with discontinuous black spiral lines across the secondary cords, accompanied by black and white granules at the intersections of the spiral and axial sculpture. In contrast, A. dissimilis n. sp. typically possesses a very slender protoconch and a teleoconch with a monochromatic background featuring a white spiral band. However, A. scacchianus exhibits a wide chromatic variability, with specimens ranging from having a whitish background to very dark colouration. In the latter case, they may closely resemble small, thick specimens of A. dissimilis. In such cases, the shape and sculpture of the protoconch, in combination with the sculpture of the teleoconch, leave no doubt as to the correct identification.

Received All Minimal Data for Discovery

10/04/2026

Scientific Name Authorship

Nappo & Stahlschmidt

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