Geographic map of the records.

Contexts in source publication

Context 1

... with ARA at 26 m depth, 4 sh. (DS); Catania "Armisi", shell grit collected with ARA at 20 m depth, 2 sh. (DS). Skerke Bank, "Secca del Kait", 60 miles SE of Marettimo Island E), an ancient toponym which designates the first rocky place of the city northern to the harbor, and Capomulini (37°34'30"N, 15°10'33"E), at depths between 20 and 50 m (Fig. 1). Sediments containing materials utilized in the present study were collected from sandy gravel, detritic, pre-coralligenous bottoms, rich in mud, in different circumstances: a part was taken manually during SCUBA divings with ARA, using a hand-towed net of 1 mm mesh size and another part was sampled on soft substrates by a 15 litres ...

Context 2

... mm); H = maximum height (in mm); h = height of last whorl; coll. = collection; sh. = shell/s without soft parts inside; sp. = living collected specimen/s; DS= Danilo Scuderi collection (Catania, Italy); FA = Franco Agamennone collection (Pescara, Italy); MT = Morena (Trapani), July 1997, in shell-grit, 37 m (Giovanni Pesaresi legit), 2 sh. (FA) (Fig. ...

Context 3

... The whorl width increases quickly in the initial teleoconch whorls, more slowly on the following ones. Under stereomicroscope, in fresh specimens, with transverse reflection light, the surface of the teleoconch whorls appears rutted by very faint dense spirals and less dense growth lines, which cross themselves and form a net-like reticulum (Fig. 10), while SEM photograph ( Fig. 9) shows a completely smooth surface. Suture shallow but well distinct, of slightly variable depth. False suture (grayish subsutural area) occupying about 33% of the whorl height. Last whorl regularly rounded at the periphery. The aperture is small compared to the whole shell, pyriform, not protruding ...

Context 4

... living mollusc (Fig. 14 based on specimen of Fig. 13) is whitish as background colour and bears characteristic yellow lines: one is visible through the shell just under the false suture of the body whorl; two are parallel from just below the eyes to almost the tip of the cephalic tentacles, which remain white, other two run parallel from the tail to the ...

Context 5

... living mollusc (Fig. 14 based on specimen of Fig. 13) is whitish as background colour and bears characteristic yellow lines: one is visible through the shell just under the false suture of the body whorl; two are parallel from just below the eyes to almost the tip of the cephalic tentacles, which remain white, other two run parallel from the tail to the middle of the foot, where they form ...

Context 6

... main morphs could be distinguished among shells of the new species. Some shells (Fig. 2) are smaller, stouter, thicker, apparently more globose than others, due to the lower teleoconch whorls (e.g. paratype 1, Fig. 11), with a h/H ratio around 0.57. Others (Fig. 3) are bigger, slender and with a tapered spire and a h/H ratio around 0.49 (e.g. holotype and sp. in Fig. 12). Both the morphs have a h/H ratio less than the most similar congeners. These specimens are here interpreted as sexual dimorphism, as ascertained for other species of Melanella ( ...

Context 7

... be distinguished among shells of the new species. Some shells (Fig. 2) are smaller, stouter, thicker, apparently more globose than others, due to the lower teleoconch whorls (e.g. paratype 1, Fig. 11), with a h/H ratio around 0.57. Others (Fig. 3) are bigger, slender and with a tapered spire and a h/H ratio around 0.49 (e.g. holotype and sp. in Fig. 12). Both the morphs have a h/H ratio less than the most similar congeners. These specimens are here interpreted as sexual dimorphism, as ascertained for other species of Melanella ( Warén, 1984): since we could not verify this with an anatomical dissection, we can only suppose that, similarly to other species, the stouter are male, while ...

Context 8

... after being compared with the most similar Mediterranean species, comparisons of the new species with extra-Mediterranean representatives of these genera were performed to exclude or, at least limit, a possible case of alien introduction. Figures 2, 3. Sketches of shell outline of paratype 1 ( Fig. 2: probably male, 3.8 mm) and of sp. in Fig. 12 from Skerke Bank (Fig. 3: probably female, 5.85 mm). Fig. 14: drawing of the external soft parts of the specimen in Fig. 13. Figures 15-17. M. petitiana. Fig. 15: live collected specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.1 mm (DS). Fig. 16: SEM photograph of the protoconch of the same specimen. Fig. 17: drawing of the external soft parts of ...

Context 9

... species, comparisons of the new species with extra-Mediterranean representatives of these genera were performed to exclude or, at least limit, a possible case of alien introduction. Figures 2, 3. Sketches of shell outline of paratype 1 ( Fig. 2: probably male, 3.8 mm) and of sp. in Fig. 12 from Skerke Bank (Fig. 3: probably female, 5.85 mm). Fig. 14: drawing of the external soft parts of the specimen in Fig. 13. Figures 15-17. M. petitiana. Fig. 15: live collected specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.1 mm (DS). Fig. 16: SEM photograph of the protoconch of the same specimen. Fig. 17: drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen. Figures 18-20. M. boscii. Fig. 18: shell, ...

Context 10

... representatives of these genera were performed to exclude or, at least limit, a possible case of alien introduction. Figures 2, 3. Sketches of shell outline of paratype 1 ( Fig. 2: probably male, 3.8 mm) and of sp. in Fig. 12 from Skerke Bank (Fig. 3: probably female, 5.85 mm). Fig. 14: drawing of the external soft parts of the specimen in Fig. 13. Figures 15-17. M. petitiana. Fig. 15: live collected specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.1 mm (DS). Fig. 16: SEM photograph of the protoconch of the same specimen. Fig. 17: drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen. Figures 18-20. M. boscii. Fig. 18: shell, Cannizzaro, H: 5.1 mm (MT); Fig. 19: living specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: ...

Context 11

... were performed to exclude or, at least limit, a possible case of alien introduction. Figures 2, 3. Sketches of shell outline of paratype 1 ( Fig. 2: probably male, 3.8 mm) and of sp. in Fig. 12 from Skerke Bank (Fig. 3: probably female, 5.85 mm). Fig. 14: drawing of the external soft parts of the specimen in Fig. 13. Figures 15-17. M. petitiana. Fig. 15: live collected specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.1 mm (DS). Fig. 16: SEM photograph of the protoconch of the same specimen. Fig. 17: drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen. Figures 18-20. M. boscii. Fig. 18: shell, Cannizzaro, H: 5.1 mm (MT); Fig. 19: living specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.8 mm (DS); Fig. 20. ...

Context 12

... introduction. Figures 2, 3. Sketches of shell outline of paratype 1 ( Fig. 2: probably male, 3.8 mm) and of sp. in Fig. 12 from Skerke Bank (Fig. 3: probably female, 5.85 mm). Fig. 14: drawing of the external soft parts of the specimen in Fig. 13. Figures 15-17. M. petitiana. Fig. 15: live collected specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.1 mm (DS). Fig. 16: SEM photograph of the protoconch of the same specimen. Fig. 17: drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen. Figures 18-20. M. boscii. Fig. 18: shell, Cannizzaro, H: 5.1 mm (MT); Fig. 19: living specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.8 mm (DS); Fig. 20. drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen ...

Context 13

... 1 ( Fig. 2: probably male, 3.8 mm) and of sp. in Fig. 12 from Skerke Bank (Fig. 3: probably female, 5.85 mm). Fig. 14: drawing of the external soft parts of the specimen in Fig. 13. Figures 15-17. M. petitiana. Fig. 15: live collected specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.1 mm (DS). Fig. 16: SEM photograph of the protoconch of the same specimen. Fig. 17: drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen. Figures 18-20. M. boscii. Fig. 18: shell, Cannizzaro, H: 5.1 mm (MT); Fig. 19: living specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.8 mm (DS); Fig. 20. drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen ...

Context 14

... 17: drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen. Figures 18-20. M. boscii. ...

Context 15

... female, 5.85 mm). Fig. 14: drawing of the external soft parts of the specimen in Fig. 13. Figures 15-17. M. petitiana. Fig. 15: live collected specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.1 mm (DS). Fig. 16: SEM photograph of the protoconch of the same specimen. Fig. 17: drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen. Figures 18-20. M. boscii. Fig. 18: shell, Cannizzaro, H: 5.1 mm (MT); Fig. 19: living specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.8 mm (DS); Fig. 20. drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen ...

Context 16

... external soft parts of the specimen in Fig. 13. Figures 15-17. M. petitiana. Fig. 15: live collected specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.1 mm (DS). Fig. 16: SEM photograph of the protoconch of the same specimen. Fig. 17: drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen. Figures 18-20. M. boscii. Fig. 18: shell, Cannizzaro, H: 5.1 mm (MT); Fig. 19: living specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.8 mm (DS); Fig. 20. drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen ...

Context 17

... but they are only apparent, being the microsculpture only an optical illusion due, like in other species of this family (Waren, 1984), to light reflections on aragonite components of the shell. Melanella cyclopia was first reported as M. sp. from the type area ( Scuderi et al., 2006) on the basis of the finding of a single specimen (paratype 1, Fig. 11) found at Aci Castello, at a depth of 30 m which later was supposed to belong to a morphological variation of M. petitiana (Scuderi & Criscione, 2011), this latter being relatively common in the area. But M. petitiana is a well-known species, on which interpretation of all Authors concur. It is widely distributed from the Mediterranean ...

Context 18

... to the close similar and sympatric M. petitiana (Figs. 15, 16), the new species is more solid, with a pupoid (spire angle 45°) instead of almost cylindrical outline (spire angle 38°), the whorls are lower (H/W = 2.39 vs. 2.73 in M. petitiana, see Fig. 21), the outer lip only slightly protrudes from teleoconch profile, while in M. petitiana it well protrudes. The body-whorl (h) occupies a larger ...

Context 19

... to the close similar and sympatric M. petitiana (Figs. 15, 16), the new species is more solid, with a pupoid (spire angle 45°) instead of almost cylindrical outline (spire angle 38°), the whorls are lower (H/W = 2.39 vs. 2.73 in M. petitiana, see Fig. 21), the outer lip only slightly protrudes from teleoconch profile, while in M. petitiana it well protrudes. The body-whorl (h) occupies a larger part of the total shell height (54.65% vs. 50.81% in M. petitiana, see Fig. 22), and the columella is more angulate in the middle. Moreover the protoconch of the new species has about 3 whorls ...

Context 20

... new species differs from M. boscii (Payraudeau, 1826) (Figs. 18, 19) for the smaller dimensions, the cylindrical instead of conical apex, the much slower growth in height and width (narrower spire angle) and the more convex whorls. Moreover the shell of M. boscii is heavier, the columella shows a more expanded parietal callus and a thicker external ...

Context 21

... genus Mucronalia comprises three completely white species and two with coloured bands, the other species being considered not correctly placed in this genus ( Takano et al., 2019). Mucronalia oxytenes Melvill, 1904 is figured in Melvill (1904, pl. X, fig. 10), from deep waters (285 m depth) from an area comprised between the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea (Melvill, 1904). The original drawing shows a little rotate shell, therefore the outline is difficult to compare, but it is a thin shell with not thickened external lip. Mucronalia lepida Melvill, 1906, figured in ...

Context 22

... with ARA at 26 m depth, 4 sh. (DS); Catania "Armisi", shell grit collected with ARA at 20 m depth, 2 sh. (DS). Skerke Bank, "Secca del Kait", 60 miles SE of Marettimo Island E), an ancient toponym which designates the first rocky place of the city northern to the harbor, and Capomulini (37°34'30"N, 15°10'33"E), at depths between 20 and 50 m (Fig. 1). Sediments containing materials utilized in the present study were collected from sandy gravel, detritic, pre-coralligenous bottoms, rich in mud, in different circumstances: a part was taken manually during SCUBA divings with ARA, using a hand-towed net of 1 mm mesh size and another part was sampled on soft substrates by a 15 litres ...

Context 23

... mm); H = maximum height (in mm); h = height of last whorl; coll. = collection; sh. = shell/s without soft parts inside; sp. = living collected specimen/s; DS= Danilo Scuderi collection (Catania, Italy); FA = Franco Agamennone collection (Pescara, Italy); MT = Morena (Trapani), July 1997, in shell-grit, 37 m (Giovanni Pesaresi legit), 2 sh. (FA) (Fig. ...

Context 24

... The whorl width increases quickly in the initial teleoconch whorls, more slowly on the following ones. Under stereomicroscope, in fresh specimens, with transverse reflection light, the surface of the teleoconch whorls appears rutted by very faint dense spirals and less dense growth lines, which cross themselves and form a net-like reticulum (Fig. 10), while SEM photograph ( Fig. 9) shows a completely smooth surface. Suture shallow but well distinct, of slightly variable depth. False suture (grayish subsutural area) occupying about 33% of the whorl height. Last whorl regularly rounded at the periphery. The aperture is small compared to the whole shell, pyriform, not protruding ...

Context 25

... living mollusc (Fig. 14 based on specimen of Fig. 13) is whitish as background colour and bears characteristic yellow lines: one is visible through the shell just under the false suture of the body whorl; two are parallel from just below the eyes to almost the tip of the cephalic tentacles, which remain white, other two run parallel from the tail to the ...

Context 26

... living mollusc (Fig. 14 based on specimen of Fig. 13) is whitish as background colour and bears characteristic yellow lines: one is visible through the shell just under the false suture of the body whorl; two are parallel from just below the eyes to almost the tip of the cephalic tentacles, which remain white, other two run parallel from the tail to the middle of the foot, where they form ...

Context 27

... main morphs could be distinguished among shells of the new species. Some shells (Fig. 2) are smaller, stouter, thicker, apparently more globose than others, due to the lower teleoconch whorls (e.g. paratype 1, Fig. 11), with a h/H ratio around 0.57. Others (Fig. 3) are bigger, slender and with a tapered spire and a h/H ratio around 0.49 (e.g. holotype and sp. in Fig. 12). Both the morphs have a h/H ratio less than the most similar congeners. These specimens are here interpreted as sexual dimorphism, as ascertained for other species of Melanella ( ...

Context 28

... be distinguished among shells of the new species. Some shells (Fig. 2) are smaller, stouter, thicker, apparently more globose than others, due to the lower teleoconch whorls (e.g. paratype 1, Fig. 11), with a h/H ratio around 0.57. Others (Fig. 3) are bigger, slender and with a tapered spire and a h/H ratio around 0.49 (e.g. holotype and sp. in Fig. 12). Both the morphs have a h/H ratio less than the most similar congeners. These specimens are here interpreted as sexual dimorphism, as ascertained for other species of Melanella ( Warén, 1984): since we could not verify this with an anatomical dissection, we can only suppose that, similarly to other species, the stouter are male, while ...

Context 29

... after being compared with the most similar Mediterranean species, comparisons of the new species with extra-Mediterranean representatives of these genera were performed to exclude or, at least limit, a possible case of alien introduction. Figures 2, 3. Sketches of shell outline of paratype 1 ( Fig. 2: probably male, 3.8 mm) and of sp. in Fig. 12 from Skerke Bank (Fig. 3: probably female, 5.85 mm). Fig. 14: drawing of the external soft parts of the specimen in Fig. 13. Figures 15-17. M. petitiana. Fig. 15: live collected specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.1 mm (DS). Fig. 16: SEM photograph of the protoconch of the same specimen. Fig. 17: drawing of the external soft parts of ...

Context 30

... species, comparisons of the new species with extra-Mediterranean representatives of these genera were performed to exclude or, at least limit, a possible case of alien introduction. Figures 2, 3. Sketches of shell outline of paratype 1 ( Fig. 2: probably male, 3.8 mm) and of sp. in Fig. 12 from Skerke Bank (Fig. 3: probably female, 5.85 mm). Fig. 14: drawing of the external soft parts of the specimen in Fig. 13. Figures 15-17. M. petitiana. Fig. 15: live collected specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.1 mm (DS). Fig. 16: SEM photograph of the protoconch of the same specimen. Fig. 17: drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen. Figures 18-20. M. boscii. Fig. 18: shell, ...

Context 31

... representatives of these genera were performed to exclude or, at least limit, a possible case of alien introduction. Figures 2, 3. Sketches of shell outline of paratype 1 ( Fig. 2: probably male, 3.8 mm) and of sp. in Fig. 12 from Skerke Bank (Fig. 3: probably female, 5.85 mm). Fig. 14: drawing of the external soft parts of the specimen in Fig. 13. Figures 15-17. M. petitiana. Fig. 15: live collected specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.1 mm (DS). Fig. 16: SEM photograph of the protoconch of the same specimen. Fig. 17: drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen. Figures 18-20. M. boscii. Fig. 18: shell, Cannizzaro, H: 5.1 mm (MT); Fig. 19: living specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: ...

Context 32

... were performed to exclude or, at least limit, a possible case of alien introduction. Figures 2, 3. Sketches of shell outline of paratype 1 ( Fig. 2: probably male, 3.8 mm) and of sp. in Fig. 12 from Skerke Bank (Fig. 3: probably female, 5.85 mm). Fig. 14: drawing of the external soft parts of the specimen in Fig. 13. Figures 15-17. M. petitiana. Fig. 15: live collected specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.1 mm (DS). Fig. 16: SEM photograph of the protoconch of the same specimen. Fig. 17: drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen. Figures 18-20. M. boscii. Fig. 18: shell, Cannizzaro, H: 5.1 mm (MT); Fig. 19: living specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.8 mm (DS); Fig. 20. ...

Context 33

... introduction. Figures 2, 3. Sketches of shell outline of paratype 1 ( Fig. 2: probably male, 3.8 mm) and of sp. in Fig. 12 from Skerke Bank (Fig. 3: probably female, 5.85 mm). Fig. 14: drawing of the external soft parts of the specimen in Fig. 13. Figures 15-17. M. petitiana. Fig. 15: live collected specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.1 mm (DS). Fig. 16: SEM photograph of the protoconch of the same specimen. Fig. 17: drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen. Figures 18-20. M. boscii. Fig. 18: shell, Cannizzaro, H: 5.1 mm (MT); Fig. 19: living specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.8 mm (DS); Fig. 20. drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen ...

Context 34

... 1 ( Fig. 2: probably male, 3.8 mm) and of sp. in Fig. 12 from Skerke Bank (Fig. 3: probably female, 5.85 mm). Fig. 14: drawing of the external soft parts of the specimen in Fig. 13. Figures 15-17. M. petitiana. Fig. 15: live collected specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.1 mm (DS). Fig. 16: SEM photograph of the protoconch of the same specimen. Fig. 17: drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen. Figures 18-20. M. boscii. Fig. 18: shell, Cannizzaro, H: 5.1 mm (MT); Fig. 19: living specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.8 mm (DS); Fig. 20. drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen ...

Context 35

... 17: drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen. Figures 18-20. M. boscii. ...

Context 36

... female, 5.85 mm). Fig. 14: drawing of the external soft parts of the specimen in Fig. 13. Figures 15-17. M. petitiana. Fig. 15: live collected specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.1 mm (DS). Fig. 16: SEM photograph of the protoconch of the same specimen. Fig. 17: drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen. Figures 18-20. M. boscii. Fig. 18: shell, Cannizzaro, H: 5.1 mm (MT); Fig. 19: living specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.8 mm (DS); Fig. 20. drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen ...

Context 37

... external soft parts of the specimen in Fig. 13. Figures 15-17. M. petitiana. Fig. 15: live collected specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.1 mm (DS). Fig. 16: SEM photograph of the protoconch of the same specimen. Fig. 17: drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen. Figures 18-20. M. boscii. Fig. 18: shell, Cannizzaro, H: 5.1 mm (MT); Fig. 19: living specimen, S. Giovanni Li Cuti, H: 4.8 mm (DS); Fig. 20. drawing of the external soft parts of the same specimen ...

Context 38

... but they are only apparent, being the microsculpture only an optical illusion due, like in other species of this family (Waren, 1984), to light reflections on aragonite components of the shell. Melanella cyclopia was first reported as M. sp. from the type area ( Scuderi et al., 2006) on the basis of the finding of a single specimen (paratype 1, Fig. 11) found at Aci Castello, at a depth of 30 m which later was supposed to belong to a morphological variation of M. petitiana (Scuderi & Criscione, 2011), this latter being relatively common in the area. But M. petitiana is a well-known species, on which interpretation of all Authors concur. It is widely distributed from the Mediterranean ...

Context 39

... to the close similar and sympatric M. petitiana (Figs. 15, 16), the new species is more solid, with a pupoid (spire angle 45°) instead of almost cylindrical outline (spire angle 38°), the whorls are lower (H/W = 2.39 vs. 2.73 in M. petitiana, see Fig. 21), the outer lip only slightly protrudes from teleoconch profile, while in M. petitiana it well protrudes. The body-whorl (h) occupies a larger ...

Context 40

... to the close similar and sympatric M. petitiana (Figs. 15, 16), the new species is more solid, with a pupoid (spire angle 45°) instead of almost cylindrical outline (spire angle 38°), the whorls are lower (H/W = 2.39 vs. 2.73 in M. petitiana, see Fig. 21), the outer lip only slightly protrudes from teleoconch profile, while in M. petitiana it well protrudes. The body-whorl (h) occupies a larger part of the total shell height (54.65% vs. 50.81% in M. petitiana, see Fig. 22), and the columella is more angulate in the middle. Moreover the protoconch of the new species has about 3 whorls ...

Context 41

... new species differs from M. boscii (Payraudeau, 1826) (Figs. 18, 19) for the smaller dimensions, the cylindrical instead of conical apex, the much slower growth in height and width (narrower spire angle) and the more convex whorls. Moreover the shell of M. boscii is heavier, the columella shows a more expanded parietal callus and a thicker external ...

Context 42

... genus Mucronalia comprises three completely white species and two with coloured bands, the other species being considered not correctly placed in this genus ( Takano et al., 2019). Mucronalia oxytenes Melvill, 1904 is figured in Melvill (1904, pl. X, fig. 10), from deep waters (285 m depth) from an area comprised between the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea (Melvill, 1904). The original drawing shows a little rotate shell, therefore the outline is difficult to compare, but it is a thin shell with not thickened external lip. Mucronalia lepida Melvill, 1906, figured in ...