Pyrgiscus rufus

Pyrgiscus rufus
A shell of Pyrgiscus rufus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Family:	Pyramidellidae
Genus:	Pyrgiscus
Species:	P. rufus
Binomial name
Pyrgiscus rufus (Philippi, 1836)
Synonyms
Chemnitzia densecostataPhilippi, 1844 Chemnitzia fasciataRequien, 1848 Melania rufaPhilippi, 1836 Parthenia fasciataForbes, 1844 Pyrgostelis rufa(Philippi, 1836) (recombined) Pyrgostelis rufa var. spectabilisMonterosato, 1884 Pyrgostelis spectabilisMonterosato, 1884 Turbonilla densecostata(Philippi, 1844) Turbonilla formosa scalaroidesNordsieck, 1972 Turbonilla rufa(Philippi, 1836) Turritella danmoniensisLeach in Gray, 1852 Turritella scalaroidesRisso, 1826 (dubious synonym)

Pyrgiscus rufus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Taxonomy

Whether this species is distinct from Pyrgiscus crenatus (Brown, 1827) is controversial. Both are tentatively distinguished by Reñas & Rolán in Gofas et al. (2011) and by Giannuzzi-Saveli et al. (2014). ^[1]

Description

The shell grows to a length of 5 mm-9 mm. Shell: Elongated shell with 14 or less whorls., Reddish shell . Sculpture c. 20 slightly opisthocline axial ribs, with wide interspaces. Whorls are evenly rounded, tending to flat. The body is a clear pale-azure color, with irregularly spaced snow-white flakes. ^[4]

Distribution

This species occurs in the Mediterranean Sea. Watson's record from Puerto Rico is probably not the same species. ^[5]

References

1. Gofas, S. (2015). Pyrgiscus rufus (Philippi, 1836). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=836212 on 2015-04-10
2. Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca, in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels, 50: pp. 180-213
3. Peñas A. & Rolán E. (1997) La familia Pyramidellidae Gray, 1840 (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Heterostropha) en Africa occidental. 2. Los géneros Turbonilla y Eulimella. Iberus suplemento 3: 1-105. (5 June 1997)
4. Høisaeter, Tore (2014), The Pyramidellidae (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia) of Norway and adjacent waters. A taxonomic review, Guido Sautter, felipe, Plazi.org taxonomic treatments database, doi:10.15468/ESPFYN , retrieved 2025-11-24
5. Watson, R. B. 1886. Report on the Scaphopoda and Gasteropoda collected by H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873-1876. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger, Zoology 15(2): i-v, 1-680, 692-756, 50 pls. Her Majesty's Government: London

• Giannuzzi-Savelli R., Pusateri F., Micali, P., Nofroni, I., Bartolini S. (2014). Atlante delle conchiglie marine del Mediterraneo, vol. 5 (Heterobranchia). Edizioni Danaus, Palermo, pp. 1– 111 with 41 unnumbered plates (figs. 1-363), appendix pp. 1–91.

External links

• Encyclopedia of Life
• World Register of Marine Species
• Biodiversity Heritage Library (43 publications)
• CLEMAM