Teretiopsis thaumastopsis

Teretiopsis thaumastopsis
Shell and protoconch of Teretiopsis thaumastopsis (holotype at the Smithsonian Institution)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Conoidea
Family:	Raphitomidae
Genus:	Teretiopsis
Species:	T. thaumastopsis
Binomial name
Teretiopsis thaumastopsis (Dautzenberg & Fischer H., 1896)
Synonyms [1]
Pleurotoma thaumastopsisDautzenberg & Fischer, 1896 (original combination) Pleurotomella (Eucyclotoma) apertaDall, 1927 Teretia apertaDall, 1927 Teretia thaumastopsis(Dautzenberg & Fischer, 1896)

Teretiopsis thaumastopsis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Raphitomidae. ^[1]

Description

The length of the shell attains 10 mm, its diameter 5.5 mm.

(Original description in Latin and French) The shell is thin. The spire has a conoid shape. It is not much elevated and acuminate at the top. The spire consists of six whorls separated by a well-marked suture. The protoconch contains four embryonic whorls: the first is smooth, the next two are reticulated, the fourth likewise reticulated on its lower half, but decorated, at the top, with arched longitudinal folds. The first spiral whorl shows below the subsutural area which is sloping, not excavated, a very prominent keel which extends to the body whorl. On the body whorl, a second keel begins at the point of contact of the outer lip and the recurrent cords. They fill the entire lower part of the shell. The shell contains numerous, weak growth lines. The aperture is pyriform, terminating in a fairly long, open siphonal canal. The columella is at first almost perpendicular, then slightly twists towards the base, which is acuminate. The slender outer lip is sharp, somewhat polygonous and slightly indented at the top. The shell has a white color with the exception of the embryonic whorls which are yellowish-brown. ^[2]

Distribution

T. thaumatopsis can be found in the Gulf of Mexico, ranging from the coast of Georgia to western Florida.; ^[3] in the Atlantic Ocean; also off the Azores at bathyal depths.

References

1. Teretiopsis thaumastopsis (Dautzenberg & Fischer H., 1896) . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 5 April 2010.
2. Dautzenberg P. & Fischer H. (1896). Dragages effectués par l'Hirondelle et par la Princesse Alice 1888-1895. 1. Mollusques Gastéropodes. Mémoires de la Société Zoologique de France. 9: 395-498, pl. 15-22
3. Tunnell, John W., Jr., Felder, Darryl L., & Earle, Sylvia A., eds. Gulf of Mexico Origin, Waters, and Biota, Volume 1: Biodiversity. Texas A&M University Press, 2009. 668.

• 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

External links

• Dall W. H. (1927). Small shells from dredgings off the southeast coast of the United states by the United States Fisheries Steamer "Albatross", in 1885 and 1886. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 70(18): 1-134
• Rosenberg, G.; Moretzsohn, F.; García, E. F. (2009). Gastropoda (Mollusca) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 579–699 in: Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas
• Kantor, Yu.I. & Sysoev, A.S. (1989) The morphology of toxoglossan gastropods lacking a radula, with a description of a new species and genus of Turridae. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 55, 537–550
• Tucker, J.K. (2004). "Catalog of recent and fossil turrids (Mollusca: Gastropoda)" (PDF). Zootaxa. 682: 1–1295.