"Miomelon turnerae n.sp. (Figs 368, 369, 376, 379)
MATERIAL EXAMINED: Eltanin Stns 283, 1078, 1082, 1083.
DISTRIBUTION: Known only from the western approaches to Magellan Strait in 1500-1666 m and off the South Orkneys in 284-604 m.
DESCRIPTION: Shell of medium size, solid, spire about one and a third times the height of the aperture, last whorl expanded. Protoconch and early whorls eroded in all available material. Teleoconch of about four whorls, outline swollen below the suture to give a somewhat impressed suture. Sculpture of low, rounded, rather irregular axial folds, some 29 on the last whorl, crossed by low, broad, irregular spiral threads and very fine, wavy, spiral striae. Aperture elongate, outer lip rather thickened, flared slightly outwards, evenly rounded. Parietal lip white, heavily glazed, columella bearing several plaits, usually two, the abapical plait (a continuation of the pillar), being the stronger. In some specimens the second plait becomes bifid and occasionally a third, weaker adapical plait is developed. In one specimen this third plait also becomes bifid.
Radula (Fig. 379) uniserial, tooth bearing three fang-like cusps. Siphon (Fig. 376) with two strongly developed basal lobes. Cephalic tentacles long and pointed, no sign of eyes.
MEASUREMENTS: height 49.5 mm; height of aperture 21.2 mm; diameter 17.4 mm (holotype).
HOLOTYPE: from Eltanin Stn 1083, in National Museum of Natural History (USNM 860137).
PARATYPES: from Eltanin Stn 1083 (4, USNM 860138) in National Museum of Natural History and National Museum of New Zealand (two, MF.56642).
REMARKS: If the animal was not known, the family placing of this species might well be debatable, since the shell has some of the characters of the Mitridae, especially of such a genus as Eumitra Tate, 1889. However, the anatomical features confirm its position in the Volutidae, and the structure of the radula restricts it to the Odontocymbiolinae. It is described as a species of Miomelon since, although it differs quite considerably from M. philippiana the presence of two basic columellar plaits, and the general form, ally it to Miomelon rather than to Tractolira or to Odontocymbiola.
The species is named for Dr Ruth D. Turner, as a tribute to her contribution towards an understanding of the classification of the family Volutidae."
(Dell, 1990: 216)
Miomelon turnerae is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Volutidae, the volutes.[1]
Miomelon turnerae is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Volutidae, the volutes.
