Miomelon eltanini Dell 1990

"Miomelon eltanini n.sp. (Figs 367, 377, 382, 386)

MATERIAL EXAMINED: Eltanin Stns 282, 283, 322, 372, 557, 558.

DISTRIBUTION: The new species occurs over a wide area off the southern tip of South America from 51° to 56°S, and from 55° to 75°W, in depths of 646-1971 m.

DESCRIPTION: Shell small, solidly built, narrowly fusiform, with a relatively short spire, 85% of the height of the aperture. Protoconch usually eroded, but in juveniles from Station 557 of about 2 ½ smooth rather bulbous whorls, the first half-whorl obliquely set, the last half-whorl bearing a few irregular spiral scratches (Fig. 377). Teleoconch of about four whorls, with a moderate shoulder below the suture. Sculpture of well-developed rounded axial ribs extending from suture to suture, some 14 on the penultimate, 15 on the last whorl, the whole crossed by fine spiral threads which become finer across the base of the last whorl. Sutures adpressed but rendered wavy by the axial ribs.

Aperture elongate, outer lip thin, parietal lip white, heavily glazed. Columella bearing three plaits, the most anterior, and strongest developed, an extension of the pillar, the second plait poorly developed and a third sometimes just discernible in a few specimens. Development of the plaits somewhat variable throughout the series, the two most anterior plaits are usually present, with the relative strength of the second somewhat variable. Siphonal notch shallow and wide. A weak fasciole is developed, sculptured with fine spiral threads. Colour a pale brown.

Radula uniserial, teeth with a short, wide base bearing three curved, tusk-like teeth (Fig. 386) of the same pattern as those figured by Pilsbry and Olsson (1954, pl. 3, fig. 9) for M. philippiana. Siphon (Fig. 387) with two small basal lobes.

MEASUREMENTS: height 31.2 mm; height of spire 14.4 mm; diameter 13.0 mm. (holotype).

HOLOTYPE: from Eltanin Stn 557 in collection of National Museum of Natural History (USNM 860134).

PARATYPES: from Eltanin Stn 557 (8, USNM 860135) and Eltanin Stn 372 (one, USNM 860136) in National Museum of Natural History; from Eltanin Stn 332 (one, MF.56661) and from Eltanin Stn 557, 51°56'S, 56°39'W (2, MF.56662) in National Museum of New Zealand.

REMARKS: The new species is not closely related to M. scoresbyana Powell, 1951, which occurs in the same general area but in considerably shallower depths. It is closer to M. philippiana, but the shell of M. eltanini is narrower with many fewer well-developed axial ribs and much finer spiral sculpture than in philippiana. From M. alarconi Stuardo and Villarroel, 1974 it differs in the much narrower shell, the less inflated last whorl, the stronger and fewer axials, the much finer spiral sculpture, the different colour and fewer columellar plaits."

(Dell, 1990: 214-216)

Miomelon eltanini is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Volutidae, the volutes.

Miomelon eltanini là một loài ốc biển, là động vật thân mềm chân bụng sống ở biển trong họ Volutidae, họ ốc dừa.