Image of Gorgoleptis spiralis McLean 1988

Description:

Gorgoleptis spiralis is one of three presumed Gorgoleptis morphs we find in plankton samples at 9N. It has coarse pitted sculpture in rows that follow the curve of the shell. The most distinctive feature of these protoconchs is the scalloped edges of the aperture, with sharp points at the anterior edge and on either side. There is a narrow aperture rim, tapering toward the posterior edge. The protoconch matches that of Gorgoleptis spiralis in size and sculpture, but the scallops are not preserved in post-larval specimens, making the identification somewhat tentative.