"Bathybembix delicatula n.sp. (Fig. 141)
MATERIAL EXAMINED: Eltanin Stn 1866.
DISTRIBUTION: Known only from the Ross Sea in 2608-3175 m.
DESCRIPTION: Essentially similar in general form to B. drakei n.sp. but differing consistently in a number of characters. The height is only slightly greater than diameter. Protoconch eroded in all specimens but broken apex sealed over. One major spiral cord is immediately dominant, around centre of the spire whorls, with two minor spiral cords on the shoulder and another minor spiral cord emerging suprasuturally. On the last whorl another major spiral cord emerges from the adapical level of the aperture, subequal in prominence to the major spiral cord. Base with 10 minor spiral cords, becoming obsolete towards the pillar. Only the major spiral cord on the spire whorls and the two major cords on the last whorl have flattened surfaces. Axial sculpture similar to that of B. drakei but finer.
MEASUREMENTS: See Table 5.
HOLOTYPE: from Eltanin Stn 1866, in National Museum of Natural History (USNM 860092).
PARATYPES: from Eltanin Stn 1866, in National Museum of Natural History (3, USNM 860176) and National Museum of New Zealand (2, MF.56597).
REMARKS: The obvious differences between B. drakei and B. delicatula are the much stronger development of subsidiary spiral cords and the proportionally narrower shell in B. drakei, which result in a very different outline."
(Dell, 1990: 88-89)
Table 5. Measurements of species of Bathybembix.
H (mm)
D (mm)
Bathybembix drakeiholotype
24.2
21.3
Bathybembix delicatulaholotype
23.8
23.2
paratype
22.7
21.5
paratype
21.9
21.0
paratype
19.5+
20.2
Bathybembix delicatula is a species of deep-water sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Eucyclidae.[1]
The shell grows to a height of 23 mm.
This species occurs in Antarctic waters.
Bathybembix delicatula is a species of deep-water sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Eucyclidae.
