“Falsimargarita n.gen.
Type : Margarites gemma Smith
Eales (1923, p. 8) gave a good description and figure of the dentition of gemma. This and the allied species iris have the radula of the Calliostomid type, that is, with more or less rectangular-based central and lateral teeth having long curved foliaceous cusps bearing numerous sharp denticles.
The shell is very thin, white or pale cream, iridescent both externally and internally, elaborately sculptured with fine crisp spirals and axial threads and with a deep but relatively narrow umbilicus.
This new genus differs from Calliostoma in the thin externally iridescent shell, open umbilicus and in details of the radula. The broad central tooth, more than twice the width of any of the laterals, is a distinctive feature. There is, of course, no relationship to Margarita.”
(Powell, 1951: 93)
Falsimargarita is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Calliostomatidae.[1]
This genus differs from the other genera in the family Calliostomatidae by several characteristics: the conspicuous spiral whorls, obvious sculpture, an open umbilicus, a thin shell and external iridescence.[2]
The species of this cold-water genus occurs in Antarctic waters and off the Magellanic Region of South America.
Species within the genus Falsimargarita include:
Falsimargarita is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Calliostomatidae.
