Alvania porcupinae is a species of minute sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Rissoidae.
Description
The small, turreted shell measures 1.8âÂÂ2.0 mm in length. It is characterized by strong axial ribs (costae) that give a spiny or porcupine-like appearance, reflected in the specific name. The protoconch is paucispiral and smooth. The teleoconch has about 4âÂÂ5 whorls with prominent axial sculpture and finer spiral elements in some specimens, typical of bathyal Alvania species.
Distribution and habitat
This species is found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, ranging from the Bay of Biscay south to off the Canary Islands and West Africa. It has not been recorded in the Mediterranean Sea.
It inhabits deep-sea benthic environments at depths of 800âÂÂ4700 m, on continental slope and abyssal plain substrates.
References
Further reading
- Hoenselaar, H.J.; Goud, J. (1998). The Rissoidae of the CANCAP expeditions, I: the genus Alvania Risso, 1826 (Gastropoda, Prosobranchia). Basteria. 62(1-2): 69-115. http://natuurtijdschriften.nl/download?type=document&docid=597129
- Gofas, S.; Luque, ÃÂ.A.; Oliver, J.D.; Templado, J.; Serra, A. (2021). The Mollusca of Galicia Bank (NE Atlantic Ocean). European Journal of Taxonomy. 785: 1âÂÂ114. doi:10.5852/ejt.2021.785.1605
- Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca. In: Costello, M.J. et al. (eds.) European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels, 50: 180âÂÂ213. http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/ocrd/254404.pdf
External links