Melanella cyclopia n. sp. (Gastropoda Eulimidae) from Eastern Sicily

Abstract

Melanella cyclopia n. sp. (Gastropoda Eulimidae) is described based on tens of shells found in shell grit taken in various localities located in a short length of Northern coast of Catania (Eastern Sicily, Ionian Sea), between 20 and 45 m depth. Findings include a liven taken specimen, whose soft parts have been observed and drawn. The new species is characterized by a well-rounded, swollen, solid shell similar to some Mediterranean congeners, but peculiar on account of some protoconch and shell details and a different external morphology of the soft parts. Differences from similar species from Eastern Atlantic, Red Sea, as well as Indo-Pacific are hereafter discussed.