Typhlomangelia adenica
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| Typhlomangelia adenica | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Typhlomangelia adenica Sysoev, 1996 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Neogastropoda |
| Superfamily: | Conoidea |
| Family: | Borsoniidae |
| Genus: | Typhlomangelia |
| Species: | T. adenica |
| Binomial name | |
| Typhlomangelia adenica Sysoev, 1996 | |
Typhlomangelia adenica is a species of deep-sea sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Borsoniidae. It was first described by Russian malacologist Alexander V. Sysoev in 1996 based on material collected by the historic John Murray Expedition (1933–34), which explored the deep-sea fauna of the northwestern Indian Ocean.[1]
The shell of Typhlomangelia adenica attains a height of approximately 10.2mm and a width of 5.6mm. The shell is fusiform, with a high spire and a moderately elongated siphonal canal. Its ornamentation includes prominent axial ribs crossed by spiral cords, producing a characteristic cancellate (net-like) sculpture typical of the genus Typhlomangelia. The aperture is elongate-oval in shape, bordered by a thin and sharp outer lip.
The protoconch is multispiral, indicating a planktotrophic larval development. This developmental mode suggests that the larvae of this species drift in the plankton for a period before settling, which facilitates wider dispersal in deep-sea habitats.[1]
Microsculpture analysis using scanning electron microscopy, although not conducted for this species specifically, is a common method in conoidean taxonomy and could offer further insight into its classification and comparison with other Borsoniidae.[2]
Habitat and Distribution
Typhlomangelia adenica is known exclusively from the Gulf of Aden, located between Yemen and the Horn of Africa. Specimens were collected at bathyal depths ranging from 2000 to 2300 meters. These deep-sea habitats are characterized by low temperatures, high hydrostatic pressure, and limited light, requiring specialized adaptations for survival.
The John Murray Expedition dredged specimens from the ocean floor using trawls and grabs, contributing significantly to the knowledge of deep Indo-Pacific molluscan biodiversity.[1]