Granulina nofronii Smriglio, Gubbioli & Mariottini, 2000

Figs 1, 2F–G

Granulina nofronii Smriglio, Gubbioli & Mariottini, 2000: 58, figs 4, 17–20; type locality off Mauritania, 80– 100 m.

Smriglio et al. (2000) reported 24 shells from off Mauritania (80–100 m) and from Western Sahara (50 m) without further details. The holotype was deposited in the Bologna Zoology Museum (MZB14032). Twenty-three paratypes were retained in private collections.

Material examined (23 shells)

MAURITANIA – Banc d’Arguin • 20 shells; outer shelf off Banc d’Arguin; 20.0438° N, 17.457° W; depth 52 m; 25 Oct. 2010; MSM16–3 stn GeoB14714; SaM • 1 shell; central outer Banc d’Arguin; 20.2832° N, 17.3335° W; depth 30 m; 2 Nov. 2010; MSM16–3 stn GeoB14788; box core in muddy silt; SaM. – off Nouakchott • 2 shells; 17.0967° N, 16.73° W; depth 127 m; 17 Feb. 1977; M44 stn 193– KG626; box core; SMF .

Remarks

Smriglio et al. (2000) indicated a holotype height of 2.4 mm; our set indicates a maximum height of 2.5 mm. The species has an elliptical or weak coffin-shaped outline; it has strong labial denticles, and it lacks rostration.

A similar species is Granulina choffati La Perna, Landau & da Silva, 2003 from the Atlantic Pliocene in Portugal. It is differentiated from G. nofronii by a finer labial denticulation.

The species is known from empty shells in the latitudinal range 17.0– 20.3° N. It was found at depths of 30–1252 m in silty sand or mud. We could not confirm the species occurring off Western Sahara.