Diaphana cf. lactea (Jeffreys, 1877)

Fig. 19 e–f

Utriculus lacteus Jeffreys, 1877 (p. 334).

Diaphana jonica Di Geronimo, 1974 (p. 151, pl. 2, fig. 2).

Diaphana lactea (Jeffreys, 1877) — Repetto et al. 2005 (p. 255, mid left fig); Ohnheiser & Malaquias 2014 (p. 507, figs. 5–6).

Diagnostic characters. Ovate-cylindrical shell; moderately wide ear-shaped aperture; barely reflexed basal lip; very narrow umbilical chink; outer surface smooth except for growth lines. Protoconch: heterostrophic, half immersed, transaxial; about 2 visible whorls; diameter about 300 µm; surface smooth; transition to the teleoconch marked by a thin orthocline lip.

Remarks. The present specimen resembles D. lactea, except for the lack of the spiral striation mentioned in Jeffreys’ original description. Diaphana jonica Di Geronimo, 1974 is currently regarded as a junior synonym of D. lactea (CLEMAM 2016).

Occurrence. Box-corer sample BC05 (1 specimen). Height: 2.5 mm.

Distribution and habitat. Diaphana lactea seems to range from northern to the central Atlantic and the Mediterranean, being more commonly found in deep bathyal settings (Linse & Schiøtte 2002; Høisaeter 2009, 2010).

Fossil record. None recorded.