Tellimya tenella (Lovén, 1846)

Fig. 8 d–f

Montacuta tenella Lovén, 1846 (p. 197).

Montacuta ferruginosa (Montagu, 1803) — Nordsieck 1969 (p. 94, pl. 14, fig. 52.44). Tellimya tenella (Lovén, 1846) — Palazzi & Villari 2001 (p. 26, figs. 114–115); Oliver et al. 2016 (online resource). Montacuta tenella Lovén, 1846 — Repetto et al. 2005 (p. 315, bottom left fig.).

Diagnostic characters. Sub-elliptical, inequilateral shell with longer and obliquely expanded anterior side; right valve with an oblique, knobby anterior cardinal tooth; outer surface with dense, uneven growth lines. Prodissoconch: shell type ST-2A; P-2 length exceeding 260 µm; P-1 length exceeding 90 µm (underestimated measures because of SEM image foreshortening); roundish outline; convex profile; P-1 surface unavailable; P-2 apparently well separated from P-1; P-2 with fine concentric lines, more evident towards the nepioconch; transition to the nepioconch well marked.

Remarks. The shell shape stands as the distinguishing character between the present species and T. ferruginosa (Montagu, 1808) .

Occurrence. Box-corer sample BC72 (1 specimen); core BC21 (2). Maximum length: 3 mm.

Distribution and habitat. Tellimya tenella has a NE Atlantic and Mediterranean distribution, living at shelf depths associated with burrowing urchins of the genus Brissopsis (Palazzi & Villari 2001; Oliver et al. 2016).

Fossil record. None recorded.