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4657-1.jpg (131572 bytes)

 

4663-1.jpg (125635 bytes)

Brookula finesia Laseron, 1954

Description: Shell minute, height to width ratio in range 0.85 - 1.0. Protoconch smooth, low. Teleoconch up to 3 whorls, suture deep. Axial sculpture of thin, high, ribs, about 30 on last whorl, continuing onto base and into umbilicus. Fine spiral threads uniformly spaced over whole surface between axials. Umbilicus wide, open. Aperture circular, margin entire, not thickened. Shell colourless transparent when fresh, becoming opaque with age.

Size: Up to 1.6 mm in length.

Distribution: Endemic to Australia: Laureton, NSW, southwards to southern Tasmania.

Habitat: Subtidal, 50-594 m. Uncommon.

Comparison: See B. angeli.

Synonymy: This species may be the same as Brookula consobrina (May, 1916), described from Tasmania.

Remarks: In his description of this species, Laseron (1954) gave the dimensions as height 1.3 mm, maximum dimension of base 1.6 mm, indicating a low, wide shell. Re-measurement of the holotype dimensions show them to be height 1.5 mm, width 1.6 mm, which is more typical of the specimens here recognised as this species.

Figs. 1, 2: 30 km SW of Cape Everard, Bass Strait, in 119 m (C.462819) (Photos Sue Lindsay, Australian Museum)

 

Copyright Des Beechey 2009