Relevant Synonyms - Misidentification Pyrgulina pirintella Melvill, 1910  photo: G. Buzzuro - E. Greppi

SHORT DESCRIPTION Shell with three teleconch whorls which are almost flat but shouldered thus giving the shell a turreted appearance. These whorls are sculptured by straight, vertical ribs with spirals over the entire height of the whorl, covering ribs and interspaces alike. The top whorls are intorted. There is a clear tooth on the columella (van Aartsen et al., 1989). color : white. common size : 1.5-2 mm. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The intorted apex distinguishes the species as a pyramidellid. This species differs from most native Chrysallida by the type of sculpture and in having all the teleoconch whorls more or less shouldered in the upper part. A spiral sculpture is present between the larger axial ribs and covers the whole surface of each whorl. It is possible to confuse it with the Mediterranean C. stefanisi (Jeffreys, 1869), but the latter is more conical, less slender and has a slightly less shouldered suture. C. decussata (Montagu, 1803) is also similar in size and sculpture but has a still more pointed apex and rounded whorls. Buzzurro and Nofroni (1994) suspected that the Red Sea immigrant is distinct from the 'true' Pirintella, described from Karachi, Pakistan. The Mediterranean shells have a spiral striation which is continued on the abapical portion of the body whorl (fading in the Indian Ocean type specimen), and have a more conspicuous columellar tooth. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Pyramidellidae are ectoparasites, mainly of sedentary polychaetes and molluscs. habitat : Mediterranean findings suggest that this is a shallow water species.

1st Mediterranean record Israel, 1989 [1984]. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Red Sea. Mediterranean : recorded first in 1984 from Israel, Shiqmona and Haifa Bay (van Aartsen et al., 1989); subsequently from Tabuçu, southern Turkey (Micali and Palazzi, 1992). ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Rare but documented by several reliable records in Israel and southern Turkey. speculated reasons for success : - MODE OF INTRODUCTION Possibly via the Suez Canal. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None.

KEY REFERENCES Buzzurro G. and Nofroni I., 1994. Sull'identità di Pyrgulina pirintella Melvill, 1910 (Heterobranchia, Heterostropha). Notiziario del CISMA, 16: 41-43. Buzzurro G. and Greppi E., 1996. The lessepsian molluscs of Tasuçu (South-East Turkey). La Conchiglia, supplement to 279: 3-22. Engl W., 1995. Specie prevalentemente lessepsiane attestate lungo le coste turche. Bollettino Malacologico, 31(1-4): 43-50.   Micali P. and Palazzi S., 1992. Contributo alla conoscenza dei Pyramidellidae della Turchia, con segnalazione di due nuove immigrazioni dal Mar Rosso. Bollettino Malacologico, 28(1-4): 83-90. van Aartsen J.J., Barash A. and Carrozza F., 1989. Addition to the knowledge of the Mediterranean mollusca of Israel and Sinai. Bollettino Malacologico, 25(1-4): 63-76. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

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