Relevant Synonyms - Misidentification -  photo: S. Gofas / Coll. B. Galil

SHORT DESCRIPTION Shell small, elongated, of 7-8 convex whorls, the first ones increasing regularly in diameter, then the two last ones constricted. Protoconch of two small, smooth whorls, teleoconch whorls with a sculpture of faint to moderate spiral cords, increasing in number from 4-5 on the early whorls to 9-10 on the part of spire preceding body whorl, crossed by rather conspicuous growth lines. Aperture pyriform, without thickening, the outer lip and columella joining together anteriorly to form a regular curved edge without any discontinuity. color : whitish background, with spiral series of faint brown patches (2 on spire whorls, 3 on body whorl). Few specimens entirely brown. common size : 2.4 to 4 mm. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS This species is unmistakable, owing to the peculiar profile of the spire and the shape of the aperture broadly rounded abapically and lacking a siphonal canal. Only some species of Pyramidellidae may resemble it, but these are white and have a peculiar coiling of the protoconch whorls. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Larvae are planktotrophic, ensuring long-distance dispersal. habitat : on sandy mud in shallow water.

1st Mediterranean record Haifa, Israel, 1977 [1958]. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide: Indo-Pacific; recorded in the Suez Canal (Hoenselaar and Dekker, 1998) [1950]. Mediterranean: recorded first in 1958 from Israel, Haifa Bay, (Barash and Danin, 1977); successively at Jounieh, Lebanon (Bogi and Khairallah, 1987); southeast coast of Turkey, from Gulf of Iskenderun to Tasuçu (Tringali and Villa, 1990); Cyprus (Cecalupo and Quadri, 1996). ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Locally common. speculated reasons for success : - MODE OF INTRODUCTION Via the Suez Canal. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None.

KEY REFERENCES Barash A. and Danin Z., 1977. Additions to the knowledge of Indo-Pacific Mollusca in the Mediterranean. Conchiglie, 13 (5-6): 85-116. Bogi C. and Khairallah N.H., 1987. Nota su alcuni molluschi de provenienza Indo-Pacifica raccolti nella baia di Jounieh (Libano) - Contributo I. Notiziario del CISMA, 10: 54-60. Buzzurro G. and Greppi E., 1996. The lessepsian molluscs of Tasuçu (South East Turkey). La Conchiglia, 279 (suppl.): 3-22 (n° 280 errata p. 4).   Ponder W.F., 1994. The anatomy and relationships of Finella and Scaliola (Caenogastropoda: Cerithioidea: Scaliolidae), pp. 215-241. In: Morton B. (ed.) The malacofauna of Hong Kong and Southern China III, Hong Kong University Press. Tringali L. and Villa R., 1990. Rinvenimenti malacologici dalle coste Turche (Gastropoda, Polyplacophora, Bivalvia). Notiziario del CISMA, 12: 33-41. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update : January 2005 ©ciesm 2002