Crenella pellucida (Jeffreys, 1859)
Channel Islands to Canarias, to Mediterranean. Intertidal to unknown depths.
Original taxon: Limopsis pellucida. Jeffreys later expressed some doubts about the validity of this taxon, but the reality of the species has been confirmed since.
50m deep, Scilla, Calabria, Italy. 0,4-0,5mm.
Limopsis pellucida, n. s. PL II. fig. 6 a-d – « I found two perfect specimens and a single valve of this almost microscopical shell in dredged sand from Guernsey ; and the discovery is most interesting in adding a second species to the list of recent Limopsides. It appears to be adult, as the teeth are fully developed. It has no affinity with the fry of Pectunculus Glycimeris, which is quite of another shape, with the margin crenulate, and has only three or four tooth-like lamellae on each side of the beak, besides wanting the central pit for the ligament. The Pectunculus (Limopsis) minutus of Philippi has an oblique form, much fewer teeth, more distinct auricles, and a crenulated margin ; and the sculpture is very different. Our shell is more nearly allied to the Arca aurita of Brocchi ; but in that species the form is also more oblique, and the surface is striated and sometimes decussated by the lines of growth. This sometimes resembles in appearance a minute Ungulina. » – J. G. Jeffreys: “Further Gleanings in Brit. Conch.”, Ann. mag. nat. hist. s.3 v.3, London 1859, via BHL.

a, natural size ;
b, front view, highly magnified ;
c, side view, highly magnified ;
d, hinge, very highly magnified.
70-80m deep, Gulf of Carini, Palermo, NW. Sicilia. 07mm.
Original pictures provided by A. Nappo (IT). – CC BY-NC-SA.

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