Mikro

Mikro ? sp.

Fig. 12 k–m

Diagnostic characters. Low-spired shell; large oval aperture; reflexed basal and parietal lips; deep and moderately narrow umbilicus; smooth outer surface except for two distinct and some faint subsutural spiral lirae on the first teleoconch whorl. Protoconch: planispiral; 1 whorl; diameter about 100 µm; dense minute granules on the abaxial half (adaxial part somewhat eroded); transition to the teleoconch marked by a barely visible thin lip.

Remarks. This little “skeneimorph” species is provisionally attributed to the genus Mikro Warén, 1996. Mikro giustii (Bogi & Nofroni, 1989), the other known Mediterranean species of the genus, differs in having a more globose shell with a comparatively higher spire.

Occurrence. Cores BC04 (1 specimen), BC05 (17), BC21 (1), BC51 (1), BC52 (4). Maximum height: 0.7 mm.

Distribution and habitat. The species of the present genus are bathyal elements; Mikro globulus Warén, 1996 is distributed in Iceland waters in the 200–1100 m depth interval, while M. giustii is reported as occurring in the Mediterranean only (Warén 1996).