Parthenina Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1883

Type species by original designation: Turbo interstinctus Montagu, 1803; Britain

Synonyms:

Chrysallida auct. not Carpenter, 1856

Parthenia Lowe, 1841 not Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830

Partulida Schaufuss, 1869

Pyrgulina A. Adams, 1864 (in part)

Pyramidellids with small (<5 mm long), elongate-ovate to truncated, conical shells, of not more than six whorls. Sculpture consisting of axial ribs, usually in combination with spiral sculpture, either raised threads, or striae. Columellar fold always present, though sometimes rather indistinct. Protoconch medium-sized to small, more or less intorted. Operculum (Figure 3) oligogyrous, moderately thick, with no indentation for the columellar fold. Yellowish, internal process of moderate thickness, gradually decreasing in thickness towards the opercular edges from the walls around a central, slightly arched ‘tunnel’. Foot long and narrow, truncated anteriorly and ending in a blunt point (Figure 9). Tentacles triangular with tentacular pads at their tip. Eyes moderately large and rather far apart. Mentum narrow with a squarish front. Pigmented mantle organ irregularly oval to circular consisting of yellow and brown patches (Figure 9). Following Schander et al. (2003) I adopt Parthenina as the name for most European “ Chrysallida ” species.

In the region here covered, this genus is represented by four or five species. However, the number of species is far higher further south, in the Mediterranean and the Canary Isles (van Aartsen 1977, van der Linden & Eikenboom 1992, Peñas et al. 1996, van Aartsen et al. 2000).

Key to the species of Parthenina, based on shell morphology

1a. Shell with one or two spiral cords near base of each whorl ........................................................................2

1b. Shell with more than two spiral cords on body whorl ....3

2a. Whorls somewhat flattened, surface glossy, without periostracum ................................ Parthenina interstincta

2b. Whorls distinctly convex, with periostracum .................... Parthenina wikanderi

3a. Shell narrow and tall, with four to seven spirals on body whorl .................................... Parthenina indistincta

3b. Shell wider than P. indistincta, and with at least eight spirals on body whorl ................... Parthenina sarsi