Diaphana globosa (Lovén, 1846)

Fig. 19 c–d

Amphisphyra globosa Lovén, 1846 (p. 143).

Diaphana globosa, Lov. — Sars G. O. 1878 (p. 290, pl. 18, figs. 3c, 4). Diaphana globosa Lovén—Pilsbry 1893 (p. 286, pl. 26, fig. 75). Diaphana globosa Loven—Hidalgo 1917 (p. 287).

Diaphana globosa (Lovén, 1846) — Ohnheiser & Malaquias 2014 (p. 503, figs. 1–2).

Diagnostic characters. Inflated thin shell; wide ear-shaped aperture; open umbilical chink; smooth outer surface. Protoconch: heterostrophic, obliquely immersed; 2.5 whorls (cf. Ohnheiser & Malaquias, 2014) of which about 0.75 visible on top; diameter about 330 µm; surface smooth; transition to the teleoconch marked by a thin orthocline lip.

Remarks. Some authors regard D. globosa as a junior synonym of the western Atlantic D. hiemalis (Couthouy, 1839); however, this latter species appears to be even more globose in the original illustration by Couthouy, and it is said to show “no trace of any spire”. The closely related D. minuta Brown, 1827 differs at least in having a comparatively higher shell.

Occurrence. Box-corer sample BC05 (1 specimen); core BC51 (1). Maximum height: 2 mm.

Distribution and habitat. Diaphana globosa was hitherto reported to range from Scandinavian waters to Spain and Portugal, in the 150–700 m bathymetric interval and occasionally at shallower depths (Hidalgo 1917; Poppe & Goto 1991; Buhl-Mortensen & Høisaeter 1993; Cervera et al. 2006; Høisaeter 2009).

Fossil record. None recorded.