Philine scabra (Müller, 1784)

Fig. 19 k–n

Bulla scabra Müller, 1784 (p. 90, pl. 71, figs. 1–3).

Philine scabra Muller—Hidalgo 1917 (p. 552).

Philine (Hermania) scabra (O.F. Müller, 1776) — Nordsieck 1972 (p. 19, pl. O III, fig. 2). Philine scabra (Müller, 1776) — Thompson & Brown 1976 (p. 34, figs. 13A–C). Philine scabra (O.F. Müller, 1776) — Poppe & Goto 1991 (p. 197).

Philine scabra (Mueller, 1784) — Cossignani et al. 1992 (fig. 235); Repetto et al. 2005 (p. 264, mid right fig.). Philine scabra (Müller, 1784) — Campani 2004 (p. 7, bottom fig).

Diagnostic characters. High ovate-subrectangular shell; slightly sunken spire; large piriform aperture; broadly arched columellar lip; finely denticulate outer lip margin; densely set spiral rows of shallow oval pits, linked one another in a chain-like pattern. Protoconch: heterostrophic, largely covered by the teleoconch; about 1 visible whorl; diameter about 520 µm (estimated); surface apparently smooth; transition to the teleoconch marked by a simple lip.

Remarks. The similar P. c a t e n a (Montagu, 1803) differs in having a shorter shell, a non-denticulate outer lip margin and a more evident chain-like sculptural pattern.

Occurrence. Box-corer sample BC72 (3 specimens); core BC21 (1). Maximum height: 3.5 mm.

Distribution and habitat. The species ranges from Iceland and Norway to West Africa, Madeira and the Mediterranean, dwelling on sand from the lower shore to about 1500 m depth and often being prey of flatfishes (Thompson & Brown 1976; Poppe & Goto 1991).

Fossil record. Pliocene of Sicily (Monterosato 1872).