Gofasia thalassae (Bouchet & Warén, 1993) comb. nov.

(Fig. 15)

Material examined. (103 empty shells and 59 with soft parts, in 24 samples): SPAIN • 1 frg; 43° 47.188′N, 008° 53.053′W to 43° 55.312′N, 008° 53.101′W; 770–842 m; 08–15 SeP. 2002; DIVA-Artabria I AT-800 • 1 sh + 1 juv; 43° 57.030′N, 00854.795′W to 43° 57.248′N, 008° 54.133′W; 1191– 1132 m; 08–15 SeP. 2002; DIVA-Artabria I AT-1000 • 2 spc + 2 sh; 43° 48.421′N, 008° 51.453′W to 43° 49.160′N, 008° 51.091′W; 599–607 m; 10–20 SeP. 2003; DIVA-Artabria I DRN-600 • 4 sh; 43° 53.575′N, 008° 56.868′W to 43° 54.015′N, 008° 56.959′W; 965–974 m; 10–20 Sep. 2003; DIVA-Artabria I DRN-1000 • 1 spc + 2 sh; 43° 53.847′N, 008° 57.324′W to 43° 54.621′N, 008° 57.261′W; 993–1004 m; 10–20 SeP. 2003; DIVA-Artabria I AT-1000 • 1 sPc; 43° 42.348′N, 008° 45.889′W to 43° 43°.269′N, 008° 45.289′W; 344–354 m; 10–20 SeP. 2003; DIVA-Artabria I EBS-350 • 30 spc + 20 sh; 43° 48.587′N, 008° 51.402′W to 43° 49.545′N, 008° 51.197′W; 610– 598 m; 10-20 SeP. 2003; DIVA-Artabria I EBS-600 • 4 sPc + 5 sh; 43° 51.873′N, 008° 53.683′W to 43° 53.120′N, 008° 53.301′W; 802– 788 m; 10–20 SeP. 2003; DIVAArtabria I EBS-800 • 2 sh; 43° 38.812′N, 009° 07.949′W to 43° 39.841′N, 009° 07.405′W; 999–1001 m; 17–28 Sep. 2004; VERTIDOS GA-DRN-1000 • 3 sh; 43° 48.587′N, 008° 51.402′W to 43° 49.545′N, 008° 51.197′W; 610– 598 m; 10–20 Sep. 2003; DIVA-Artabria I GA-EBS-600 • 1 sh; Polygon delimited by Points 44° 10.000′ N, 009° 00.000′ W /44° 10.000′ N, 008° 35.000′ W/44° 00.000′ N; 009° 00.000′ W/44° 07.000′ N; 008° 35.000′ W; 480–600 m; SARRIDAL (2006–2007) SARRI-2 • 1 sh; Polygon delimited by Points 44° 10.000′ N, 009° 00.000′ W /44° 10.000′ N, 008° 35.000′ W/44° 00.000′ N; 009° 00.000′ W/44° 07.000′ N; 008° 35.000′ W; 417–668 m; SARRIDAL (2006–07) SARRI-3 • 20 sh; 44° 08.65′N, 008° 55.305′W to 44° 08.771′N, 008° 55.104′W; 581– 566 m; 15–24 Jul. 2008; A SELVA DRN-7 C • 3 sh; 44° 08.461′N, 009° 04.634′W to 44° 08.607′N, 009° 04.413′W; 917– 896 m; 15–24 Jul. 2008; A SELVA DRN-7-1 • 15 spc + 25 sh; 44° 09.896′N, 008° 39.581′W to 44° 10.129′N, 008° 39.494′W; 438–459 m; 15–24 Jul. 2008; A SELVA DRN-11 • 2 sh; 44° 07.628′N, 008° 45.871′W to 44° 07.989′N, 008° 45.542′W; 412– 411 m; 15–24 Jul. 2008; A SELVA DRN-11-4 • 2 sh; 44° 07.309′N, 008° 48.289′W to 44° 07.488′N, 008° 48.047′W; 445– 438 m; 15–24 Jul. 2008; A SELVA DRN-11-5 • 1 sh; 43° 55.886′N, 008° 54.846′W to 43° 55.291′N, 008° 55.65′W; 933– 930 m; 15–24 Jul. 2008; A SELVA DRN-15-2 B • 1 spc + 2 sh; 44° 07.495′N, 008° 46.999′W to 44° 07.675′N, 008° 45.225′W; 416– 407 m; 15–24 Jul. 2008; A SELVA AT-11-2 • 2 spc + 1 sh; 44° 08.516′N, 008° 40.788′W to 44° 09.688′N, 008° 39.721′W; 436– 428 m; 15–24 Jul. 2008; A SELVA EBS-11 • 1 sPc; 43° 58.84′N, 008° 15.625′W to 43° 59.621′N, 008° 14.285′W; 233–237 m; 15–24 Jul. 2008; A SELVA EBS-20 • 2 sPc; 43° 48.252′N, 008° 51.427′W to 43° 49.707′N, 008° 51.164′W; 575–584 m; 15–24 Jul. 2008; A SELVA EBS-30-1 • 1 sh; 43° 19.95′N, 009° 34.77′W to 43° 20.58′N, 009° 33.91′W; 972– 839 m; 15–30 SeP. 2008; DIVA-Artabria II DRNr-16 • 2 sh; 43° 34.86′N, 009° 21.95′W to 43° 36.44′N, 009° 20.71′W; 1010–1112 m; 15–30 Sep. 2008; DIVA-Artabria II EBS-04 • 1 sh; 43° 24.63′N, 009° 31.55′W to 43° 25.67′N, 009° 30.73′W; 880– 827 m; 15–30 Sep. 2008; DIVA-Artabria II EBS-08.

Remarks. According to Bouchet & Warén (1993) this species is known from the continental slope of the Celtic Sea southwards to northern Spain. The depth range of the studied specimens (350–1000 m) coincides with that reported by these authors. Most shells with soft parts were found in a sample on sandy bottom at 600 m deep. Adult shells studied up to 2.8 mm with large aperture and rounded axial ribs (Figs. 15a, d, g). Microsculpture of minute pores aligned in a spiral lines can be observed under high magnification (Figs. 15b–c). Protoconch sculptured by spiral furrows (Figs. e–h).

Bouchet & Warén (1993) included this species in the genus Frigidoalvania because of the similarity of its teleoconch and protoconch with other species of this genus. However, due its microsculpture of minute pores we propose here to include this species in the genus Gofasia, also because of its resemblance to Gofasia vanderlandi Bouchet & Warén, 1993, from which it differs by the sculpture of the protoconch. Microsculpture of minute pores is the most important character to separate the genus from allied genera.

Therefore, the species of Frigidoalvania remain restricted to higher latitudes. Gofasia galiciae, known from the Galicia Bank and Ampère and Josephine seamount (Bouchet & Warén 1993; Gofas 2007), has not been found in our samples.