Bathyliotina nakayasui is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Liotiidae.
Description The shell of B. nakayasui is the largest known among species in the genus Bathyliotina. It is turbinate (low-conical), solid, and greyish-brown in colour. The spire consists of about 4.5 whorls, is depressed, and has a low-conical profile. The protoconch (larval shell) is small and smooth.
The teleoconch (adult shell) is ornamented with three spiral cords and numerous radial ribs — 19 on the penultimate whorl — which intersect to form a distinctive lattice-like (clathrate) sculpture. The intersections of these cords and ribs produce nodular or spinous projections. The peripheral cord is particularly prominent, bearing sharp spinous processes; two additional spiral cords are present between the periphery and the suture above it.
On the body whorl, the peripheral cord and the three spiral cords above it bear sharp spinous processes at their intersections with the radial ribs, while the spiral cords below the periphery develop nodules rather than spines. The aperture is entire, with a thickened outer lip that flares outward; a widely open varix is present on the outer side, and the ends of the spiral cords are pointed.
The height of the shell attains 15 mm. The holotype specimen measures 11.8 mm in height and 16.8 mm in diameter.
According to data from the Encyclopedia of Life, individuals can grow to 6.9 mm in length, with a body volume of 0.0983 cm³ and a wet body mass of 0.172 g. They are dextrally coiled (right-handed), multicellular, and their mineralized skeleton is composed of calcium carbonate. They move by mucus-mediated gliding and reproduce sexually.
Distribution and habitat This marine species occurs in the Western Central Pacific, with confirmed records from the Philippines and off Taiwan (Formosa) in the South China Sea. The species is benthic and inhabits tropical waters. It is typically found at depths of about 150 m.
Taxonomy The species was first described by the Japanese malacologist Tadashige Habe in 1981, based on specimens dredged off Formosa (Taiwan) in the South China Sea. The specific epithet nakayasui honors Kiyoshi Nakayasu, who provided the specimens.
The taxon Dentarene rosadoi Bozzetti & Ferrario, 2005, originally described from the southwestern Indian Ocean, is now considered a junior synonym of B. nakayasui. The species is currently classified within the genus Bathyliotina in the family Liotiidae.
References
Further reading McLean, J. H. (1988). "Two new species of Liotiinae (Gastropoda: Turbinidae) from the Philippine Islands." Veliger 30(4): 408–411. Available online Huang, S.-I., Lin, M.-H. & Chen, C.-L. (2019). "Notes on Liotiidae in Taiwan (Mollusca: Gastropoda)." Bulletin of Malacology, Taiwan 42: 1–34. Poppe, G. T. (2008). Philippine Marine Mollusks. Vol. 1 (Gastropoda – Part 1). ConchBooks. pp. 262–263.
External links
Bathyliotina nakayasui at GBIF Bathyliotina nakayasui at the Encyclopedia of Life