Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2026-03-18
Page range: 365-374
Abstract views: 62
PDF downloaded: 5

Three new species of Gastropoda from the Red Sea deep waters

Department of Biological; Geological and Environmental Sciences (BiGeA); University of Bologna; Bologna; Italy
CNR-ISMAR; via Gobetti 101; 40129 Bologna; Italy; Stazione Zoologica ‘Anton Dohrn;’ Villa Comunale; 80121 Napoli; Italy
Via del Borgo di San Pietro 14; 40126 Bologna; Italy
Mollusca Systematics biodiversity mesophotic zone bathyal zone

Abstract

The discovery of three gastropod species (Mollusca) in biogenic sediments dredged from mesophotic and bathyal habitats off the coasts of Yemen and Sudan marks a noteworthy contribution to the inventory of marine biodiversity in the poorly studied Red Sea deep waters. These newly described species, Marginodostomia alibardii sp. nov., Miralda coronata sp. nov. and Iphitus marisrubri sp. nov., are currently known only from empty shells. The identification of adult Iphitus specimens in the Red Sea is particularly remarkable, given that members of this genus have previously been reported only from cold-water bathyal environments, in stark contrast to the present-day warm deep-water conditions of the Red Sea.

 

References

  1. Aartsen, J.J. van & Corgan, J.X. (1999) Review of Cyclostomia Sacco, 1892 and Marginodostomia Nomura, 1936, two taxa of the Pyramidellacea (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia). Basteria, 63, 61–68.
  2. Adams, A. (1860) Mollusca Japonica: New species of Chrysallida and Parthenia. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 3, 5 (30), 477–479. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222936008697257
  3. Adams, A. (1863) On the species of Pyramidellinae found in Japan. Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London, 7 (25), 1–6. [http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8580857] https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1863.tb02084.x
  4. Angulo-Preckler, C., Hempel, C., Frappi, S., Lim, K.K., Terraneo, T., Steinke, D., Rabaoui, L.J., Benzoni, F. & Duarte, C.M. (2024) Unveiling Biodiversity: The status of marine species barcoding in Red Sea Metazoans. Global Ecology and Conservation, 56, e03339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03339
  5. Beu, A.G. (1978) Habitat and relationships of Iphitella neozelanica (Dell) (Gastropoda; Epitoniidae). New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 12 (4), 391–396. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288330.1978.9515766
  6. Berry, S.S. (1910) [Review of] Report on a collection of shells from Peru, with a summary of littoral marine Mollusca of the Peruvian zoological province. By William Healey Dall, 1909, Proceedings of United States National Museum, 37, 147–294, pls. 20–28. The Nautilus, 23 (10), 130–132. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00963801.37-1704.147
  7. Bonfitto, A. (2018) New species of Epitoniidae (Gastropoda: Epitonioidea) from the Red Sea. Molluscan Research, 38 (2), 119–129. https://doi.org/10.1080/13235818.2017.1385168
  8. Bonfitto, A. (2020) A new species of Gregorioiscala (Gastropoda: Epitoniidae) from the Red Sea. Archiv für Molluskenkunde, 149 (2), 147–150. https://doi.org/10.1127/arch.moll/149/147-150
  9. Bonfitto, A. (2024) A new genus and species of Nassariidae (Gastropoda: Neogastropoda) from the Red Sea. Molluscan Research, 44 (4), 358–361. https://doi.org/10.1080/13235818.2024.2409628
  10. Bonfitto, A., Morassi, M. & Sabelli, B. (2001) Austrodaphnella yemenensis new species (Gastropoda: Turridae) from Yemen, Red Sea, with notes on A. alcestis (Melvill, 1906). The Nautilus, 115 (3), 84–89. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.11269
  11. Bonfitto, A. & Smriglio, C. (2020) Three new marginellid gastropods (Muricoidea: Marginellidae: Granunilinae) from the Red Sea and Djibouti (Gulf of Aden). Molluscan Research, 40 (6), 77–85. https://doi.org/10.1080/13235818.2019.1671648
  12. Bouchet, P., Decock, W., Lonneville, B., Vanhoorne, B. & Vandepitte, L. (2023) Marine biodiversity discovery: the metrics of new species descriptions. Frontiers in Marine Sciences, 10, 929989. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.929989
  13. Bouchet, P. & Taviani, M. (1992) The Mediterranean deep-sea fauna: Pseudopopulations of Atlantic species? Deep Sea Research, Part A. Oceanographic Research Papers, 39, 169–184. https://doi.org/10.1016/0198-0149(92)90103-Z
  14. Bouchet, P. & Warén, A. (1986) Revision of the Northeast Atlantic bathyal and abyssal Aclididae Eulimidae, Epitoniidae (Mollusca, Gastropoda). Bollettino Malacologico, Supplement 2, 297–576. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.140762
  15. Brown, L.G. (2019) New species of Nystiellidae and Epitoniidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from the northeastern Pacific. Molluscan Research, 39 (1), 64–69. https://doi.org/10.1080/13235818.2018.1433956
  16. Chakraborty, M.I., Sharifi, A., Benzoni, F., Tissot, F.L.H., Pourmand, A., Taviani, M., Howes, B., Swart, P.K., Lua, C., Rodrigue, M. & Purkis, S.J. (2025) Deep-water corals indicate the Red Sea survived the last glacial lowstand. PNAS, 122 (8), e2415559122. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2415559122
  17. Danovaro, R., Gambi, C., Dell’anno, A., Coridalnesi, C., Fraschetti, S., Vanreusel, A., Vincx, M. & Gooday, A.J. (2008) Exponential decline of deep-sea ecosystem functioning linked to benthic biodiversity loss. Current Biology, 18 (1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2007.11.056
  18. Dautzenberg, P. & Fischer, H. (1896) Dragages effectués par l’Hirondelle et par la Princesse Alice 1888-1895. 1. Mollusques Gastéropodes. Mémoires de la Société Zoologique de France, 9, 395–498.
  19. Dell, R.K. (1956) The archibenthal Mollusca of New Zealand. Dominion Museum Bulletin, 18, 1–235.
  20. Dell’Angelo, B., Landau, B.M., Sosso, M. & Taviani, M. (2020) Late Pleistocene Red Sea Mollusca: 1. Polyplacophora. Zootaxa, 4772 (3), 401–449. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4772.3.1
  21. Dibattista, J.D., Berumen, M.L., Gaither, M.R., Rocha, L.A., Eble, J.A., Choat, J.H., Craig, M.T. & Skillings, D.J. & Bowen, B.W. (2013) After continents divide: comparative phylogeography of reef fishes from the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. Journal of Biogeography, 40, 1170–1181. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12068
  22. Edwards, A.J. & Head, S.M. (1987) Red Sea, Key Environments Series. Pergamon Press, Oxford, UK.
  23. Fricke, H.W. & Hottinger, L. (1983) Coral bioherms below the euphotic zone in the Red Sea. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 11, 113–117. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps011113
  24. Gray, J.E. (1840) Shells of molluscous animals. In: Woodfall, G. (Ed.), Synopsis of the contents of the British Museum. Vol. 42. Printed by G. Woodfall and Son, London, pp. 105–152. [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/55287672]
  25. Grill, B. & Zuschin, M. (2001) Modern shallow-to deep-water bivalve death assemblages in the Red Sea – ecology and bio-geography. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 168, 75–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-0182(00)00250-9
  26. Hedley, C. (1912) Descriptions of some new or noteworthy shells in the Australian Museum. Records of the Australian Museum, 8 (3), 131–160. https://doi.org/10.3853/j.0067-1975.8.1912.940
  27. Hornung, A. & Mermod, G. (1924) Mollusques de la Mer Rouge recueillis par A. Issel faisant partie des collections du Musée Civique d’Histoire Naturelle de Gênes. Première partie, Pyramidellides. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria, 51, 283–311.
  28. IFREMER (1993) Recueil annuel des campagnes océanographiques françaises 1992. Ifremer. Available from: https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00716/82838/ (accessed 9 February 2026)
  29. Janssen, R. & Taviani, M. (1985) Factors constraining the composition of the Red Sea deep mollusc fauna. 4th Deep-Sea Biology Symposium. Hamburg, 23–29 June 1985, 12.
  30. Janssen, R. & Taviani, M. (2015) Taxonomic, ecological and historical considerations on the deep-water benthic mollusc fauna of the Red Sea. In: Rasul, N.M.A. & Stewart, I.C.F. (Eds.), The Red Sea. Springer Earth System Sciences, Berlin, pp. 511–529. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45201-1_29
  31. Jarosz, E., Murray, S.P. & Inoue, M. (2005) Observations on the characteristics of tides in the Bab el Mandab Strait. Journal of Geophysical Research, 110, C03015. https://doi.org/10.1029/2004JC002299
  32. Jeffreys, J.G. (1883) On the Mollusca procured during the ‘Lightning’ and ‘Porcupine’ expeditions 1868-70. (Part VI). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1882, 88–115. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1883.tb06645.x
  33. Joydas, T.V., Qurban, M.A., Alia, S.M., Albarua, J.F., Rabaoui, L., Manikandan, K.P., Ashraf, M., Papadopoulos, V.P., Giacobbe, S. & Krishnakumar, P.K. (2018) Macrobenthic community structure in the deep waters of the Red Sea. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 137, 35–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2018.05.004
  34. Laseron, C.F. (1959) Family Pyramidellidae (Mollusca) from Northern Australia. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 10 (2), 177–267. https://doi.org/10.1071/MF9590177
  35. Mora, C., Tittensor, D.P., Adl, S., Simpson, A.G.B. & Worm, B. (2011) How many species are there on Earth and in the Ocean? PLoS Biology, 9 (8), e1001127. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001127
  36. Morassi, M. & Bonfitto, A. (2001a) Taranidaphne dufresnei (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Conidae), new genus and species from Yemen, Red Sea. The Veliger, 44 (1), 66–72. [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42495777]
  37. Morassi, M. & Bonfitto, A. (2001b) Pseudorhaphitoma kilburni (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Turridae), new species from Yemen, Red Sea. The Veliger, 44 (1), 100–104. [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42495811]
  38. Morassi, M. & Bonfitto, A. (2006) Cryptodaphne kilburni, a new species of bathyal turrid (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia) from the Gulf of Aden (Northwestern Indian Ocean). The Veliger, 48 (3), 230–233.
  39. Morassi, M. & Bonfitto, A. (2013) Three new bathyal raphitomine gastropods (Mollusca: Conoidea) from the Indo-Pacific region. Zootaxa, 3620 (4), 579–588. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3620.4.7
  40. Morassi, M. & Bonfitto, A. (2015) New Indo-Pacific species of the genus Teretia Norman, 1888 (Gastropoda: Raphitomidae). Zootaxa, 3911 (4), 560–570. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3911.4.5
  41. Nomura, S. (1936) Pyramidellidae from Siogama Bay, Northeast Honsyû, Japan. Saito Ho-On kai Museum Research Bulletin, 10, 1–108, pls. 1–12.
  42. Okutani, T. (2000) Marine mollusks in Japan. Tokai University Press, Tokyo, 1173 pp.
  43. Peñas, A. & Rolán, E. (2017) Deep water Pyramidelloidea from the Central and South Pacific. The Tribe Chrysallidini. Sociedad Española de Malacología, ECMAT – Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, 412 pp.
  44. Peñas, A., Rolán, E. & Sabelli, B. (2020) The family Pyramidellidae in the Red Sea I. The tribe Chrysallidini. Iberus, 38 (Supplement 8), 1–98.
  45. Pimenta, A.D., Andrade, B.G. & Absalão, R.S. (2018) Taxonomy of Nystiellidae (Caenogastropoda, Epitonioidea) from Brazil, with description of three new species from the South-western Atlantic. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 98 (7), 1619–1644. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315417000984
  46. Poppe, G.T. & Tagaro, S.P. (2016) New marine mollusks from the central Philippines in the families Aclididae, Chilodontidae, Cuspidariidae, Nuculanidae, Nystiellidae, Seraphsidae and Vanikoridae. Visaya, 4 (5), 83–103.
  47. Qurban, M.A., Krishnakumar, P.K., Joydas, T.V., Manikandan, K.P., Ashraf, T.T.M., Sampath, G., Thiyagarajan, D., He, S. & Cairns, S.D. (2020) Discovery of deep-water coral frameworks in the northern Red Sea waters of Saudi Arabia. Scientific Reports, 10, 15356. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-72344-5
  48. Rasul, N.M.A. & Stewart, I.C.F. (Eds.) (2019) Oceanographic and Biological Aspects of the Red Sea. Springer Oceanography, Springer Nature Switzerland AG, Cham, VIII + 550 pp. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99417-8
  49. Roder, C., Berumen, M.L., Bouwmeester, J., Papathanassiou, E., Al-Suwailem, A. & Voolstra, C.R. (2013) First biological measurements of deep-sea corals from the Red Sea. Scientific Reports, 3, 2802. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep02802
  50. Rueda, J.L., Urra, J., Aguilar, R., Angeletti, L., Bo, M., García-Ruiz, C., González-Duarte, M.M., López, E., Madurell, T., Maldonado, M., Mateo-Ramírez, Á., Megina, M., Moreira, J., Moya, J., Ramalho, L.V., Rosso, A., Sitjà, C. & Taviani, M. (2019) Cold-Water Coral Associated Fauna in the Mediterranean Sea and Adjacent Areas. In: Orejas, C. & Jiménez, C. (Eds.), Mediterranean Cold-Water Corals: Past, Present and Future. Coral Reefs of the World 9. Springer International Publishing AG, Cham, pp. 295–333. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91608-8_29
  51. Rützen-Kositzkau, B. von (1999) Taphonomie und Biogeographie des hartteiltragenden Makrobenthos im Tiefwasser des Roten Meeres. Beringeria, 24, 1–150.
  52. Sabelli, B. (2022) A semicritical list of shelled Gastropods cited from the Red Sea. Bollettino Malacologico, 58 (2), 1–356. https://doi.org/10.53559/BollMalacol.2022.08
  53. Sabelli, B. & Taviani, M. (1997) Iphitus robertsi (Epitoniidae: Nystiellinae), a new species of deep-sea gastropod from the Gulf of Mexico. The Nautilus, 110 (3), 94–96. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.3574
  54. Sabelli, B. & Taviani, M. (2014) The making of the Mediterranean molluscan biodiversity. In: Goffredo, S. & Dubinsky, Z. (Eds.), The Mediterranean Sea: Its history and present challenges. Springer, Dordrecht, pp. 285–306. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6704-1_16
  55. Seguenza, G. (1876) Studi stratigrafici sulla formazione pliocenica dell’Italia meridionale. Bollettino, Reale Comitato Geologico d’Italia, 7, 179–189.
  56. Sonnewald, M. & El-Sherbiny, M.M. (2017) Editorial: Red Sea biodiversity. Marine Biodiversity, 47, 991–993. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-017-0648-9
  57. Taviani, M., Bini, G., Nappo, A. & Pagli, A. (2025) Iphitus (Depressiphitus) davidei (Caenogastropoda, Epitoniidae): A peculiar new deep-sea subgenus and species from Eastern Atlantic seamounts. Zootaxa, 5620 (2), 353–366. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5620.2.8
  58. Türkay, M. (1996) Composition of the deep Red Sea macro- and megabenthic invertebrate fauna. Zoogeographic and ecological implications. In: Uiblein, F., Ott, J. & Stachowitsch, M. (Eds.), Biosystematics and Ecology Series, 11, pp. 43–59.
  59. Wafar, M., Ashraf, M., Manikandan, K.P., Qurban, M.A.L. & Kattan, Y. (2016) Propagation of Gulf of Aden Intermediate Water (GAIW) in the Red Sea during autumn and its importance to biological production. Journal of Marine Systems, 154, 243–251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2015.10.016
  60. WoRMS (2025) Available from: https://www.marinespecies.org/ (accessed 26 January 2025)

How to Cite

Bonfitto, A., Taviani, M. & Sabelli, B. (2026) Three new species of Gastropoda from the Red Sea deep waters. Zootaxa, 5777 (2), 365–374. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5777.2.8