Crassispira


Crassispira is a genus of small predatory sea snails with narrow, high-spired shells, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pseudomelatomidae.

Taxonomy

The small blackish Drillias so common in Panamic waters, of which Pleurotoma bottae Valenciennes is the type, were brought under the name of Crassispira Swainson, 1840 by W.H. Dall in 1918.

Description

Most species in this genus have a tall spire and a truncated anterior canal. The ribs are overridden by spirals, forming beads or nodules. Under the subsutural keel is the sinus area rather smooth.
The small shell is subclavate and tuberculated. The spire is thick and, lengthened. The outer lip shows a slight sinus above and is thickened internally at the top and the bottom. The top of the inner lip has a thick pad. The basal channel is slightly defined.
The shell is medium-sized. The aperture is moderately long and wide, scarcely contracted at the base, forming a suggestion of a siphonal canal, moderately emarginate at the base. The siphonal fasciole is slightly bulging. The body whorl is varicose near the outer lip. The anal sinus is deep and narrow. The apex is semicircular and lies some distance from the suture below thread on the anal fasciole. The base of outer lip bears a very shallow, broad sinus, or stromboid notch. The inner lip is detached. The parietal callus is thickened adjoining the anal sinus. The sculpture consists of narrow axial ribs, between which the spiral threads or grooves. The anal fasciole bears a strong spiral cord.
The shell has a strong subsutural collar, a moderately narrow but strongly concave subsutural slope, strong axial ribs that do not cross the subsutural slope, and strong spiral threads between the axial ribs.

Species

Species within the genus Crassispira are numerous. According to the World Register of Marine Species, they include:
;Nomen nudum:
; Species brought into synonymy :