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V. Garilli, 2008
Apr. 1988, M76A; Istria, Umag, 1 sh., coll. MF, 1978,
M109A; Istria, Umag, Taverna Lero, 0.3 m, 1 sh., 17 Jun.
1978, coll. MF, M109B; Kaciack, dam of Cigale, 4 m, 1
sh., 29 Jul. 1983, coll. MF, M14A. Greece (Aegean Sea):
NW Aegean, Island of Limnos, near Moudros, 3–5 m, 48
shs, coll. MF, A. Lugli legit Aug. 1991, M80A; Sithonia,
Ormos Panagias, 2–3 m, 1 sh., Aug. 1982, coll. MF,
M31B; Sithonia, Nesis Dhiaporos, 33–34 m, 2 shs, coll.
MF, 01 Aug. 1986, M31D. Unknown locality from Medi-
terranean Sea: 120 shs, MNHN coll. Vayssière.
Habitat: The species is usually found at depths com-
patible with the upper part of the shelf, the infralitoral
stage of Pérès and Picard (1964). Rarely, I found material
collected from the tidal zone. According to Gofas and
Ponder (1991), Alvania carinata lives deeply buried un-
der stones. It seems also to be linked (in the Mediterra-
nean) to phanerogam beds. The finding of two shells
from the Island of Capraia (Tuscan Archipelago), col-
lected at a depth of 100–400 m, is much probably due to
lower shelf-slope transport.
Distribution: Occurs probably throughout the Medi-
terranean, but its presence in the easternmost coasts,
from which I did not see any material, needs to be con-
firmed. In the Atlantic it is recorded from the coasts of
Great Britain south to Morocco. As fossil, it is rare in the morph, which usually lacks the main features of Galeo-
Mediterranean Neogene where it is recorded from the
lower Pliocene yellow sands near Siena. It becomes more
frequent during the Mediterranean Quaternary, where I
found it from the lower Pleistocene of Reggio Calabria,
and the middle-upper Pleistocene of Sicily (Tommaso
Natale, Capo Milazzo and Trapani).
Remarks: A complete synonymy list was provided by
Piani (1979) and Van Aartsen (1982). In various collec-
tions, I found different lots of this species containing
juvenile shells (not higher than 3 mm, see Figure 8)
identified as Alvania cingulata (Philippi, 1836), species
hereafter re-described and discussed. This wrong deter-
mination very likely follows the misidentification of Piani
(1979, figs. 2–3) and Giannuzzi-Savelli et al. (1996, figure Alvinia (Galeodina) cingulata (Philippi, 1836).—Nordsieck,
499).
Typically, the shell of this species has a characteristic
keeled shape due to the presence of well marked spiral
cords that become very strong on the well-developed last
whorl. The number of cords on adult whorls is slightly
variable, 3–4 in the penultimate whorl. The not-keeled
morph, characterized by having a slender and turrited
shape and more numerous cords (5–6 in the penultimate
whorl), is the “form” ecarinata Bucquoy et al., 1884 (Fig-
ures 1, 4–5), also known as minor-ecarinata Montero-
sato, 1884 (probably corresponding to Rissoa lucullana
var. cancellata Scacchi, 1836, as indicated by Piani,
1979). It has been considered a Mediterranean subspe-
cies of A. carinata by Van Aartsen (1982). I found no
shells clearly belonging to this morph in the Atlantic
material studied (mainly from the MNHN-DSE collec-
tions). However, in some Mediterranean areas (e.g. along
the French coast in the MNHN-DSE collections), I
Page 25
found the typical morph together with unkeeled shells.
Thus I am more inclined to consider it just a case of
intraspecific variation, which appears well represented in
Mediterranean populations. The keeled morph, charac-
terized by having three spiral cords on subadult whorls
and a very expanded body whorl (more than 3/4 of the
shell height, see Figure 3) fits well within the concept of
Rissoa trochlea Michaud, 1830, which is certainly a syn-
onym of A. carinata.
Alvania carinata is the type species of Galeodina
Monterosato, 1884, a genus created for cingulated,
keeled, varicose rissoid shells with a wide aperture
(Monterosato, 1884a, p. 163). This generic division can
appear quite artificial, not being supported by appropri-
ate and constant taxonomic features. Also, the consider-
ation of Galeodina as a well-established subgenus of Al-
vania, as indicated by Wenz (1938) and Van Aartsen
(1982), appears doubtful. Ponder (1985), who synony-
mized most of the available subgenera with Alvania
sensu stricto, expressed some uncertainty when consid-
ering Galeodina as a valid taxon. He recognized the ig-
norance of anatomical features as the main gap in solving
this systematic question. In any event, the shell charac-
ters alone do not provide enough support for Galeodina
to stand as a subgenus. For example, the unkeeled
dina, including the characteristic varices of the keeled
morph, might be compared to the Alvinia Monterosato,
1884, species group, with which it shares a slender, tur-
reted shell shape. It is noteworthy that Cossmann (1921)
cited Galeodina as a synonym of Alvinia.
Alvania cingulata (Philippi, 1836)
(Figures 15–26)
Rissoa cingulata Philippi, 1836: 152–153.
Acinus cingulatus (Philippi).—Monterosato, 1884b: 62.
Cingula (Onoba) cingulata (Philippi, 1836).—Nordsieck, 1968:
46, pl. VII, fig. 26.35
1972: 181, pl. RVI, fig. 20.
Description: Small, sturdy, conical-ovate shell reach-
ing 3.5 mm in height, 2.2 mm in width. Protoconch pau-
cispiral, consisting of little more than 1.5 convex and very
rounded whorls, sculptured by 5–6 very fine spiral lirae.
Several prosocirte growth scars precede protoconch/
teleoconch transition (Figure 20). Teleoconch consists of
about 4 cingulated convex whorls separated by slightly
inclined sutures. Very early teleoconch whorls bear two
main spiral cords crossed by numerous axial ridges.
Sculpture of adult whorls consisting of spiral cords more
conspicuous than axials, which are 5–6 and 10–11 on the
penultimate and body whorls respectively. Axial sculp-
ture formed by narrower (half the breadth of a spiral
cord) ribs, numbering about 40 on penultimate whorl,
and which become obsolete toward shell base. Micro-
sculpture consists of spiral rows of small tubercles that do
not seem to appear on main sculpture (Figure 26). A few
irregular scars cross these spiral rows. Last whorl rather