Pyrunculus ovatus
Shell description
The thick shell is external and white in colour, usually with a pear-like shape. The opening is small, but extends the length of the shell. The top of the shell (apex) is sunken. The shell is umbilicated. The shell has a pattern consisting of growth lines. This species is only known from the shell, the length of this varies between 5–5.8 mm.
Animal description
Unknown.
Anatomy
Unknown.
Ecology
Occurs in depths from 180–550 m on sand with clay and coral rubble (Sars 1878, Høisæter 2009).
Geographical distribution
Occurs around Lofoten (Brattegard & Holthe 2001), but there have been reports of specimens from as far south as Risværfjorden (64°59.9 N) (Høisæter 2009).
Ventral view of shell (SEM), scale bar = 1 mm.
Dorsal view of shell (SEM), scale bar = 1 mm.
Apex of shell (SEM), scale bar = 30 μm.
References
Brattegard T og Holthe T (2001). Distribution of marine, benthic macroogranisms in Norway. Research report for DN-2001-3. Directorate for Nature Management.
Høisæter T (2009). Distribution of marine, benthic, shell bearing gastropods along the Norwegian coast. Fauna Norvegica 28: 5-106.
Sars GO (1878). Mollusca regionis Arcticae Norvegiae. Oversigt over de i Norges arktiske region forekommende bløddyr. Bidrag til kundskaben om Norges arktiske fauna: 1. Brøgger, Christiania.