Description of an Endangered New Species of Lunella (Gastropoda:Turbinidae) from the Ogasawara Islands, Japan

Abstract

A new turbinid species, Lunella ogasawarana n. sp., is described. This species from the Ogasawara Islands was previously identified as Lunella cinerea. However, both morphological and preliminary molecular studies have revealed that the new species is distinct from L. cinerea. Lunella ogasawarana n. sp. occurs only in the Ogasawara Islands and much of its habitat has been destroyed over the last few decades, so that it is in danger of extinction.