Abstract
A bizarre gastropod species, Pluviostilla palauensis from a shallow-water, submarine cave (gloomy to totally dark inside) in Palau is described as a new genus and species based on the empty shells. The species is small in size and has unique shell features such as an overall inverse raindrop-shape, architectonicoidean-like planispiral early teleoconch whorls, abapically projected tube-like aperture and hollowed umbilicus completely closed by the whorls. Shell wall microstructure and protoconch morphology suggest a possible affinity to neritopsines, but it is very tentative and the systematic position of this species is still unknown. A sedentary mode of life, as in architectonicoideans, is inferred for the species.
