Babelomurex sentix (Bayer 1971)

Type of larval development: planktotrophic, inferred from multispiral protoconch.

Protoconch of ca. 3.3 whorls, usually eroded on adults, with sculpture formed by two spiral keels and small, interrupted axial riblets. Teleoconch of ca. 6 whorls, with conical spire. Spire whorls very strongly keeled, with an incised suture; body whorl convex in the area bordering abapically the keel, then somewhat constricted towards the siphonal canal. Sculpture on the teleoconch whorls consisting of low, irregular and rugose spiral cords; the early whorls bear low and broad axial folds which tend to disappear on the body whorl; the shoulder keel bears ragged projections delimiting a concave surface between the keel and the suture. Siphonal canal long, twisted, open, with an imbricate fasciole enclosing a narrow umbilical chink on large specimens. Aperture gradually tapering towards siphonal canal, rounded adapically; outer lip simple, with smooth edge, forming a shallow inwards embayment on the adapical side, orthocline. Ground colour ivory white, inside the aperture bright white. Babelomurex atlantidis Oliverio & Gofas, 2006 differs in being smaller, with distinct scaly spiral cords instead of smoothish cords with an eroded aspect in B. sentix.

Lesser Antilles; the Azores; Great Meteor, Hyères, Irving and Atlantis seamounts, moderately common in 320-790 m; occasional in the Western Mediterranean