Southwestern Atlantic species of conoidean gastropods of the genus Aforia Dall, 1889

Abstract

A new species of the conoidean genus Aforia is described from the Southwestern Atlantic in Argentine deep waters. Detailedstudy of the type material of nominal species, Aforia goniodes (Watson, 1881) and its synonym Pleurotoma claraMartens, 1880, both described from deep waters off Argentina, allowed recognition of a new species. Aforia obesa sp.nov. was collected from 7 stations in 647 to 1,398 m depth during three cruises to the Mar del Plata submarine Canyon inthe Argentine continental slope on the R/V "PUERTO DESEADO". Shells, radulae, penises and opercula of adults and juvenilesof A. obesa n. sp. from several localities are illustrated, described and compared to other living congeners.