''Abyssochrysos'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of bathyal

sea snail Sea snail is a common name for slow-moving marine gastropod molluscs, usually with visible external shells, such as whelk or abalone. They share the taxonomic class Gastropoda with slugs, which are distinguished from snails primarily by the ...

marine Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean. Marine or marines may refer to: Ocean * Maritime (disambiguation) * Marine art * Marine biology * Marine debris * Marine habitats * Marine life * Marine pollution Military * ...

gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, from freshwater, and from land. T ...

mollusk Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is e ...

s in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Abyssochrysidae Abyssochrysidae is a family of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the clade Caenogastropoda (according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005). Taxonomy The family Abyssochrysidae was previously placed in the "Zygop ...

Description

The characteristics (shell, radula and anatomy) of the species mark this genus as simple gastropods, unassigned in the clade

Caenogastropoda Caenogastropoda is a taxonomic clade, a large diverse group which are mostly sea snails and other marine gastropod mollusks, but also includes some freshwater snails and some land snails. The clade is the most diverse and ecologically successfu ...

. Their taenioglossate

radula The radula (, ; plural radulae or radulas) is an anatomical structure used by molluscs for feeding, sometimes compared to a tongue. It is a minutely toothed, chitinous ribbon, which is typically used for scraping or cutting food before the food ...

(formula: 2+1+1+1+2) is unique among the

Prosobranchia Prosobranchia was a large taxonomic subclass of sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails. This taxon of gastropods dates back to the 1920s. It has however been proven to be polyphyletic (consisting of more than one lineage of descent). Gene ...

because of the sickle-shaped rachidian tooth and the thick, sinuous, sharply cusped lateral teeth. They have tentacles but lack eyes. The mantle cavity goes deep (about 2½

whorl A whorl ( or ) is an individual circle, oval, volution or equivalent in a whorled pattern, which consists of a spiral or multiple concentric objects (including circles, ovals and arcs). Whorls in nature File:Photograph and axial plane floral ...

s). The long, wide ctenidium is monopectinate. The pallial gonoducts are closed. The large penis-like organ is a right-dorsal mantle process.

Species

Species within the genus ''Abyssochrysos'' include: * '' Abyssochrysos bicinctus'' Bouchet, 1991Bouchet P. (1991). "New records and new species of ''Abyssochrysos'' (Mollusca, Caenogastropoda). ''Journal of Natural History'' 25(2): 305–313. . * '' Abyssochrysos brasilianus'' Bouchet, 1991 * '' Abyssochrysos eburneus'' Locard, 1897 * '' Abyssochrysos melanioides'' Tomlin, 1927 * '' Abyssochrysos melvilli'' Schepman, 1909 * '' Abyssochrysos xouthos'' Killeen & Oliver, 2000 ;Species brought into synonymy: * ''Abyssochrysos bicinctum'' Bouchet, 1991: synonym of ''Abyssochrysos bicinctus'' Bouchet, 1991 * ''Abyssochrysos brasilianum'' Bouchet, 1991: synonym of ''Abyssochrysos brasilianus'' Bouchet, 1991 * ''Abyssochrysos eburneum'' (Locard, 1897): synonym of ''Abyssochrysos eburneus'' (Locard, 1897)

References

* Bouchet P. (1991). ''New records and new species of Abyssochrysos (Mollusca, Caenogastropoda). Journal of Natural History 25(2): 305–313 {{Taxonbar, from=Q4670759 Abyssochrysidae