Header Image
Epitoniidae Berry, 1910 (1812)

Gyroscala mikeleei

Garcia, 2003

Description:

Dimensions range from 37 mm - 47.5 mm high and 15.4 mm wide.
Width to height ratio: 0.42:1 ~ 0.32:1

Shell: Pyramidal, acute; moderately small to medium. Exterior colour chalky-white.. About 12.5 whorls; protoconch missing in holotype. Suture deep. Imperforate: umbilicus closed. Approximately 30 costae on the body whorl. Costae are thin, low, narrower than interspaces. Costae slightly peaked, higher adapically, creating a narrow shoulder. Intercostal spaces Spiral sculpture of uneven, crowded, low threads. Base weak basal ridge; sculpture decreases below the ridge. Aperture ovate, lip simple. Operculum unknown.


Distribution:

Indonesia, New Caledonia Solomon Islands


Habitat:

450-699 m


Etymology:

Named for Michael D. Lee, of Lafayette, Louisiana, who has been my companion on collecting trips for more than a quarter of a century [Garcia, 2003]


Type Material:

Holotype MNHN length 47.3 mm, width 15.4 mm; 1 paratype MNHN; 1 paratype PPPO-LIPI. for Gyroscala mikeleei Garcia, 2003 - Locality: Indonesia, Tanimbar Islands, 08°36'S, 131°33°E, 676-699 m [KARUBAR sta. CP72].. [Garcia, E.F., 2003]
Holotype: MNHN 4320 for Gyroscala mikeleei Garcia, 2003 - Locality: KARUBAR station CP72, Tanimbar Islands, Indonesia, 08o 36'S, 131o 33'E, 676-699 m.. [Brown, L. & Neville, B.D., 2015]


SpeciesImage

Garcia, E.F. (2003). pp: 17. Fig. 51-52.

Gyroscala mikeleein. sp
Indonesia, Tanimbar Islands, 08"36'S, 131"33'E, 676-699 m [KARUBAR sta., CP72]. Holotype (MNHN) length 47.3 mm, width 15.4 mm.

Distribution

as listed in source literature

Garcia, E.F. (2003).
Species Image
pp: 17. Fig. 51-52.
Gyroscala mikeleein. sp
Indonesia, Tanimbar Islands, 08"36'S, 131"33'E, 676-699 m [KARUBAR sta., CP72]. Holotype (MNHN) length 47.3 mm, width 15.4 mm.
arsint.com (2023).
Species Image
Gyroscala mikeleei
37 mm
Solomon Islands.

Source Literature:

arsint.com (2023). Shells for Sale:Epitonidae. arsint.com. http://www.arsint.com/seashells_epitoniidae_opalia.html [Accessed 21 October 2023]
Brown, L. & Neville, B.D. (2015). Catalog of the recent taxa of the families Epitoniidae and Nystiellidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) with a bibliography of the descriptive and systematic literature. Zootaxa. 3907(1). Magnolia Press Auckland, New Zealand. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3907.1.1 [Accessed 22 October 2023]
Garcia, E.F. (2003). New records of Indo-Pacific Epitoniidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) with the description of nineteen new specie. Novapex. 4 (Hors-série 1). http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42322472 [Accessed 26 August 2023]
WoRMS Editorial Board (2025). World Register of Marine Species. https://www.marinespecies.org [Accessed 8 November 2025]

WoRMS direct page link: Open WoRMS record