**3. Results**

Among the 570 specimens collected, three pairs of 'sibling' species of *Raphitoma* appropriate for comparison were identified, which are presented in **Figures 1**–**4** and described below in an alphabetical order.

*Raphitoma contigua* (Monterosato, 1884) (**Figure 1c** and **d**).

*Collection stations*: 13 shells (5.00–10.00 mm long, 2.10–4.20 mm wide) were collected from detritus material trapped in small-scale fishing nets at 10–120 m from mixed bottoms of Central Saronikos Gulf: Pantokratoras, Preveza.

*Description*: The shell is hyaline, fusiform, and 2.2 times as long as wide. Its multispiral protoconch, which is approximately 390 μm (mean) wide and 490 μm (mean) high, bears a 230 μm (mean) protoconch I of slightly more than 1 whorl that is decorated with regularly placed small tubercules. Protoconch II consists of almost 1.5 diagonally cancellated and convex whorls, the last of which bears a weak keel with erasures before the onset of the teleoconch. The teleoconch consists of five convex whorls separated by a deep suture. The body whorl occupies almost 65% of the total length and bears 15–16 orthocline axial ribs with interspaces approximately 1.5 times wider than the ribs themselves and 17–18 spiral cords slightly thinner than the ribs, six of which are situated above the aperture and the rest 12 below the extension of the suture. The spiral cords in their intersections with the axial ribs form erasures in the form of small elongated rectangular tubercules. The tubercles on the first two adapical cords are spiny and close to each other forming a subsutural ramp. The shell's inner wall viewed through the aperture exhibits a transparency. The aperture occupies approximately 45% of the shells length and exhibits a smooth and sigmoid columella, angled at its upper part. The anterior siphonal canal is short and wide, while the posterior one is deep and narrow. The color is uniformly light yellowish tan and in certain shells darker with irregularly situated areas of cream-white and a white subsutural band by the ramp and one more as an extension of the suture on the body whorl. Protoconch I is white and the rest is light yellowish tan with white erasures.

*Similar species*: *R*. *contigua* superficially resembles a number of congeneric Mediterranean *Raphitoma* species, but it is different from: *R. alternans* (Monterosato, 1884), in which, the latter has a paucispiral protoconch, a more elongated shell, and a different color pattern; *R. atropurpurea* in its color, which is honey-red instead of purple-brown in *R. atropurpurea* and in its less slender spire than *R*. *atropurpurea*; *R*. *densa* (Monterosato, 1884) in the color and the paucispiral protoconch of the late; *Raphitoma lineolata* (Bucquoy, Dautzenberg and Dollfus, 1883) in its more inflated profile, its more robust shell, in the presence of a narrow subsutural ramp in *R*. *contigua*, in its wider aperture, and in the absence in *R*. *contigua* of a subsutural white cord present in *R*. *lineolata*; *R*. *oblonga* (Jeffreys, 1867) in its wider aperture and the different color pattern; *R*. *spadiana* mainly because the latter bears a paucispiral protoconch [17].

*Habitat and distribution*: Infralittoral, on sandy and muddy bottoms, also under stones and in the holes of the rocks [38]. Central Mediterranean Sea [17, 36, 38].

Possible Poecilogony Due to Discontinuous Multifactorial Inheritance in Some Mediterranean Species... http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/67847 27

**Figure 1.** (a and b): *R*. *spadiana*, (c and d): *R*. *contigua*.

**3. Results**

an alphabetical order.

26 Organismal and Molecular Malacology

*Raphitoma contigua* (Monterosato, 1884) (**Figure 1c** and **d**).

Central Saronikos Gulf: Pantokratoras, Preveza.

Among the 570 specimens collected, three pairs of 'sibling' species of *Raphitoma* appropriate for comparison were identified, which are presented in **Figures 1**–**4** and described below in

*Collection stations*: 13 shells (5.00–10.00 mm long, 2.10–4.20 mm wide) were collected from detritus material trapped in small-scale fishing nets at 10–120 m from mixed bottoms of

*Description*: The shell is hyaline, fusiform, and 2.2 times as long as wide. Its multispiral protoconch, which is approximately 390 μm (mean) wide and 490 μm (mean) high, bears a 230 μm (mean) protoconch I of slightly more than 1 whorl that is decorated with regularly placed small tubercules. Protoconch II consists of almost 1.5 diagonally cancellated and convex whorls, the last of which bears a weak keel with erasures before the onset of the teleoconch. The teleoconch consists of five convex whorls separated by a deep suture. The body whorl occupies almost 65% of the total length and bears 15–16 orthocline axial ribs with interspaces approximately 1.5 times wider than the ribs themselves and 17–18 spiral cords slightly thinner than the ribs, six of which are situated above the aperture and the rest 12 below the extension of the suture. The spiral cords in their intersections with the axial ribs form erasures in the form of small elongated rectangular tubercules. The tubercles on the first two adapical cords are spiny and close to each other forming a subsutural ramp. The shell's inner wall viewed through the aperture exhibits a transparency. The aperture occupies approximately 45% of the shells length and exhibits a smooth and sigmoid columella, angled at its upper part. The anterior siphonal canal is short and wide, while the posterior one is deep and narrow. The color is uniformly light yellowish tan and in certain shells darker with irregularly situated areas of cream-white and a white subsutural band by the ramp and one more as an extension of the suture on the body

whorl. Protoconch I is white and the rest is light yellowish tan with white erasures.

the holes of the rocks [38]. Central Mediterranean Sea [17, 36, 38].

*Similar species*: *R*. *contigua* superficially resembles a number of congeneric Mediterranean *Raphitoma* species, but it is different from: *R. alternans* (Monterosato, 1884), in which, the latter has a paucispiral protoconch, a more elongated shell, and a different color pattern; *R. atropurpurea* in its color, which is honey-red instead of purple-brown in *R. atropurpurea* and in its less slender spire than *R*. *atropurpurea*; *R*. *densa* (Monterosato, 1884) in the color and the paucispiral protoconch of the late; *Raphitoma lineolata* (Bucquoy, Dautzenberg and Dollfus, 1883) in its more inflated profile, its more robust shell, in the presence of a narrow subsutural ramp in *R*. *contigua*, in its wider aperture, and in the absence in *R*. *contigua* of a subsutural white cord present in *R*. *lineolata*; *R*. *oblonga* (Jeffreys, 1867) in its wider aperture and the different color pattern; *R*. *spadiana* mainly because the latter bears a paucispiral protoconch [17]. *Habitat and distribution*: Infralittoral, on sandy and muddy bottoms, also under stones and in *Status*: Uncommon [34]. First record for the Greek seas.

*Raphitoma lineolata* (Bucquoy, Dollfus & Dautzenberg, 1883) (**Figure 2c** and **d**).

*Collection stations*: 44 shells (4.00–8.00 mm long, 1.40–2.80 mm wide) were collected from detritus material trapped in small-scale fishing nets at 10–40 m depth from mixed bottoms of Palioura, Epanomi; Pyrgadikia, Chalkidiki; Psakoudia, Chalkidiki; Anavyssos, Attiki; Legrena, Attiki; Central Saronikos Gulf; Syros Island; and Pantokratoras, Preveza.

*Description*: The slim, small, thin but solid and fusiform shell is almost 2.5 times as long as wide. Its multispiral protoconch, which is 410 μm (mean) wide and 510 μm (mean) high, bears a protoconch I of 226 μm (mean) and consists of 2.7 convex whorls with a white nucleus decorated with diagonally cancellated striae and the last whorl with a weak keel before the onset of the teleoconch. The later consists of five moderately convex whorls separated by a deep and canaliculated suture with a narrow ramp. The body whorl occupies in certain shells almost 75% and in others almost 60% of the total length, bearing 17–18 orthocline axial ribs with interspaces approximately as wide as the ribs and 16–17 spiral cords slightly thinner than the ribs, six of which are situated above the aperture and the rest bellow. The spiral cords in their intersections with the axial ribs exhibit mammiliform tubercules. The tubercules on the first two adapical cords are spiny and close to each other. The shell's inner wall viewed through the aperture exhibits a transparency. The aperture occupies something more than 40% of the shells length and exhibits a smooth and S-shaped columella angled at its upper part. The anterior siphonal canal is short and wide, while the posterior one is conspicuous. The outer lip bears 9–10 strong teeth with the first one delimiting the posterior canal and the last the anterior. The whole shell exhibits either a lemon-yellow or a honey-red background color with beige or honey-yellow the tubercules, respectively, and irregularly placed white highlights all over and an interrupted white band as a prolongation of the suture on the body whorl.

*Similar species*: *R*. *lineolata* superficially resembles *R*. *contigua* (Monterosato, 1884), from which it differs in that *R*. *lineolata* is slender, less robust, bears a narrow subsutural ramp, and has a smaller aperture and only a narrow white band on its body whorl [17, 18].

*Habitat and distribution*: Infralittoral, on sandy and muddy bottoms. During the day, also under stones and crevices. It can be found live among the rhizomes of *Posidonia oceanica* [38]. Mediterranean Sea [[18, 34, 38], http://www.conchigliedelmediterraneo.it].

*Status*: Uncommon [34, http://www.conchigliedelmediterraneo.it]. First record for the Greek seas.

*Raphitoma locardi* Pusateri & Giannuzzi 2013 (**Figures 3c** and **d**, and **4**).

*Collection stations:* Two shells (7.90 and 8.00 mm long, 2.90 and 2.95 mm wide, respectively) were collected from detritus material trapped in small-scale fishing nets at about 60 m depth from mixed bottoms of Central Saronikos Gulf.

*Description:* The solid and fusiform shell is almost 2.3 times as long as wide. Its multispiral protoconch is 400 μm (mean) wide and 440 μm (mean) high, bears a protoconch I of 221 μm (mean) Possible Poecilogony Due to Discontinuous Multifactorial Inheritance in Some Mediterranean Species... http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/67847 29

**Figure 2.** (a and b): *R. smriglioi*, (c and d): *R*. *lineolata*.

*Status*: Uncommon [34]. First record for the Greek seas.

28 Organismal and Molecular Malacology

*Raphitoma lineolata* (Bucquoy, Dollfus & Dautzenberg, 1883) (**Figure 2c** and **d**).

Legrena, Attiki; Central Saronikos Gulf; Syros Island; and Pantokratoras, Preveza.

*Collection stations*: 44 shells (4.00–8.00 mm long, 1.40–2.80 mm wide) were collected from detritus material trapped in small-scale fishing nets at 10–40 m depth from mixed bottoms of Palioura, Epanomi; Pyrgadikia, Chalkidiki; Psakoudia, Chalkidiki; Anavyssos, Attiki;

*Description*: The slim, small, thin but solid and fusiform shell is almost 2.5 times as long as wide. Its multispiral protoconch, which is 410 μm (mean) wide and 510 μm (mean) high, bears a protoconch I of 226 μm (mean) and consists of 2.7 convex whorls with a white nucleus decorated with diagonally cancellated striae and the last whorl with a weak keel before the onset of the teleoconch. The later consists of five moderately convex whorls separated by a deep and canaliculated suture with a narrow ramp. The body whorl occupies in certain shells almost 75% and in others almost 60% of the total length, bearing 17–18 orthocline axial ribs with interspaces approximately as wide as the ribs and 16–17 spiral cords slightly thinner than the ribs, six of which are situated above the aperture and the rest bellow. The spiral cords in their intersections with the axial ribs exhibit mammiliform tubercules. The tubercules on the first two adapical cords are spiny and close to each other. The shell's inner wall viewed through the aperture exhibits a transparency. The aperture occupies something more than 40% of the shells length and exhibits a smooth and S-shaped columella angled at its upper part. The anterior siphonal canal is short and wide, while the posterior one is conspicuous. The outer lip bears 9–10 strong teeth with the first one delimiting the posterior canal and the last the anterior. The whole shell exhibits either a lemon-yellow or a honey-red background color with beige or honey-yellow the tubercules, respectively, and irregularly placed white highlights all over and an interrupted white band as a prolongation of the suture on the body whorl.

*Similar species*: *R*. *lineolata* superficially resembles *R*. *contigua* (Monterosato, 1884), from which it differs in that *R*. *lineolata* is slender, less robust, bears a narrow subsutural ramp, and has a

*Habitat and distribution*: Infralittoral, on sandy and muddy bottoms. During the day, also under stones and crevices. It can be found live among the rhizomes of *Posidonia oceanica* [38].

*Status*: Uncommon [34, http://www.conchigliedelmediterraneo.it]. First record for the

*Collection stations:* Two shells (7.90 and 8.00 mm long, 2.90 and 2.95 mm wide, respectively) were collected from detritus material trapped in small-scale fishing nets at about 60 m depth

*Description:* The solid and fusiform shell is almost 2.3 times as long as wide. Its multispiral protoconch is 400 μm (mean) wide and 440 μm (mean) high, bears a protoconch I of 221 μm (mean)

smaller aperture and only a narrow white band on its body whorl [17, 18].

Mediterranean Sea [[18, 34, 38], http://www.conchigliedelmediterraneo.it].

*Raphitoma locardi* Pusateri & Giannuzzi 2013 (**Figures 3c** and **d**, and **4**).

from mixed bottoms of Central Saronikos Gulf.

Greek seas.

and consists of 3.0 convex whorls with nucleus decorated with diagonally cancellated striae and the last whorl with a weak keel before the onset of the teleoconch. The latter consists of five moderately convex whorls separated by a deep and canaliculated suture with a ramp. The inflated body whorl occupies almost 65% of the total length, is rounded at its base, and bears 17–18 opisthocline axial ribs with slightly wider interspaces and 19–20 spiral cords slightly thinner than the ribs, seven of which are situated above the aperture and the rest below. The spiral cords in their intersections with the axial ribs exhibit pointed tubercules that lend a rough appearance. The tubercules on the first two adapical cords are particularly spiky. The shell's inner wall viewed through the aperture exhibits a transparency. The aperture occupies some 44% of the shells length and exhibits a smooth and S-shaped columella, angled at its upper part. The anterior siphonal canal is rather long and wide, while the posterior one is narrow and shallow. The outer lip bears 10–11 strong teeth with the first one delimiting the posterior canal and the last the anterior. The whole shell exhibits a chestnut-purple background color with beige or honeyyellow irregularly placed highlights all over and an interrupted white band as a prolongation of the suture on the body whorl, while the aperture is lilac and the apex dark chestnut-purple with irregularly placed yellow spotlets. The animal's body is gray turning lighter towards the foot, the foot and the antennas are off white with white speckles and there is a white area around the eyes. The siphon is dark gray with irregularly placed white speckles but its white edge.

*Similar species: R*. *locardi* superficially resembles *R*. *contigua* (Monterosato, 1884), from which it differs in that *R. locardi* is slender, less robust, bearing a narrow subsutural ramp, and has a smaller aperture and only a narrow white band on its body whorl [17].

*Habitat and distribution:* Mediterranean Sea [[18, 34], http://www.conchigliedelmediterraneo. it].

*Status:* Uncommon ([34], http://www.conchigliedelmediterraneo.it). First record for the Greek seas.

*Raphitoma philberti* (Michaud, 1829) (**Figure 3a** and **b**).

*Collection stations*: 35 shells (8.90–9.15 mm long, 3.70–3.80 mm wide) were collected from *Zostera* bed, 0.2 m, Cape, Epanomi; several depths of Psakoudia, Chalkidiki; Nea Roda, Chalkidiki; Alonissos Island; Amorgos Island; Elaphonisos, Lakonia; Siros Island; Elaphonisi, Crete; Karpathos Island.

*Description:* Shell solid, fusiform, and almost 2.4 times as long as wide. Its paucispiral protoconch is 358 μm (mean) wide and 420 μm (mean) high and consists of approximately 1.25 convex whorls, a white nucleus decorated with diagonally cancellated striae and bears a weak keel before the onset of the teleoconch. The later consists of five moderately convex whorls separated by a deep and canaliculated suture with a ramp. The inflated body whorl occupies almost 65% of the total length, is rounded at its base, and bears 17–18 slightly opisthocline axial ribs with slightly wider interspaces and 17–19 spiral cords slightly thinner than the ribs, 6–7 of which are situated above the aperture and the rest below. The spiral cords in their intersections with the axial ribs exhibit pointed tubercules lending a rough appearance. The tubercules Possible Poecilogony Due to Discontinuous Multifactorial Inheritance in Some Mediterranean Species... http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/67847 31

**Figure 3.** (a and b): *R. philberti*, (c and d) *R*. *locardi*.

and consists of 3.0 convex whorls with nucleus decorated with diagonally cancellated striae and the last whorl with a weak keel before the onset of the teleoconch. The latter consists of five moderately convex whorls separated by a deep and canaliculated suture with a ramp. The inflated body whorl occupies almost 65% of the total length, is rounded at its base, and bears 17–18 opisthocline axial ribs with slightly wider interspaces and 19–20 spiral cords slightly thinner than the ribs, seven of which are situated above the aperture and the rest below. The spiral cords in their intersections with the axial ribs exhibit pointed tubercules that lend a rough appearance. The tubercules on the first two adapical cords are particularly spiky. The shell's inner wall viewed through the aperture exhibits a transparency. The aperture occupies some 44% of the shells length and exhibits a smooth and S-shaped columella, angled at its upper part. The anterior siphonal canal is rather long and wide, while the posterior one is narrow and shallow. The outer lip bears 10–11 strong teeth with the first one delimiting the posterior canal and the last the anterior. The whole shell exhibits a chestnut-purple background color with beige or honeyyellow irregularly placed highlights all over and an interrupted white band as a prolongation of the suture on the body whorl, while the aperture is lilac and the apex dark chestnut-purple with irregularly placed yellow spotlets. The animal's body is gray turning lighter towards the foot, the foot and the antennas are off white with white speckles and there is a white area around the

eyes. The siphon is dark gray with irregularly placed white speckles but its white edge.

smaller aperture and only a narrow white band on its body whorl [17].

*Raphitoma philberti* (Michaud, 1829) (**Figure 3a** and **b**).

it].

Greek seas.

Crete; Karpathos Island.

30 Organismal and Molecular Malacology

*Similar species: R*. *locardi* superficially resembles *R*. *contigua* (Monterosato, 1884), from which it differs in that *R. locardi* is slender, less robust, bearing a narrow subsutural ramp, and has a

*Habitat and distribution:* Mediterranean Sea [[18, 34], http://www.conchigliedelmediterraneo.

*Status:* Uncommon ([34], http://www.conchigliedelmediterraneo.it). First record for the

*Collection stations*: 35 shells (8.90–9.15 mm long, 3.70–3.80 mm wide) were collected from *Zostera* bed, 0.2 m, Cape, Epanomi; several depths of Psakoudia, Chalkidiki; Nea Roda, Chalkidiki; Alonissos Island; Amorgos Island; Elaphonisos, Lakonia; Siros Island; Elaphonisi,

*Description:* Shell solid, fusiform, and almost 2.4 times as long as wide. Its paucispiral protoconch is 358 μm (mean) wide and 420 μm (mean) high and consists of approximately 1.25 convex whorls, a white nucleus decorated with diagonally cancellated striae and bears a weak keel before the onset of the teleoconch. The later consists of five moderately convex whorls separated by a deep and canaliculated suture with a ramp. The inflated body whorl occupies almost 65% of the total length, is rounded at its base, and bears 17–18 slightly opisthocline axial ribs with slightly wider interspaces and 17–19 spiral cords slightly thinner than the ribs, 6–7 of which are situated above the aperture and the rest below. The spiral cords in their intersections with the axial ribs exhibit pointed tubercules lending a rough appearance. The tubercules

**Figure 4.** *R*. *locardi* live individual.

on the first two adapical cords are particularly spiky. The shell's inner wall viewed through the aperture exhibits a transparency. The aperture occupies some 40% of the shells length and exhibits a smooth and S-shaped columella angled at its upper part. The anterior siphonal canal is rather long and wide while the posterior one is narrow and shallow. The outer lip bears 9–11 strong teeth with the first one delimiting the posterior canal and the last the anterior. The whole shell exhibits a chestnut-purple or, rarely, a honey-yellow background color with white or light beige irregularly placed highlights all over and an interrupted white band as a prolongation of the suture on the body whorl, while the aperture is lilac and the apex dark chestnut-purple with irregularly placed yellow spotlets.

*Similar species*: *R*. *philberti* superficially resembles *R*. *contigua* (Monterosato, 1884), from which it differs in that *R. philberti* is slender, less robust, and has a smaller aperture. It differs from *R*. *locardi*, in which it bears a lecithotrophic protoconch while *R*. *locardi* bears a planktotrophic one [17].

*Habitat and distribution*: Mediterranean Sea [18, 34, http://www.conchigliedelmediterraneo.it], Central and Eastern Mediterranean Sea [18].

*Status*: Uncommon [34, http://www.conchigliedelmediterraneo.it). Species already reported for the Greek seas.

*Raphitoma smriglioi* Pusateri & Giannuzzi-Savelli, 2013 (**Figure 2a** and **b**).

*Collection stations*: Nine shells (3.75–9.70 mm long, 2.15–3.80 mm wide) were collected from detritus material trapped in small-scale fishing nets at about 50 m depth from mixed bottoms of Central Saronikos Gulf; found beached in Legrena, Attiki; mixed bottom of Pantokratoras, Preveza; *Zoster*a bed, 0.2 m, Cape, Epanomi.

*Description*: The slim, small, thin but solid and fusiform shell is almost 2.5 times as long as wide. Its paucispiral protoconch, which is 375 μm (mean) wide and 390 μm (mean) high, consists of approximately 1.25 convex whorls, bears a white nucleus, and is decorated with irregularly cancellated fine striae. The mature teleoconch consists of five moderately convex whorls separated by a deep and canaliculated suture. The body whorl occupies some 70% of the total length and bears 17–18 orthocline axial rips with interspaces almost twice as wide as the ribs. Spiral decoration of 17–18 spiral cords is slightly thinner than the ribs, six or seven of which are situated above the aperture and the rest below. The spiral cords in their intersections with the axial ribs exhibit small and elongated tubercles. The first two adapical cords are vestigial, spiky and close to each other. The shell's inner wall viewed through the aperture exhibits a transparency. The aperture occupies some 44 % of the shell length and exhibits a smooth and S-shaped columella angled at its upper part. The anterior siphonal canal is short and wide while the posterior one (anal) is conspicuous. The whole shell exhibits a variety of shades from lemon-yellow to honey-red background color with slightly lighter the cords, and irregularly placed white highlights all over.

*Similar species*: *R. smriglioi* differs from *R. contigua* (Monterosato, 1884) in its paucispiral protoconch and the lack of a subsutural ramp; *R. lineolata* (Bucquoy, Dollfus & Dautzenberg, 1883) in its paucispiral protoconch; from *R. philberti* (Michaud, 1829) in its white and smaller nucleus of the protoconch and its relatively smaller body whorl; from *R. spadiana* Pusareti & Giannuzzi-Savelli, 2012 in the lack of a subsutural ramp and in the protoconch which is slightly smaller and slender in *smriglioi* (395 μm × 400 μm) while almost 10% larger in *R. spadiana* (425 μm × 450 μm) [17, 18].

*Habitat and distribution*: Mediterranean Sea [18, 34, http://www.conchigliedelmediterraneo.it], Central and Eastern Mediterranean Sea [18].

*Status*: Uncommon ([35]; http://www.conchigliedelmediterraneo.it). First record for the Greek seas.

*Raphitoma spadiana* Pusareti & Giannuzzi-Savelli, 2012 (**Figure 1a** and **b**).

on the first two adapical cords are particularly spiky. The shell's inner wall viewed through the aperture exhibits a transparency. The aperture occupies some 40% of the shells length and exhibits a smooth and S-shaped columella angled at its upper part. The anterior siphonal canal is rather long and wide while the posterior one is narrow and shallow. The outer lip bears 9–11 strong teeth with the first one delimiting the posterior canal and the last the anterior. The whole shell exhibits a chestnut-purple or, rarely, a honey-yellow background color with white or light beige irregularly placed highlights all over and an interrupted white band as a prolongation of the suture on the body whorl, while the aperture is lilac and the apex dark

*Similar species*: *R*. *philberti* superficially resembles *R*. *contigua* (Monterosato, 1884), from which it differs in that *R. philberti* is slender, less robust, and has a smaller aperture. It differs from *R*. *locardi*, in which it bears a lecithotrophic protoconch while *R*. *locardi* bears a planktotrophic

*Habitat and distribution*: Mediterranean Sea [18, 34, http://www.conchigliedelmediterraneo.it],

chestnut-purple with irregularly placed yellow spotlets.

Central and Eastern Mediterranean Sea [18].

one [17].

**Figure 4.** *R*. *locardi* live individual.

32 Organismal and Molecular Malacology

*Collection stations*: Two live specimens and three shells (2.00–9.80 mm long, 1.05–4.00 mm wide) were collected: detritus material trapped in small-scale fishing nets at 60–80 m depth from mixed bottoms of Kardamili, Messinia and South Saronic Gulf.

*Description*: The shell is hyaline, fusiform and almost 2.3 times as long as wide. Its paucispiral protoconch, which is approximately 457 μm (mean) wide and 470 μm (mean) high, consists of almost 1.35 irregularly cancellated and convex whorl, the first of which is decorated only with fine spiral striae. The teleoconch consists of five convex whorls separated by a deep suture. The body whorl occupies almost 65% of the total length and bears 16–17 orthocline axial ribs with interspaces approximately two times wider than the ribs themselves and 19–20 spiral cords thinner than the ribs, six of which are situated above the aperture and the rest 14 below the aperture. The spiral cords in their intersections with the axial ribs form erasures in the form of small elongated rectangular tubercles. The tubercles on the first two adapical cords are spiky and close to each other. The shell's inner wall viewed through the aperture exhibits a transparency. A narrow ramp is evident immediately below the suture, formed by the vestigial first two spiral cords and the much prominent and spiky third cord. The aperture occupies approximately 45% of the shells length and exhibits a smooth and slightly sinuous columella in its lower part, angled at its upper part. The anterior siphonal canal is short and wide, while the posterior one is deep and narrow. The outer lip bears 11 strong teeth with the first one delimiting the posterior canal and the last the anterior. The shells are of yellow-beige background color, while the tubercles and some irregularly situated areas or isolated tubercles are of lighter color. The body whorl usually bears at its middle a lighter color spiral band as a prolongation of the suture.

*Similar species*: *R*. *spadiana* is different from: *R. alternans* (Monterosato, 1884), in which the latter is slender and with a different color pattern; *R. atropurpurea* in its color which is light redbrown instead of purple-brown in *R. atropurpurea* and in its more inflated spire; *R. contigua*, in which the latter bears a multispiral protoconch, is larger, of lighter color, and more robust; *R. densa* (Monterosato, 1884) in the color and the less dense sculpture; *R. lineolata* (Bucquoy, Dautzenberg and Dollfus, 1883), in which *R. lineolata* has a less robust shell, a more narrow aperture, and a more narrow subsutural ramp; *R. oblonga* (Jeffreys, 1867) in its wider aperture and the different color pattern [17, 18].

*Habitat and distribution*: Whole Mediterranean Sea [17].

*Status*: Uncommon [17]. First record for the Greek seas.
