Iphitus robertsi (Epitoniidae: Nystiellinae), a New Species of Deep-Sea Gastropod from the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Iphitus robertsi, new species, is described on the basis of nine specimens collected in the northern Gulf of Mexico. This new species, which differs from its six congeners in having a bicarinate shell with weakly cancellate sculpture, represents the first record of this genus in the Gulf of Mexico. The co-occurance of this species with deep-sea scleractinian corals suggests that Iphitus robertsi may, like its New Zealand congener, may be parasitic on corals.