Relevant Synonyms Planaxis punctostriatus Smith E.A., 1872 Misidentification Planaxis lineolatus Gould, 1849 [Mienis, 1980]  drawing: Tuvia Kurz

SHORT DESCRIPTION Shell small, with conical spire and ovate body whorl. Spiral sculpture of shallow, punctured spiral grooves. Aperture ovate, thickened inside the outer lip, with faint denticles; a shallow siphonal notch separated from the columella by a sharp tooth. color : whitish with 6-9 interrupted reddish spiral lines on the body whorl. common size : 6 mm. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The spiral bands are narrower, and labial denticles are less conspicuous than in the related Tropical Atlantic species Angiola lineata (Da Costa, 1778). The relationships with related Indo-Pacific related taxa such as A. fasciata (Pease, 1868) are yet to be investigated. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Unknown. habitat : under rocks along the shore.

1st Mediterranean record Israel, 1980 [1950]. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide: originally described from Gulf of Suez, this species may have a broad Indo-Pacific distribution, but its exact limits cannot be established due to taxonomic uncertainties. Mediterranean: only one record in 1950 near Dor, Israel (Mienis, 1980a). ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS The claim for occurrence in the Mediterranean is only based on the original record, a specimen collected by Haas in 1950. speculated reasons for success : - MODE OF INTRODUCTION Possibly via the Suez Canal. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None.

KEY REFERENCES Mienis H.K., 1980a. Planaxis lineolatus Gould. Another Indo-Pacific species from the Mediterranean coast of Israel. Levantina, 28: 324. Mienis H.K., 1981a. Notes concerning the nomenclature of Red Sea molluscs. 5. Planaxis (Angiola) punctostriatus Smith, 1872. Levantina, 30: 361-362.   FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

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