Relevant Synonyms - Misidentification -  photo: J. J. van Aartsen

SHORT DESCRIPTION Shell formed by six teleoconch whorls, which, contrary to most species of the genus Turbonilla, are not flat, but slightly convex, and result in a somewhat cyrtoconoid shape. Sculpture of strong axial ribs and spiral threads, covering the whole shell. Only a slightly marked fold in the columella. The angle between the protoconch and the teleoconch axes is 90° (helicoid type). color : white. common size : 2.5-3 mm in length. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The helicoid apex and the cyrtoconoid shape of the shell, together with the particular sculpture of the surface, make this species easy to recognise: the lack of tooth on the columella is helpful for the identification. Some Mediterranean species of Turbonilla with cyrtoconoid shape, like T. pusilla (Philippi, 1844), at a superficial observation, could appear similar to T. edgarii but have a more parallel-sided spire, and a more distinctly protruding protoconch. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Pyramidellids are ectoparasites, mainly of sedentary polychaetes and molluscs. habitat : unknown.

1st Mediterranean record Israel, 1989 [1984]. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Indo-Pacific. Mediterranean : recorded first in 1984 from Israel, Haifa Bay and Shiqmona (van Aartsen et al., 1989); successively from southern Turkey (Micali and Palazzi, 1992); Cyprus, northern coast (Cecalupo and Quadri, 1996) and southern coast (Buzzurro and Greppi, 1997). ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Uncommon. speculated reasons for success : - MODE OF INTRODUCTION Possibly via the Suez Canal. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None.

KEY REFERENCES Buzzurro G. and Greppi E., 1995. Note sul materiale tipico di origine lessepsiana della collezione Hornung & Mermod. Notiziario del CISMA, 17: 5-16. Cecalupo A. and Quadri P., 1996. Contributo alla conoscenza malacologica per il nord dell' isola di Cipro. Bollettino Malacologico, 31(5-8): 95-118. Engl W., 1995. Specie prevalentemente lessepsiane attestate lungo le coste turche. Bollettino Malacologico, 31(1-4): 43-50.   Micali P. and S. Palazzi, 1992. Contributo alla conoscenza dei Pyramidellidae della Turchia, con segnalazione di due nuove immigrazioni dal Mar Rosso. Bollettino Malacologico, 28(1-4): 83-90. van Aartsen J.J., Barash A. and Carrozza F., 1989. Addition to the knowledge of the Mediterranean mollusca of Israel and Sinai. Bollettino Malacologico, 25(1-4): 63-76. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

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