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Pusillina (Haurakia) profundior (Hedley, 1907)

Description: Shell short and wide, spire strongly convex. Protoconch of 1 smooth whorl, with distinct junction to teleoconch. Teleoconch up to 3 whorls, strongly turreted. Axial sculpture of strong, widely spaced, curved ribs, fading out on base of last whorl; 17-25 on last whorl. A strong spiral cord below suture on some shells, forming beads at intersections with axials; 6-9 spiral cords on base. Aperture lens-shaped with anterior edge formed into broad, shallow excavation, posterior sinus broad; outer lip smooth internally, thickened with varix externally. Narrow umbilical slit present. Colour off-white to fawn.

Size: Up to 3.0 mm in length.

Distribution: Endemic to Australia: known from Tweed Heads, Queensland, southwards to Wollongong, NSW.

Habitat: On the continental slope, at depths of 450-1650 m. Rare (only 5 lots in the Australian Museum collection).

Synonymy: None.

Fig. 1: Off Sydney, in 1106-1143 m (C.154630)

Fig. 2:  35 miles East of Sydney, in 1463 m (C.170842, PARATYPE)