Laevisipho, Mclean & Clark, 2023

Mclean, James H. & Clark, Roger N., 2023, Seven new genera and thirty-four new species of buccinoid gastropods (Neogastropoda: Buccinidae) from the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, Zootaxa 5351 (2), pp. 151-201 : 185

Genus Laevisipho n. gen.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D15D52C4-367B-4796-B8BA-4DE76B6F18E8

Diagnosis: Size moderate to large, fusiform; light brown to white, periostracum absent. Whorls at all stages rounded, suture deeply impressed. Apex extended by addition of one very extended early teleoconch whorl. Axial and, spiral sculpture usually lacking or composed of a few very faint, irregular spiral cords, pillar straight or slightly concave. Canal of moderate length, final lip thickened, but not flaring. Operculum relatively large, but not filling aperture, nucleus terminal.

Type species: Laevisipho galaxaios n. sp. (HD).

Remarks: This genus differs from the similar smooth shelled genus Golikovia Habe & Sato, 1973 , by 1) nuclear whorls, which are extended as in Beringius , and 2) lack of spiral cords on early teleconch whorls. The nuclear whorls of Golikovia are not extended, and the early teleconch whorls have several spiral cords. Differs from other smooth or nearly smooth Neptunea (s. l.) by the extended protoconch which lacks any spiral cords or angulation.

Two species are recognized, Laevisipho galaxios , and L. kessleri , both endemic to the central Aleutian Islands.