Alvania cancapae Bouchet & Warén, 1993

(Fig. 12)

Material examined. (2 empty shells in the same sample): SPAIN • 2 sh; 44° 14.929′N, 008° 30.255′W to 44° 15.367′N, 008° 30.438′W; 2121–2516 m; 15–24 Jul. 2008; A SELVA AT-12 .

Remarks. Alvania cancapae is a variable species known from off southern Morocco and off Madeira and Canary islands in the depth range 270–2000 m (Bouchet & Warén, 1993; Hoenselaar & Goud, 1998) with stronger sculpture in shallower specimens. The two shells (of about 2.0 x 1.3 mm) found in one of the samples (collected deeper than 2000 m) have a weak axial sculpture (Fig. 12a), with very thin spiral threads narrower than interspaces overrunning the axial ribs (Figs. 12e, f), and faint spiral cords on the periumbilical area of the body whorl, but hardly visible on the spire. Protoconch of the shells studied of 1.25 convex whorls (Figs. 12b, c) whose surface is covered by minute granules (Fig. 12d).

This species resembles to Alvania adinogramma Bouchet & Warén, 1993, Alvania microstriata Hoenselaar & Goud, 1998 and Alavania seinensis Gofas, 2007, a group which seems restricted to the Lusitanian seamounts and Madeira (Gofas 2007). The present records represent a northward range extension of the species.