Scaphander Montfort, 1810

Siegwald, Justine & Malaquias, Manuel António E., 2025, Bringing light into deep-sea biodiversity: a systematic revision and molecular phylogeny of the genus Scaphander Montfort, 1810 (Gastropoda: Cephalaspidea), with a focus on the Indo-Pacific, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 203, pp. 1-60 : 7-8

Scaphander Montfort, 1810

Charta Martini, 1769: 283 , 284, pl. 21, figs 194, 195; Eilertsen and Malaquias 2013a: 394–395. Type by monotypy Charta convoluta [= Scaphander lignarius ( Linnaeus, 1758) ]. Declared nomen oblitum by Eilertsen and Malaquias (2013a: 394–395).

Gioeni Gioeni, 1783: 5–36 , pl. 1, figs 1–13 Gioeni (1783); Eilertsen and Malaquias 2013a: 394–395. Type by subsequent designation Tricla gioeni Philipsson, 1788 ( Philipsson 1788) [= Scaphander lignarius ( Linnaeus, 1758) ]. Declared nomen oblitum by Eilertsen and Malaquias (2013a: 394–395).

Tricla Philipsson, 1788: 8 ; Winckworth 1932: 232; Eilertsen and Malaquias 2013a: 394–395. Type by monotypy Tricla gioeni Philipsson, 1788 [= Scaphander lignarius ( Linnaeus, 1758) ]. Suppressed by ICZN (1954: opinion 287).

Gioenia Bruguière, 1792: 12 , 502–504; Eilertsen and Malaquias 2013a: 394–395. Type by monotypy Gioenia sicula . Suppressed by ICZN (1954: opinion 287).

Scaphander de Montfort, 1810: 334–336 , pl. 84; Eilertsen and Malaquias 2013a: 394–395. Type by monotypy Bulla lignaria Linnaeus, 1758 [= Scaphander lignarius ( Linnaeus, 1758) ]. Declared nomen protectum by Eilertsen and Malaquias (2013a: 394–395).

Assula Schumacher, 1817: 258 ( Schumacher 1817); Eilertsen and Malaquias 2013a: 394–395. Type by monotypy Assula convoluta [= Scaphander lignarius ( Linnaeus, 1758) ].

Bulla (Scaphander) Adams, 1855: 574 ; Weinkauff 1862: 336; Eilertsen and Malaquias 2013a: 394–395.

Bucconia Dall, 1890a: 16 , 17, pl. 10, fig. 9; Habe 1954: 307, pl. 38, figs 1, 2; 1955: 70; Bullis 1956: 2, 3, pl. 2, figs A, B, D, E; Habe 1964: 140, pl. 43, fig. 20; Eilertsen and Malaquias 2013a: 394–395. Type by original designation Scaphander nobilis Verrill 1884: 209 , 210, pl. 32, figs 18, 18a–d.

Scaphander (Sabatina) Dall, 1908: 240 , 241; Eilertsen and Malaquias 2013a: 394–395. Type by original designation Scaphander (Sabatina) planeticus Dall, 1908 .

Meloscaphander Schepman, 1913: 464 , pl. 31, figs 5–9; Minichev 1967: 130–134, figs 25–29; 1969: 43; Bouchet 1975: 341–343, pl. 3g, h, figs 9, 10. Type by original designation Meloscaphander sibogae Schepman, 1913 [= Scaphander tortuosus Siegwald & Malaquias nom. nov.].

Sabatia (Sabatina) Dall, 1927: 25 ; Eilertsen and Malaquias 2013a: 394–395.

Bulla (Bullocardia) Nordsieck, 1972: 29 , pl. 7, fig. 25; Eilertsen and Malaquias 2013a: 394–395. Type by original designation Bulla millepunctata Locard, 1897 [= Scaphander nobilis Verrill, 1884 ].

Taxonomic history

The taxonomic history of the genus Scaphander was comprehensively revised by Eilertsen and Malaquias (2013a), but the recent molecular phylogeny of the family Scaphandridae by Siegwald et al. (2022) showed that genera previously considered junior synonyms of Scaphander represent valid taxa. This is the case for Sabatia Bellardi, 1876 (type by monotypy Sabatia isseli ), Eoscaphander Habe, 1952 (type by monotypy Eoscaphander fragilis Habe, 1952 ; Habe 1952), and Nipponoscaphander Kuroda & Habe, 1971 (type by original designation Scaphander japonicus Adams, 1862 ).

Meloscaphander Schepman, 1913 was erected for the species M. sibogae Schepman, 1913 based on its partly visible spire. Subsequent studies noted the anatomical resemblance between Meloscaphander and Scaphander ( Minichev 1967, Bouchet 1975, Rudman 1978), and the inclusion of Meloscaphander grandis Minichev, 1967 in molecular studies showed that Meloscaphander is a junior synonym for Scaphander ( Chaban et al. 2019a, Siegwald et al. 2022).

Revised diagnosis (updated fom Siegwald et al. 2022)

Shell external, solid, ovoid, pyriform, or sub-rectangular, covered by thin white to yellow or brown periostracum. Parietal callus white and smooth, thickened or thin. Spire concealed, flat, partly raised, or involute. Only one body whorl visible. Shell sculpture composed of punctuated striations or spiral grooves. Aperture as long or nearly as long as shell, narrowing towards apex. Outer lip posteriorly wing-like and raised beyond apex, even with apex, or forming a shoulder immediately below apex. Operculum absent. Animal can withdraw only in part into shell. Large head shield lacking posterior lobes. Parapodial lobes present, short. Eyes spots absent. Radular formula N × 1.1.1. Lateral teeth hamate, with fine or weak denticulation on inner edge. Rachidian teeth vestigial, fragile, quadrate or H-shaped. Gizzard large, highly muscularized. Gizzard plates calcified; paired plates quadrate, sub-triangular to kidney-shaped; unpaired gizzard plate thinner and elongate. Penial chamber cylindrical, separated from prostate by thinner prostatic duct. Muscular penial papilla or eversible penial chamber wall. Prostate bulbous and cylindrical. Distribution: worldwide, between latitudes 72°N and 47°S. Depth range: 16–5427 m.