Two new mathildids from the Mediterranean Sea (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia, Mathildidae)

Based on shell characters, two new gastropod species of the family Mathildidae Dall, 1889, are herein described from the Mediterranean Sea. The new taxa are compared with the similar Mathilda barbadensis (Dall, 1889), an amphi-atlantic mathildid recently reported from the Mediterranean Sea. The new species are clearly distinguishable from M. barbadensis, as well as from the other Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic members of the family on the base of their teleoconch shape and sculpture, and protoconch morphology. The occurrence of M. barbadensis in the Mediterranean basin is also critically discussed.