On the identity and distribution of Atlanta inflata Gray, 1850 (Gastropoda, Pterotracheoidea, Atlantidae) in the world’s oceans

Comparisons of the atlantid heteropod Atlanta inflata Gray, 1850, from the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans led to the conclusion that this species only occurs in the Pacific Ocean, while the populations in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans belong to a different species. Individuals from all three oceans are small (<2 mm) and have a keel that does not penetrate between the penultimate and last shell whorls, is tall with a truncate leading edge, and has a yellow-brown to brown keel base. Both taxa have a comparable range of spiral ridge ornament on the shell spire and share the same eye and opercular types. Characteristics that distinguish the two taxa are the number of whorls comprising the shell spire and the presence or absence of spire suture colouration. We conclude that the Atlantic/Indian Ocean taxon belongs to A. selvagensis De Vera & Seapy, 2006, described from the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. A lectotype is designated for Atlanta inflata Gray, 1850.