Type locality. PORCUPINE Exp. 1870, stn 17, west of Portugal. 39°42' N, 09°43'W, 1993 m. Material examined. The types and --INGOLF Exp. stn 36, south of Davis Strait, 61°50'N, 56°50'W, 2612 m, 5 specimens, ZMC; -southeast of Portugal, ABYPLAINE stn CP 11, 34°06' N, 17°06'W, 4270 m, 5 specimens, MNHN. Distribution. Only known from the material examined, from both sides of the northern Atlantic, 1900-4300 m.
Description. Shell skeneimorph, small, globular, fragile, perfectly transparent, with round aperture and deep umbilicus. Larval shell very distinctly set off from teleoconch, with evenly and finely granular surface, diameter 400 jam. Teleoconch consisting of up to 2.25 strongly convex whorls, smooth apart from indistinct incremental lines and 6 extremely fine spirallines on body whorl, confined to a very narrow zone and concealed by subsequent whorl. One strong and sharp spiral ridge inside umbilicus, steeply descending to lower central corner of aperture, where it ends as a small spine. Outside this ridge, 1-3 weaker lines, inside it only axial sculpture (incremental lines). Aperture tangential, orthocline, evenly rounded with a small indentation of the cross section at the connection to preceding whorl. Dimensions. Height of holotype 1.45 mm. Operculum. very thin, multispiral, with short incremental edge.
Radula. 5-2 - 1-2-5. Central tooth of taenioglossate appearance, with a main cusp and about eight smaller, rounded denticles on each side. Frontal surface with two supporting ridges, forming a chink with back of tooth, into which first lateral tooth articulates. Inner lateral tooth of same height as central tooth, flat and rather membranaceous, slightly reinforced centrally, outer basal corner drawn out into a support. Cutting edge with elongate median cusp and about 12 lateral denticles along apical margin. Outer lateral tooth of similar width but 50% taller and considerably stouter. Cutting edge narrowly angulate, long, almost continuous with outer margin, equipped with strong, curved apical cusp and about 16 small denticles along distal half of outer edge. Five marginals united at base, thin, flagellum-like, with inconspicuous basal plates.

Remarks. The six microscopic spiral lines which are level with the suture and therefore visible only on the body-whorl, serve as a good distinctive character for L. major.