DIAGNOSIS. Shell: very similar to B. bartschi, differing in its slightly taller shape; slightly more prominent spiral threads between the peripheral and basal angulations; in having three equally coarse gemmate cords above the periphery, rather than a markedly coarser subsutural row with other rows extremelv fine, as in B. bartschi: in having a more coarsely sculptured base on which the cords are gemmate around the margin of the base and the gemmae are fused into short radial ridges over the inner two-thirds of the base; in having a thicker outer shell layer, and thus lacking the nacreous gleam of 6. bartschi; and in lacking the striking magenta and cream colour pattern of B. bartschi. Colour uniform greyish' fawn.
Operculum: Convex, almost circular, with weak pustules in slight central depression, and with weak concentric marginal striations; white.
DIMENSIONS. Holotype: height 31.0 mm, diameter 30.1 mm; paratype: height 29.3 mm, diameter 29.0 mm.
TYPE LOCALITY. Kiwi Seamount, 30°45'S, 173°15'E, between northern New Zealand and the Kermadec Islands, 358-677 m, M.V. "Tui" Stn. AUZ 11.
TYPES. Holotype, N.Z. National Museum, M21297, with one paratype.
OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. NZOI Stn 197, 32°22.9' to 23.3'S, 167°28.2'E, Wanganella Bank, Norfolk Ridge, 540-544 m, NZOI (1); NZOI Stn P40, 29°10.2'S, 167°50.0'E, west of Norfolk Is., 394-472 m, NZOI(1); NZOI Stn J659,35°00.6'S, 179°15.1'E., Silent 1 Seamount, S. Kermadec Ridge, off East Cape, New Zealand, 689 m, NZOI (1).
The differences in basal sculpture, shell structure and colour pattern suggest that the similarity of B. recens to B. bartschi is probably superficial.
Bolma recens differs from B. marshalli in its larger size, taller spire, wider area between the peripheral and basal angulations, markedly finer sculpture, and fusing of basal granules into radial ridges. Possibly B. recens is descended from B. marshalli but the differences are too large and the age difference too great to be sure of the relationship.