Shells of medium to large size (max. 80 mm). Protoconch (text Fig. A) small, partly sunken, multispiral with about 2-2.5 whorls, smooth and polished. Number of teleoconch whorls: 9-10, separated by a clear suture and a rather wide concave subsutural ramp. Sculpture with 13-22 (specimens from North Angola) or 26-27 (specimens from Guinea-Bissau) poorly developed axial cords from penultimate varix to the last one. Body whorl with eight major spiral cords and four narrower ones on the siphonal canal, each alternating with 2-3 secondary spiral cords, the transition between the siphonal canal and the dorsum is well defined. The transection of the spiral and the axial sculpture causes a reticulated network with granular nodules, which are small, clear, strong and angular. Outer lip is expanded, rounded, sometimes slightly serrated abapically, bearing more or less developed ridges which run towards the apertural teeth.
First postnuclear whorls show an apical angle of an average of 43°20' causing an elongate outline (especially when compared with D. perdistorta). Last 3-4 whorls, especially the body whorl inclined over 45 degrees in relation to previous whorls, resulting in a very distorted outlook of the whole shell. Moreover, as these last whorls are very globular and extremely coiled over a relatively short distance, a rounded bulge arises at the left of the aperture (in a conventional apertural view) showing a sunken collapsed mouth, a unique feature among all known personids. The eccentric coiling is stronger than in D. perdistorta and sometimes the penultimate whorl even extends above the last whorl. Aperture narrow and small, with eight denticles. Columellar nearly straight, with about 16-17 tiny denticles decreasing in size anteriorly, columellar cavity narrow with one relatively poorly developed granular ridge. Siphonal canal rather short. Parietal shield large, with spiral sculpture of the previous whorl visible, nearly completely brown except for the white blotch in the aperture. The brown colouration extends into the columellar part, which is totally brown coloured except for the white denticles. The ultimate varix is very prominent, inclined by an angle of about 45° downwards in relation to the margin of the parietal shield. On the other hand the adapical part of the outer lip extends upwards as a flat flange with an angle of about 150° relative to the varix. The margin of the outer lip always shows brown streaks. All the whorls are brown coloured, subsutural and shoulder cords often slightly darker. The tip of the siphonal canal is pale cream. The periostracum is velvety brownish with fine long hairs in fresh specimens, otherwise bristled. The operculum is triangular with a submarginal nucleus. The species name "globosa" derives from the Latin word "globosus" which means "globular, sphericar referring to the very swollen shell. This is the most turgid and most distorted species in the genus Distorsio, even more than Distorsio perdistorta Fulton, 1938.
Measurements: The length of the specimens varies between 54 and 80 mm.

Discussion: The new species appears to be rather unique among all personids concerning general outline, colouration of parietal shield and columellar part and the extreme distortion of the last 3-4 whorls. Two other personids occur along the West African coasts and archipelagos (Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, Sao Tome and Principe): Distorsio perdistorta Fulton, 1938 and Distorsio smithi (von Maltzan, 1884):
D. perdistorta shows a great similarity in several aspects, but differs from the new species as follows:
• 8-9 teleoconch whorls instead of 9-10;
• the subsutural ramp is poorly developed, whereas slightly concave in D. globosa]
• the first postnuclear whorls of the teleoconch show an average angle of 55°40' causing
a wider appearance compared with D. globosa, of which the early whorls have a slenderer
form (apical angle: ca. 43°): this is a very constant feature in both species;
• the last whorls are less humped compared with D. globosa]
• the aperture is less narrow and not collapsed;
• number of axial cords: 22-30 instead of 13-27;
• the nodules created by the intersection of axial and spiral cords are rounded instead
of angular;
• the columella bears 12-14 denticles instead of 16-17;
• only the adapical part of the parietal shield has a brownish glaze; D. globosa shows a completely brown coloured parietal and columellar shield, with white denticles;
• the general colour of the whorls is white, instead of brown in the new species;
• olive to greenish periostracum with sometimes very long fine dark green hairs, reaching
11-12 mm in length.
Conclusion: There are enough characteristics to differentiate Distorsio globosa from Distorsio perdistorta occurring in the same geographic area:
- one more whorl;
- smaller apical angle (ca. 43° instead of ca. 55°);
- slightly concave subsutural ramp;
- extreme distortion of the last 3-4 whorls giving the shell a globular appearance;
- collapsed mouth;
- smaller number of axial cords (13-27 instead of 22-30);
- larger number of tiny denticles on the columella (16-17 instead of 12-14);
- angular nodules at the intersection of axial and spiral cords;
- brown coloured parietal shield and collumelar part;
- brown colour of the whorls, especially of the spiral cords.


Distorsio smithi:
• becomes much larger, to about 110 mm (coll. F.Nolf; Henning & Hemmen, 1993);
• very little distorted;
• slightly concave subsutural ramp;
• on the body whorl there are about ten primary cords and about seven secondary cords with seven more cords on the siphonal canal;
• subsutural ramp with two secondary subsutural cords, abapically followed by three primary cords, shoulder with two primary cords and a secondary cord in between;
• number of axial cords: 13;
• outer lip with five single denticles abapically, followed by five to seven double denticles;
• inside of outer lip: 10-11 teeth, most adapical one relatively large, often bifid, second one very small, third one broadened towards the lip;
• adapical part of the outer lip typically constricted, abapical part slightly expanded;
• siphonal canal long, nearly straight;
• columella strongly sinuous, with 18 denticles;
• an elongated parietal ridge opposite of the first abapical tooth runs into the aperture, with nearly next to it another one or two ridges;
• colour creamy white to pale brown, parietal shield and callus mottled with streaks of pale to dark brown, teeth and aperture white;
• tip of siphonal canal brown;
• olive-brown velvety periostracum.

Habitat: The new species lives at a depth of 35 m (Guinea-Bissau) to 110 m (North Angola), but no information is available on the kind of bottom it inhabits. Type locality: Ambriz, Angola. 07°50' SI 12°30' E. Geographic range: Most of the known specimens were trawled in northern Angola. As two specimens from off Guinea-Bissau were also obtained we can presume this species has a distribution range all over the Gulf of Guinea. As not enough shells are available from the West African fisheries at depths from 50 to 150 m it is impossible to have a clear view on the geographic range. Specimens of other West African Distorsio species, probably living in the Gulf of Guinea, were also difficult to obtain from that area.