Rissoina sagraiana: Acc. to d'Orbigny.: 5 x 1.75 mm; in his 2 figures the first, respectively the first and the second postnuclear whorl show 2 spirals, increasing to 5 above the aperture. Acc. to Adams: 5.7 mm, spirals increasing from 2 on the upper whorls to 4 or 5 on the penult whorl. — Our largest specimens: 5.1 x 1.8 mm, 3 + 6 w.; 2 spirals on the first 3 p.n.w. increasing to 5 above the aperture. Rather common.

TYPE MATERIAL Holotype (MNHN-IM-2000-34875) dim. 3.06 × 1.27 mm. Protoconch 0.37 × 0.34 mm. stn GS15. Paratype 1 (MNHN-IM-2000-34876) dim. 2.13 x 1.05 mm. Protoconch 0.37 0.35 mm. stn AB108. Paratype 2 (MNHN-IM-2000-34877) dim. 2.15 x 1.02 mm. Protoconch 0.37 0.33 mm. stn GS15. Paratype 3 (MNHN-IM-2000-34878) dim. 2.60 x 1.15 mm. Protoconch 0.38 × 0.34 mm. stn AB175. Paratype 4 (MNHN-IM-2000-34879) dim. 2.73 x 1.22 mm. Protoconch 0.37 x 0.36 mm. stn AB369.
DESCRIPTION: Shell medium in size, conical, with sutures well impressed. Protoconch bulbous of 3 smooth convex. whorls, apex small; under ESEM a thin spiral cord divides the last 2 whorls into almost equal halves; color pale yellowish, semitransparent. Teleoconch of 4.75 whorls with reticulate sculpture of spiral cords (2 on the first whorls, 3 on the last with the 2nd cord more narrow), crossed by axial ribs, 15 on last whorl; beads at each intersection, interspaces wide. A fourth beaded cord is emerging at the base of the last whorl from the insertion of the outer lip fol- lowed by another one; the border towards the columella is not highlighted. Columella acuminate with a surface crossed by thin crisp threads, the oval aperture seems to be incomplete; anal sulcus and siphonal canal not defined. Colorless, vitreous, glossy.
COMPARISON After extensive bibliographic research the only species comparable with Specula sassieri n. sp./ = Phosinella sagraiana seems to be Specula retifera (Suter, 1908), reported. and illustrated by Marshall (1978) from New Zealand, reddish brown in color with a bulbous protoconch of only 1.5-2 convex whorls. ETYMOLOGY Named after Marc Sassier, of Plantations Saint James in Martinique, in recognition of his interest in, and support to the MADIBENTHOS expedition.