Distribution. From the Bay of Biscay, to and including the western and central Mediterranean, 350-2500 m.
Remarks. «Cyclostrema» messanensis was described as «similar to [Skenea] serpuloides but larger, spire more prominent, whorls flattened on the upper surface, suture deep, umbilicus smaller and surrounded by four lines». This is as good a description as one can expect of these species and allows identification under the assumption that SEGUENZA's description was based on any of the known species from the Mediterranean.
There is a small possibility that SEGUENZA based his name on Lodderena catenoides, but that species does not have a spire more prominent than S. serpuloides, while Moelleriopsis messanensishas a projecting spire.
I have not had access to any live taken specimen, but the shape of the shell certainly is very similar to Moelleriopsis.
«Cyclostrema» normanni DAUTZENBERG & FISCHER, 1897 attains only 2/3 of the size of M. messanensis and is much flatter with only two spiral ribs in the umbilicus.