Micropleurotoma Thiele 1929: 362. Type species (by original désignation): Pleurotoma spirotropoides Thiele, 1925; Recent, Agulhas Bank off South Africa.
Diagnosis
Shell small, attaining 9.2 mm, elongate, turriform, with high spire, and moderately long, attenuated siphonal canal. Protoconch smooth, paucispiral, globose, c. 2 whorls. Teleoconch whorls convex, angulated or carinated at shoulder, subsutural ramp from shallowly concave to nearly straight. Anal sinus moderately deep, apex on peripheral cord. Axial sculpture limited to growth lines or low folds, forming knobs along shoulder. Spiral sculpture of indistinct threads or absent. Aperture low, elongate, oval with angulated outer lip.
Operculum present, small, oval, with terminal nucleus.
Radula of duplex lateral teeth, with pointed, sharp major limb and small accessory limb.
Remarks
Four species are currently recognised within Micropleurotoma. This genus was questionably attributed to Pseudomelatomidae by Bouchet et al. (2011) on the basis of radular morphology.
Distribution
North Atlantic to South Africa (type species) and Ant-arctica, ail at bathyal depths.