A new genus is necessary for the reception of four undoubtedly congeneric species that had previously been placed for want of better locations in the genera Daphnella and Mitromorpha respectively. I propose removing them from the Turridae to the Pyrenidae and placing them near to Zemitrella.
The new genus is characterised by having a 1,5 whorled papillate protoconch, smooth except for minute pitting; post nuclear sculpture in the form of close spiral lirae continued over the neck of the canal without differentiation, not with a heavier basal spiral series, as in most species of Zemitrella. The oblique plait (at the base of the pillar), so characteristic of Zemitrella, is well shown; also there is a very slight sinuosity on the shoulder of the outer lip, a factor that has been influential in the reference of the species to the Turridae. A similar weak sinus is found in some species of Zemitrella and Liratilia, notably Z. sulcata (Hutton) and Z. pseudomarginata (Suter).Four species fall naturally into the new genus, and a fifth from Awanui, in 10 fathoms, awaits description.
The described species are Daphnella substriata Suter 1899, D. acicula Suter 1908, D. psila Suter 1908, and D. tenuistriata Suter 1908. The protoconch in three of the species (I have not seen specimens of psila) is tinged with pink to purple.
My Antimitrella (1937, p. 214) is another related genus differing mainly in nuclear sculpture, which is in the form of faint axial striations on an otherwise smooth and glossy surface; also the downward sagging whorls make laxa the genotype, not unlike Aoteatilia acicula in shape.