Protoconch corroded. Profile of whorls convex, shoulder not prominent owing to corrosion, except in the smallest (6-whorled) shell. Postnatal whorls 8. Oblique axial ribs 14 on 3rd whorl, 16 on 4th, 16-17 on 5th, 19 on 6th, 20-22 on 7th, but becoming obscure towards end of whorl, ribs on 8th whorl (only one shell) uncountable owing to corrosion, from shoulder to suture below, evanescent on base; 5-7 spiral lirae on sulcus (chiefly on lower part), obscure on later whorls; ribs crossed by 6-7 lirae between shoulder and suture on 4th and 5th whorls, 7-8 on 6th, 8-9 (10) on 7th whorl (10-11 on 8th whorl, corroded), 12-15 on base, lirae regular, without intermediaries except one or two on base. Growth-lines forming a nearly even curve on the sulcus, slightly pliculose on earlier whorls. Columella curved, canal short, moderately wide. 38 x 16.5 mm.; 34 x 15 mm.; 30 x 13 mm.; 23 x 11 mm. White. No operculum.
Animal pale. Tentacles short, no eyes. Radula with 20 pairs of dagger-like teeth, proximally not divided, a short process on inner margin slightly nearer to base than to apex, distally expanded with short lateral tangs, but not barbed.

Deep Sea

Largest syntype (38.4 x 16.3 mm) with heavily eroded surface. Second largest specimen (32.8 x 13.8 mm) with well preserved shell is here designated as lectotype. Shell of 6.5 whorls. Protoconch missing, upper whorls eroded. Sutures deeply channeled. Whorls almost evenly convex, with only slight angulation at about 1/4 of whorl height. Subsutural ramp narrow, slightly concave. Axial ribs weak, narrow, with rounded or flattened crests, numerous (19 on penultimate whorl and 27 on bodywhorl) and somewhat irregular in strength, especially on bodywhorl. Ribs begin at border of subsutural ramp and extend to lower shell base. Subsutural ramp devoid of sculpture Spiral sculpture on spire whorls appears to consist of wide, flattened cords separated by narrow grooves due to the erosion of surface. Cords well preserved and are narrow and widely spaced (interspaces 1,5-2 times wider than cord) only in some shell areas, particularly on bodywhorl. Aperture oval, with short, wide siphonal canal poorly differentiated from aperture. Judging from growth lines, outer lip very slightly projects forward below anal sinus. Anal sinus narrow, with its deepest point at middle of subsutural ramp Two smaller para-lectotypes (31.3 x 13.1 mm and 23.6 x 11.5 mm at 7+ and 6+ whorls, respectively) have more angulate whorls with more concave subsutural ramp, especially in smallest, best preserved specimen. This specimen has weak spiral cords on lower part of subsutural ramp, covered by numerous thin arcuate folds formed by thickened growth lines.

The radula is not characteristic of Gymnobela and more closely resembles that of Benthomangelia Thiele, 1925. However, the conchological characters indicate the assignment of this species to Gymnobela. Besides the type locality, the species was found in the area from 33°36' to 34*373 and from 16*15' to 17°03'E. at 2707-3219 m (Barnard, 1963).

South Africa