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Indomitrella puella (G.B. Sowerby I, 1844)
(fig. 12)
Columbella puella Sowerby I, 1844: 141, pl. 40 figs 160-161; 1844b: 52 (not figured).
Mitrella puella (Sowerby , 1844). Cernohorsky, 1972: 137, pl. 41 fig. 5(?).
Columbellopsis puella (Sowerby, 1844). Higo et al., 1999: 250; Higo et al., 2001: 84: fig. G2893.
Mitrella (Indomitrella) puella (Sowerby, 1844). Okutani (ed.), 2000: 433, pl. 215 fig. 44; Monsecour & Monsecour, 2007: pl. 1 figs 5-6.
Indomitrella puella (Sowerby, 1844). Drivas & Jay, 1997b: 34, fig. 23.
This species has a confused taxonomic history. Cernohorsky (1972), Wilson (1994) and Higo et al (1999) synonymize Indomitrella conspersa (Gaskoin, 1852) and several similar forms with this species, but as Drivas & Jay (1990) point out, those species completely lack axial sculpture, whereas I. puella is usually strongly axially sculptured over the entire shell. I. puella also has a strong oblique columellar fold lacking in I. conspersa, and more pronounced parietal denticles. There are also some slight differences in protoconch and teleoconch whorl counts. Monsecour & Monsecour (2007) summarize the differences between these two species and I. schepmani (Monsecour & Monsecour, 2007) in their paper. Wilson’s (1994) figure of I. puella appears to be I. conspersa. The shell in I. puella is biconic, 10 to 15 mm long at maturity, with 6 to 8 teleoconch whorls. The body whorl is strongly constricted at the base. The shell is covered in most cases with narrow axial ribs; these are weaker or almost lacking on the body whorl in some specimens. The shells are white or tan in colour, with tan specimens having white bands at mid-whorl and below the suture. The aperture is narrowed by a protruding ridge of large parietal denticles, and the columella has a strong internal fold; there may also be a weak columellar groove anterior to the stronger fold in some. The labial edge in some individuals has a diffuse purple stain. The protoconch has about 3 whorls, lacks sculpture except for growth lines, and is white or pale purple.
Specimens of this species were collected by the expedition at five stations, sieved or dredged from deeper water (4 to 28 m) where reported. Most were in good condition but typically had the apex missing.