Distribution of benthic abyssal gastropods in the Iberian Deep-Sea Basin (Table 2)

The prevalent group was the Turridae; the Naticidae are represented by 2 species, the remaining families by a single species each. A survey of the frequency and distribution of the species within the study area is given.

A systematic part deals with the individual species in detail, including notes on taxonomy, material and distribution. Concerning the composition of the abyssal gastropod fauna of the present material, Neogastropoda are 4 times as many as Archaeogastropoda and 6 times as many as Mesogastropoda and Opisthobranchia. 89 % of all specimens are Neogastropoda. Usually deep-sea organisms have a non-pelagic development, but many of the Iberian deep-sea Turrids have a planktotrophic protoconch, that means a long pelagic larval period.