THYSANODONTINAE: A NEW SUBFAMILY OF THE TROCHIDAE (GASTROPODA)

New genera Thysanodonta, Carinastele and Herbertina are referredto a new subfamily of the Troch-idae, Thysanodontinae, on thebasis of extremely distinctive jaw and radula. At up to 1400times longer than broad, the teeth are the most slender of anyknown gastropod, and they are unique among archae-ogastropodsin having harpoon-like tips with back-wardly inclined barbs.While food and feeding mode are unknown, it is suggested thatthey feed suctorially, perhaps on cnidarians. New species describedare Thysanodonta aucklandica, T. wairua, Carinastele kristelleae,C. jugosa, and C. coronata from New Zealand, T. boucheti fromNew Caledonia, and Herbertina eos and H. cognata from SouthAfrica. The Tasmanian Basilissa nicetarium Hedley & Mayis tentatively referred to Carinastele (Received 23 September 1987;