Bathoxiphus Pilsbry & Sharp, 1897

Souza, Leonardo S., Caetano, Carlos Henrique S., Scarabino, Fabrizio & Costa, Paulo Márcio S., 2020, New records and a new species of Scaphopoda (Mollusca) from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, Iheringia, Série Zoologia (e 2020023) 110, pp. 1-12 : 2

Bathoxiphus Pilsbry & Sharp, 1897

Type species. Dentalium ensiculus Jeffreys,1877 , by subsequent designation ( BOISSEVAIN,1906:48).

Diagnosis. Shell small to medium in size, strongly arched, solid, polished, usually smooth or with thin longitudinal sculpture. Apex truncated, lumen circular. Section oval, strongly laterally compressed. Radula with high rachidian tooth, anterior margin simple, rounded with latter half folded inward; lateral teeth present two pointed primary cusps and 5 to 6 subequal secondary cusps; marginal teeth slightly curved (adapted from SCARABINO, 1995; SCARABINO & SCARABINO, 2010).

Remarks.Aside from the type species, three other are currently included in the genus: Bathoxiphus soyomaruae Okutani, 1964 (bathyal and abyssal, Japan, New Caledonia and the Indian Ocean), Bathoxiphus inexpectatus Scarabino, 1995 (bathyal, New Caledonia, Pacific Ocean) and Bathoxiphus kathieae Scarabino & Scarabino, 2010 (bathyal, Solomon Islands, Pacific Ocean) ( CHISTIKOV, 1983; SCARABINO, 1995, 2008; SCARABINO & SCARABINO, 2010).

The species of Bathoxiphus usually have smooth shells, but B. kathieae presents longitudinal sculpture of thin ribs which is the main difference from his congeners. Despite the different sculpture, B. kathieae has the conspicuous radular morphology shared by all species of the genus. The diagnosis of the genus is updated here.