Azores to W. Mediterranean, Galicia to Madeira and Canarias. Some records from S. Aegean and from the Gulf of Guinea need confirmation. Predator in the circalittoral and on the continental shelf. Original taxon: Columbella pallaryi.
100m deep, off Málaga, Andalucia, S. Spain. 18mm.
This is the Columbella vulpecula of P. Pallary after Monterosato: similar to coccinea according to Pallary, but considered by Monterosato as distinct of the latter because of the presence of labial teeth (“Coquilles marines du littoral du départment d’Oran”, Journal de Conchyliologie vol. XLVIII, Paris 1900, p.279. – 250m deep, off Estepona, Málaga. 16mm.
« The name vulpecula cannot be retained for this species, due to the existence of a Columbella Vulpecula Sowerby, 1844 (Thesaurus Conchyliorum, I, p.125, pl. xxxviii, fig.93), an exotic shell that belongs to an other group. We propose to dedicate it to our confrere, M. Pallary, who introduced it. » – Ph. Dautzenberg: “Mollusques provenant des campagnes scientifiques du Prince Albert Ier de Monaco dans l’Océan Atlantique et dans le Golfe de Gascogne”, Résultats des Campagnes Scientifiques Accomplies sur son Yacht par Albert Ier Prince Souverain de Monaco fasc. LVII, p.89.
Atlantic specimens dredged at 180-200m deep, off Fuencaliente, southern end of La Palma, Canarias. 12-17mm.