Moitessieria massoti Bourguignat, 1863

« Shell extremely small, subconical, lanceolate, cylindrical, very fragile, shiny, transparent, of a cristalline white colour, with an umbilical slit that is so thin and so overlaid by the reflected columellar edge, that it is almost indiscernible, even with a magnifier. The test seems smooth by eye, but, when observed via a powerful lens, it appears entirely decussate, furrowed with longitudinal and transverse striations that intersect almost at right angles, and overloaded, in addition, with an infinity of small irregular, unevenly interspaced, more or less pronounced flats. Spire subcylindrical, with a smooth and very obtuse summit. Whorls seven, weakly convex, showing near the suture, which is a line, a flattened part (neither hammered nor decussate, only longitudinally striated), which looks like a flat band winding along the suture up to the summit of the spire, where it disappears » (This means: flat subsutural band, devoid of spirals). – J. R. Bourguignat: “Monographie du nouveau genre français Moitessieria”, Revue et magasin de zoologie pure et appliquée ser.2, t.15, Paris 1863, p.439. –Same spot. 1,6-1,75mm.

Bourguignat: « The growth of the whorls is steady, although noticeably rapid. Last whorl oblong, rounded at the base, exceeding a quarter of the height, projecting forward and presenting towards the peristomal edge a slight external thickening, very wide, very developed, furrowed with longitudinal striations and marked with slight small malleations. This outer edge, which is proportionally very wide, ends abruptly in a point at its insertion on the penultimate whorl. Aperture almost round, slightly subangular at its upper part. Peristome straight, continuous. Columellar border dilated, reflected on the small umbilical cleft which it covers almost completely. Marginal edges united by a transparent callosity. » – Same spot. 1,25-1,75mm.

« This Moitessieria, which we dedicate to M. Paul Massot, of Perpignan, inhabits in great abundance the Fountain of saline water of Fouradade, close to Tautavel (eastern Pyrenees). »