Otitoma hadra is a species of small marine snail, a gastropod mollusk in the family Pseudomelatomidae. It is a member of the superfamily Conoidea, a group characterized by predatory sea snails.
Taxonomy and History
The species was first described in 1989 by malacologists Alexander Sysoev and Yuri I. Kantor. It was originally named Thelecythara hadra but was later reassigned to the genus Otitoma. This genus, established by Jousseaume in 1898, contains numerous species previously classified under other genera within the Turridae or Conidae families. The classification of Otitoma hadra within the family Pseudomelatomidae reflects modern phylogenetic revisions of the toxoglossate gastropods.
Distribution and Habitat
The documented occurrence of Otitoma hadra is primarily in the Western Indian Ocean. Specifically, specimens have been identified from the Walters Shoal, a submerged mountain range located south of Madagascar. The species typically inhabits benthic environments in deep-water marine settings.
Morphology
As with other members of the genus Otitoma, Otitoma hadra possesses a small, fusiform (spindle-shaped) shell. The shell is characterized by distinct axial and spiral sculptures, which are used as primary diagnostic features in its identification. Like most members of the superfamily Conoidea, the species is predatory and possesses a specialized radula used for capturing prey. Detailed anatomical and ecological data remain limited to specialized malacological literature and taxonomic databases such as the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS).
