Neolepetopsidae is a family of true limpets restricted to deep-sea chemosynthesis-based ecosystems. It is a small and little-studied family with about a dozen species in three genera, namely Eulepetopsis, Neolepetopsis and Paralepetopsis, and all named species were from the Pacific or Atlantic Oceans. Here, we describe three new species from Indian Ocean vents, namely Eulepetopsis crystallina sp. nov. found across three ridges,ŠNeolepetopsis ardua sp. nov. from the Southwest Indian Ridge and Neolepetopsis prismatica sp. nov. from the Carlsberg Ridge. Given that Neolepetopsis appears to specialize on inactive sulfide deposits, the apparent wider distribution of E. crystallina is probably attributable to bias in sampling effort at inactive chimneys. The molecular phylogeny of Patellogastropoda, reconstructed using the COI gene, supported the monophyly of Neolepetopsidae. These are the first molecular data available for Neolepetopsis, confirming that the three genera are genetically distinct. Eulepetopsis appears to be adapted to active vents, and its derived position compared with Paralepetopsis indicates a possible ‘stepping-stone’ evolutionary pathway from seeps and organic falls to vents. Our results provide new insights into this enigmatic family and highlight the importance of surveying the vent periphery, especially given that inactive vents are being eyed as a replacement for active ones in deep-sea mining.

中文翻译：

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来自印度洋热喷口的 Neolepetopsid 真正的帽贝（腹足纲： Patellogastropoda）揭示了属之间的关系

Neolepetopsidae 是一个真正的帽贝科，仅限于深海化学合成为基础的生态系统。它是一个小而鲜为人知的科，共有三个属的十几个物种，即Eulepetopsis、Neolepetopsis 和Paralepetopsis，所有命名的物种都来自太平洋或大西洋。在这里，我们描述了来自印度洋喷口的三个新物种，即 Eulepetopsis crystallina sp。十一月 在三个山脊上发现，ŠNeolepetopsis ardua sp。十一月 来自西南印度洋脊和 Neolepetopsis prismatica sp。十一月 从嘉士伯岭。鉴于 Neolepetopsis 似乎专门研究非活性硫化物沉积物，E. crystallina 明显更广泛的分布可能归因于非活性烟囱的采样工作偏差。利用 COI 基因重建的 Patellogastropoda 的分子系统发育，支持 Neolepetopsidae 的单系。这些是 Neolepetopsis 可获得的第一个分子数据，证实这三个属在遗传上是不同的。Eulepetopsis 似乎适应了活跃的通风口，与 Paralepetopsis 相比，它的派生位置表明可能是从渗漏和有机物下降到通风口的“垫脚石”进化途径。我们的研究结果为这个神秘家族提供了新的见解，并强调了调查喷口周边的重要性，特别是考虑到不活跃的喷口被视为深海采矿中活跃喷口的替代品。与 Paralepetopsis 相比，它的派生位置表明可能是从渗漏和有机瀑布到通风口的“垫脚石”进化途径。我们的研究结果为这个神秘家族提供了新的见解，并强调了调查喷口周边的重要性，特别是考虑到不活跃的喷口被视为深海采矿中活跃喷口的替代品。与 Paralepetopsis 相比，它的派生位置表明可能是从渗漏和有机瀑布到通风口的“垫脚石”进化途径。我们的研究结果为这个神秘家族提供了新的见解，并强调了调查喷口周边的重要性，特别是考虑到不活跃的喷口被视为深海采矿中活跃喷口的替代品。