Olssoνella Scalatella (Guppy) living off northern South America (Mollusca: Neogastropoda: Cancellariidae)

Olssonella scalatella (Guppy, 1873), originally described from early Pliocene deposits in Jamaica, still occurs as a recent species off the northern coast of S. America. This opinion is based on shells collected off Surinam and French Guyana, fossil specimens from the type-locality, and data from the literature. O. smithii (Dall, 1888) is considered a closely related recent species, occurring more to the north; it differs from O. scalatella mainly in characters of the protoconch. Conchological characters of the two taxa are discussed and some general notes are given concerning the importance of protoconch characters.