Genus Alepiella Golemansky, 1970

Diagnosis: Shell elongated, compressed dorso-ventrally and decorated with three horns: one at the fundus and two laterally. Shell covered with small scales and platelets of different shape, embedded in a clear chitinoïd cement. The pseudostome, placed obliquely in relation to the longitudinal axis, is provided with a widening of the test having in ventral view the appearance of a wide and clear disc.

Alepiella tricornuta Golemansky, 1970

Diagnosis: Shell elongated, compressed dorso-ventrally, colorless and translucent; fundus prolonged in a hollow and tubular horn. Shell also adorned with two lateral horns as hollow and tubular, but directed forward that gives the species a rather bizarre aspect. Shell covered with small scales and platelets of different shapes, embedded in a clear chitinoid cement. Often, larger exogenous elements are observed in the pseudostomal region. Pseudostome circular and placed obliquely to the longitudinal axis. In the region of the pseudostome, the test flares out in a broad and clear collar, surrounding the aperture. In lateral view, this flare has the appearance of a wide and short funnel, while in ventral view it is present in the form of a disk surrounding the pseudostome.

Dimensions: Total length: 85-90 μm, total width: 40-45 μm, hornless width: 20-25 μm, thickness: 16-21 μm horn length: 15-22 μm, pseudostome: 10-13 μm, pseudostomal flare: 27-32 µm.

Ecology: Alepiella tricornuta has so far been observed from only one locality on the Black Sea shore: Alepou beach, located 20 km south of v. Sosopol. The species was found 5-7 m from the sea at a depth in the sand equal to 90 cm (25.IV.1968 and 9.X.1968). It seems to be a rather rare species in the Black Sea coastal psammal.