The shell-bearing, benthic gastropods on the southern part of the continental slope off Norway

The fauna of benthic shell-bearing gastropods on the continental slope off western Norway is described, based on material collected during the 1980s. Almost 3,000 specimens belonging to 96 species have been studied. The existence of a specific gastropod fauna restricted to the upper slope is documented, and the fauna is compared with that of the shelf, the 'lower' slope and the abyssal (below c. 2,000 m) depths of the Norwegian Sea. Possible dependence of the slope fauna on the negative temperature of the Norwegian Sea water and on internal waves in the region of the thermocline is discussed. Some species found on the upper slope are illustrated.