Protoconch of the rare ovulid gastropod Cypraeogemmula warnerae Effinger, 1938, from the Eocene of western Washington

The protoconch of the small, rare gastropod Cypraeogemmula warnerae Effinger, 1938, is illustrated for the first time; the pattern of rhombs indicates that this genus belongs to family Ovulidae. Only well-preserved specimens of this species show the protoconch. This new information is based on recently collected specimens from lower Eocene rocks of western Washington. The genus Cypraeogemmula is only known from two species, C. warnerae from the lower to upper Eocene of western Washington and C. liliputana (Schilder, 1922) from the lowermost Oligocene of northern Germany. Previously, C. warnerae was known only from the upper Eocene of western Washington.