Caecum maraisi sp. n.

Figs 9A–F, 11, 22N, O, 23N, O, 26E, F

Etymology: Named after Johan Marais (South Africa), who with the large amount of collected specimens greatly contributed to the knowledge of South African Caecidae .

Description: Tube small, slightly subcylindical, more arched toward the aperture. Both tube and septum are semitransparent, colourless and glossy.The surface shows a microsculpture composed of shallow worm-like grooves interrupted by irregularly-set growth lines.At higher magnification, the microsculpture is composed of very small pits with a diameter of about 1 µm arranged in longitudinal rows. Septum vitreous, smooth, domeshaped, very protruding, with an indistinct mucro directed toward the right side. The septum shows some more or less parallel grooves arranged like waves coming from the tip of the mucro. Juveniles quite similar to the adults, and are distinguished by the more tapered shape, the smaller diameter and the less protruding septum. Larval stage and operculum unknown.

Length: 1.6 mm.

Type locality: SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: Knysna, Gericke Point, Sedgefield.

Holotype (Figs 9A–C, 22N, 23N, 26E): SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: sh, Knysna, Gericke Point, Sedgefield (NMSAW9765/T3376), length 1.64 mm, min. diam. (posterior end) 0.26 mm, diam. in the middle of the tube 0.32 mm, max. diam. (apertural end) 0.32 mm.

Paratype: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape: sh (juv), Fish R. mouth (between Port Alfred and East London), iv.1978 (JPM 2117) .

Comparative material examined: C. incisum sp. n.

Distribution: Only known from the type locality and from Fish River mouth (between Port Alfred and East London) (Fig. 11).

Remarks: This species strongly resembles C. incisum sp. n. which is found in sympatry and with which it is easily confused. It can be distinguished by the slenderness of the tube, the absence of ring-like growth lines, the presence of longitudinal microsculpture and by the different shape of the septum, which is more protruded and with a parabolic outline.