Turridrupa diffusa Powell, 1967

(Figs. 19 A–G)

Turridrupa diffusa Powell, 1967: 422, pl. 305, fig. 5. Type loc.: Samoa.

Tardy & Stahlschmidt 2022: 172, pl. 3 fig. 30.

Type material

HOLOTYPE: 12.0 mm (Auckland Institute, Figs. 19 A–C).

Material examined

PHILIPPINES: Bohol, Panglao, ca. 60 m. 1 spm (PS- 454)—Siargao Island, General Luna Cove, 9°50'N, 126°10'E, 28–42 m, coll. by Lorenz, 6/2016, 1 spm (PS- 620)— VANUATU: SANTO 2006: Stn. DB33, 1 spm (MNHN-IM-2014-211)— NEW CALEDONIA: LIFOU 2000: Stn. 1432, 1 spm (MNHN-IM-2014-209)—Stn. 1434, 1 spm (MNHN-IM-2014-210).—Isle des Pins, 22°30.8'S, 167°, 24.4' E, 24–25 m, coll. by P. Stahlschmidt, 2/2019, 1 spm (MNHN-IM-2000-208).

Distribution

Philippines, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Samoa, in depths between 20 and 60 m.

Description

Shell medium-sized for genus, up to 15.1 mm in height; clavi- to fusiform with about 8 teleoconch whorls, spire 1.5 height of the aperture including canal; suture shallow, indistinct; siphonal canal moderately long, constricted, slightly curved to right, terminally oblique, barely indented, rostrum with very slight fasciole; anal sinus deep, Ushaped, at the termination of the second spiral cord, constricted by a callus pad; interior of lip with about 7 fine spiral threads; lip preceded by a low, broadly convex varix.

Sculpture of narrow spiral cords, more or less uniformly strong, with sloping sides, 3 on spire whorls, increasing to 4 on penultimate whorl, sinus cord with elongate gemmules, about 20 on penultimate whorl, other spiral cords may also show weak gemmules; last whorl with about 12 strong spiral cords with weak intermediary threads, no axial sculpture

Protoconch papiliform, paucispiral with slightly less than 2 whorls, last 2/3 whorl with arcuate opisthocline axial riblets.

Colour creamy-white, gemmules of spiral cord surrounded by diffuse reddish brown blotches, spiral cords sometimes with golden brown to darker brown spots or completely golden brown coloured.

Remarks

Turridrupa diffusa is remotely similar to Turridrupa astricta (Reeve, 1843), but is readily distinguished by the fusiform shape with a larger siphonal canal, the shorter protoconch, and the completely different colouration. For differences to similar Turridrupa chinoi sp. nov. we refer to the remarks section of that species.