Vermiliopsis labiata (Costa, 1861)

(Fig. 31 D)

Serpula labiata Costa, 1861: 32, pl. 7, fig. 2 [Italy, Mediterranen Sea; diagnosis].

Vermiliopsis labiata . — Zibrowius 1972: 117–118, fig. 1 [transfer to Vermiliopsis; interesting synonymy and discussion]; 1973: 45–46 [West Africa, Indian Ocean; diagnosis]; Imajima 1977: 95–97, fig. 4 [Ogasawara Islands, Japan; description]; 1978: 57 [Izu Islands, Japan]; 1979: 170 [Ogasawara Islands, Japan]; 1987: 81 [Okinawa, Japan]; 1997: 214 [Suruga Bay, Japan]; 2006: 395 [Sagami Bay, Japan]; Imajima & ten Hove 1984: 55, 58 [Ponape]; ten Hove & Kupriyanova 2009: 15, 102 [name only].

Material examined. SAM stn.G244, south of South Island, coll. G. Rouse & E. Kupriyanova, 2 Nov 2005; ZMA V.Pol. 4690, stn.16, North Point, sloping reef, mainly dead, slightly silted corals, 3–17 m, coll. H. ten Hove, P. Hutchings & M. Reid, 1 Mar 1986; ZMA V.Pol. 4691, stn.21, south of South Island, 14°42'S, 145°28'E, sloping silty reef, little coral cover, 18–20 m, coll. H. ten Hove & P. Hutchings, 6 Mar 1986.

Diagnosis. Chitinous endplate of the operculum concave, reinforced distally with calcareous matter like a coral-theca. Robust tube with several longitudinal ridges and thick transverse former peristomes.

Remarks. This is another species originally described from the Mediterranean. The tube and operculum are really distinguishing, but DNA might, probably will, show them to be different from the Mediterranean species.

Distribution. Mediterranean, tropical Atlantic, Indo-West Pacific.