Skenea fuscomaculata

Herbert, David G., 2015, An annotated catalogue and bibliography of the taxonomy, synonymy and distribution of the Recent Vetigastropoda of South Africa (Mollusca), Zootaxa 4049 (1), pp. 1-98 : 43

Skenea fuscomaculata (G.B. Sowerby (III), 1892)—new combination

( Figures 4 N–P, 5M– O, 10C, D)

Solariella fusco-maculata G.B. Sowerby (III), 1892: 44, pl. 2, fig. 46. Type loc.: Port Elizabeth; lectotype in NHM (NHMUK 1899.4.14.3556), designated by Herbert (1987: 376, figs 193–195).

Solariella beckeri G.B. Sowerby (III), 1901: 214, pl. 22, fig. 21. Type loc.: The Kowie [Port Alfred], E. Cape; lectotype in NHM (NHMUK 1901.10.3.144), designated Herbert (1987: 376, figs 196–198).

Cyclostremella africana Bartsch, 1915: 170 , pl. 29, figs 1–3. Barnard, 1963a: 232. Kensley, 1974: 68, fig. 208 [not 207 as cited]. Type loc.: Port Alfred, E. Cape; holotype in USNM (187101).

Solariella fuscomaculata — Turton, 1932: 189, no. 1323. Barnard, 1963a: 239 [as synonym of ‘ Solariella laevissima ’].

Solariella rufanensis Turton, 1932: 189 , pl. 47, no. 1324. Type loc.: Port Alfred, E. Cape; holotype in OXUM.

Solariella pulchella Turton, 1932: 190 , pl. 47, no. 1325. Type loc.: Port Alfred, E. Cape; holotype in OXUM.

‘ Solariella ’ fuscomaculata —Herbert, 1987: 374, figs 193–203. Herbert, 1992b: 123, figs 1, 2 ( radula ).

Distribution. E. Cape (Port Alfred) to False Bay; beach-drift to 32 m (living 32 m).

Notes. The referral of this species to Skenea is tentative. It is certainly not a Solariella and the radula morphology ( Herbert 1992b and Fig. 10 C, D herein) is suggestive of skeneid affinity, but its generic relationships remain uncertain. The radula formula is ∞ + 5 + 1 + 5 + ∞ and the rachidian and inner two pairs of laterals lack a shaft and cusp, and are broadly expanded laterally ( Figs 10 C, D). Laterals 3–5 have a slender shaft with a single dominant cusp and bear smaller denticles on the outer margin just prior to the cusp. The base plates of these teeth also have a large alate process on the outer margin, decreasing in size from the third to the fifth. The marginals are numerous, simple and slender, with a well-developed food groove beneath the cusps.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Radulae. A, B, Tibatrochus cf. incertus (Schepman, 1908), scale bars 100 Μm and 25 Μm respectively (NMSA E 331). C, D, Skenea fuscomaculata (G. B. Sowerby (III), 1892), scale bars 50 Μm and 20 Μm respectively (NMSA V 357). E, F, Zetela turbynei (Barnard, 1963), scale bars 250 Μm and 100 Μm respectively (NMSA V 5510).

FIGURE 4. A – C, Calliotropis bucina Vilvens, 2006, off Tongaat Bluff, KwaZulu-Natal, 235 m, diameter 5.3 mm (NMSA S 66). D – F, Calliotropis eucheloides B. A. Marshall, 1979, off Mbashe River, E. Cape, 295 – 300 m, diameter 10.1 mm (NMSA C 9006). G – J, Tibatrochus cf. incertus (Schepman, 1908); G, H, off Nthlonyane River, E. Cape, 95 m, length 6.4 mm (NMSA E 331); I, off Glenton Reef, KwaZulu-Natal, 200 – 210 m, length 6.9 mm (NMSA S 456); J, off Beira, Mozambique, 200 – 220 m, length 6.3 mm (NMSA L 2765). K, L, Seguenzia orientalis Thiele, 1925, off Mgazi River, E. Cape, 350 m, length 2.3 mm (NMSA C 9563). M, Visayaseguenzia compsa (Melvill, 1904), off Gipsy Hill, KwaZulu-Natal, 65 – 70 m, diameter 2.3 mm (NMSA E 7465). N – P, Skenea fuscomaculata (G. B. Sowerby (III), 1892), off Struisbaai, W. Cape, 32 m, diameter 3.0 mm (NMSA V 357). [Images not to scale.]