Ilanga laevissima ( Martens, 1881 )

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 : 46

Ilanga laevissima ( Martens, 1881)

Trochus laevissimus Martens, 1881: 65 . Type loc.: 33°59ʹS: 17°51ʹE, 50 fathoms [ca 55 km west of Table Bay, 91 m]; holotype in ZMB (129315).

Minolia (Nachaeroplax) congener G.B. Sowerby (III), 1903: 223, pl. 5, fig. 2. Type loc.: Cape Infanta bearing N 1/4W; distant 82 miles; depth, 40 fathoms [73 m]; one syntype in SAMC (A5257), figured by Herbert (1987: figs 34–36), two syntypes in NHM (NHMUK 1903.7.27.67–8).

Minolia laevissima —G.B. Sowerby (III), 1903: 231, pl. 5, fig. 1.

Solariella laevissima — Martens, 1904: 49, pl. 5, fig. 2. E.A. Smith, 1906: 56. Barnard, 1963a: 239, fig. 10c. Kensley, 1973: 42, fig. 103.

Solariella congener — E.A. Smith, 1906: 55.

Solariella nitens Thiele, 1925: 14 [48], pl. 1[13], fig. 16. Type loc.: Valdivia St’n 113, SW of Cape Point (34°33.3ʹS: 18°21.2ʹE), 318 m; three syntypes in ZMB.

Ilanga laevissima — Herbert, 1987c: 310, figs 1–3, 6, 34–50 (detailed synonymy and chresonymy). Williams et al., 2013: 9.

Distribution. Southern Mozambique to W. Cape (off Table Bay); 40–350 m (living 55–270 m).

Notes. Molecular sequence data has demonstrated that the material studied by Barnard (1963a) and Herbert (1987c) is composite, containing at least one additional cryptic species ( Williams et al. 2013). Further studies are needed to resolve the taxonomy of this complex.