Triforis (Inella) melantera Hervier, 1898

Albano, Paolo G., Franco, Davide Di, Azzarone, Michele, J., Piet A., Bakker & Sabelli, Bruno, 2023, Review of the types of Indo-Pacific Triphoridae (Mollusca, Gastropoda) in the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, Zoosystema 45 (2), pp. 13-106 : 46

Triforis (Inella) melantera Hervier, 1898 ( Fig. 25 )

Triforis (Inella) melantera Hervier, 1898: 254 , illustrated by Hervier (1899: pl. 16, figs 3-3a).

TYPE LOCALITY. — Lifou, New Caledonia.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Syntype. New Caledonia • MNHN-IM-2000-1493; 1 specimen; from type locality.

ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION. — T. sinistrorsa , elongato-subulata, acuminata, solidula, castaneo-subnigra, apice alba. Anfractus circa 18 (apice fracto), planulati, sutura undulata, sub lirula crassiuscula anfract û s praecedentis jacente discreti, longitudinaliter costulati, transversim quadrilirati. Lirae priores 3 costulis aequales, aequidistantes, subplanatae, ad intersectionem costularum gemmatae; quarta multò minor, undulata, suturam praecedens. Gemmae primae et tertiae lirae livido fusco tinctae, paulo majores in anfractibus superioribus, in inferioribus anfr. 7 gemmis medianis aequales; interstitiis minutissimè liratulis. Anfractus ultimus, subplano-convexus, ad basin declivis, circa canalem coarctatus, 6 liris gemmiferis (inferioribus 2 minoribus) cingulatus. Canalis basalis brevis, apertus, lira crassa granifera cinctus, obliquè recurvus. Apertura subquadrata, fusca. Columella concava; labrum subrotundum, prominens, ad suturam fissuratum, sinu parvulo, aperto, infrà ad canalem basalem quasi junctum. — Long. 6-7 mill.; diam. max. 2 mill.

Hab. Insula Lifou. Vidi 6 specimina, à R. P. Goubin, S. M., collecta.

TRANSLATION OF THE LATIN TEXT. — Sinistral shell, elongatedsubulate, acute, rather solid, brown-blackish, white apex. Whorls are about 18 (without apex), flattened, separated by a wavy suture lying below the slightly thick spiral cord of the precedent whorl, longitudinally costulate, transversally with four spiral cords. The first three cords as large as ribs, equidistant, slightly flattened, tubercled at the intersection with the ribs; the fourth spiral cord is much smaller preceding a waved suture. Gemmae of the first and third spiral cords are coloured in dark brown, a bit larger in the upper whorls, in the lower whorls there are seven equal central tubercles; interspaces are characterised by fine growing lines. Last whorl is slightly flattened and convex, leaning at the base, narrow around the siphon and with six tubercled spiral cords (the two inferior cords are smaller). Short siphon, open, with a thick granulated spiral cord, obliquely curved. Squarish aperture, brown. Concave columella; almost round lip, protruding, fissured near the suture, small sinus, open, below almost jointed to the siphon. — Length 6-7 mm; maximum diameter 2 mm. Locality: Lifou Island. I saw 6 specimens collected by R. P. Goubin.

DIAGNOSIS. — Shell conical with flat sides. Syntype 4.8 mm high. Teleoconch of c. 8 whorls. Three spiral cords present, the second appearing on the third whorl. First and third cords with tubercles at the intersection with rather prosocline axial ribs. The second initially with thin tubercles becoming larger on the lower whorls. Spiral microsculpture of fine threads between the spiral cords. Base with three additional tubercled cords.Teleoconch brown. Protoconch missing in the syntype.

Figures

FIG. 25. — Triforis (Inella) melantera Hervier, 1898, Lifou, New Caledonia: A, G, original figures in Hervier (1898); B-F, H-J, syntype, MNHN-IM-2000-1493; front (B, C), side (D, E), back (F), peristome (H, I), microsculpture (J); K, L, original labels. Scale bars: B-F, 1 mm; H, I, 0.4 mm; J, 0.2 mm.