Recluzia johnii ( Holten, 1802 )

Beu, Alan G., 2017, Evolution of Janthina and Recluzia (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Epitoniidae), Records of the Australian Museum (Rec. Aust. Mus.) 69 (3), pp. 119-222 : 201-203

Recluzia johnii ( Holten, 1802)

Figs 2P, R , 36B, D, I–J

Helix johnii Holten, 1802: 76 (refers to Chemnitz, 1795: 284, pl. 210, fig. 2076).

Recluzia hargravesi Cox, 1870: 172 , pl. 16, fig. 8; Angas, 1877: 190; Tryon, 1887: 38, pl. 10, fig. 23; Brazier, 1894: 536; Hedley, 1907: 481; Iredale, 1910: 71; Iredale, 1929: 279; Iredale & McMichael, 1962: 49.

Recluzia johnii (Chemnitz) .– Jousseaume, 1872: 205; Tryon, 1887: 38, pl. 10, fig. 24; Hedley, 1910: 358; Winckworth, 1943: 148.

Recluzia erythraea Jickeli, 1882: 367 ; Tryon, 1887: 39; Thiele, 1928: 83, fig. 6.

Type material. Holten (1802) provided a list of binominal names from Martini & Chemnitz’s (1769–1795) famous but non-binominal iconography in a catalogue prepared for the sale of Chemnitz’s collection ( Winckworth, 1943). Part of the collection was purchased for Peter the Great and is now in the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg ( Martynov, 2002). Chemnitz’s illustrated shell is not in ZMUC (J. Knudsen ZMUC pers. comm. 07 Feb 1978; AGB personal obs.). The possibility that Chemnitz’s (1795: 284, pl. 210, figs 1076–1077) illustrated specimen of Helix johnii remains in Chemnitz’s collection in the Zoological Institute, St Petersburg, was investigated at the writer’s request by B. Sirenko (pers. comm. 07 Sep 2012); the illustrated specimen is not present. Chemnitz’s drawing shows a cream and pale grey shell with a tall spire, closely similar in shape and general appearance to the holotype of Recluzia hargravesi ( Figs 36I–J ), although with a still slightly taller spire, a shallower suture, and one more teleoconch whorl. Jousseaume (1872: 203–206) discussed the identity of the specimen, translated Chemnitz’s description and discussion into French, referred the specimen to Recluzia , and redescribed it carefully. Chemnitz received his specimen from “M. John, a missionary … living in Tranquebar, whom I must thank for many conchological riches. Whether it inhabits Coromandel, Ceylon, the Nicobar Islands or other parts of the East Indies, and whether it is a land, freshwater or marine shell he gave not the slightest information” (translation from Jousseaume, 1872: 204). The strongly and evenly inflated whorl shape, essentially smooth surface, circular aperture, faint spiral colour band at the continuation of the suture around the last whorl, and narrowly reflected inner lip agree with characters of Recluzia johnii of the present report. It seems feasible that this is the earliest name for a species of Recluzia , despite some early authors referring it to terrestrial gastropod groups such as Pupa Draparnaud, 1801 (i.e., Pupilla Fleming, 1828 , Pupillidae ; not Pupa Röding, 1798 , Acteonidae ) or Cochlogena Férussac, 1821, Helicidae . Férussac (1821: 57) cited the name as Helix (Cochlogena) johnii Chemnitz , but added “Habit. Les grandes Indes. Espèce incertain pour le genre”, whereas Gray (1825: 412) simply listed it as Pupa johnii without comment. Smith (1910: 203) also doubted that this name referred to a Recluzia species because of its description by Chemnitz (1795) as “subkeeled”, but this appears to refer only to the colour band around the last whorl in Chemnitz’s (1795: pl. 210, fig. 2076–2077) drawings; the drawings show no obvious sculpture. Similar narrow, irregular colour bands or faint spiral grooves are present on many specimens of Recluzia (e.g., Habe & Tokioka, 1953: fig. 12). Jousseaume’s note seems to have been inspired by a specimen in his collection, in MNHN ( Figs 36B, D ). The name has not been applied to any other mollusc during the last century, to the writer’s knowledge, and Jousseaume (1872) and Winckworth (1943: 148) are followed in accepting it as the earliest name for a species of Recluzia .

Recluzia hargravesi , holotype NHMUK 197432, stated to be from Miall River, Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia, but corrected by the collector, W. Glover (cited by Brazier, 1894: 536) to the beach inside the North Head of Port Stephens. It is necessary to remove the name Helix johnii from uncertain status and associate it unambiguously with this species rather than R. lutea . The name H. johnii originally was not provided with a type locality. The holotype of Recluzia hargravesi, NHMUK 197432 ( Figs 36I–J ) is here designated the neotype of Helix johnii Holten, 1802 . Therefore, the type locality of Helix johnii becomes Port Stephens, New South Wales. Thiele (1928: fig. 6) illustrated the presumed holotype of Recluzia erythraea, ZMB /Moll-112603 (E. Strong, USNM, pers. comm. 20 Sep 2012; not seen), from Dahlak Island, Red Sea, showing that this name also refers to a tall, narrow specimen of Recluzia johnii .

Other material examined. Australia: New South Wales: Collaroy Beach, Sydney ( AMS); Maroubra Beach, Sydney ( AMS); Middle Harbour, Port Jackson ( NMV); Port Stephens (two lots, AMS); Port Macquarie ( NMV). Queensland: Green I. ( AMS C9824); Palm Islands ( AMS C9823); 31–37 m, Masthead I. ( AMS C19351a); trawled, 150–200 m, Swain Reefs ( GNS WM17360, 1); King’s Beach, Caloundra ( NMV); Wreck I., off Yeppoon ( AMS); Fairfax I., Bunker Group ( AMS C69053).

The only other specimens observed in world museums are the holotype of Recluzia hargravesi , listed above, and Jousseaume’s specimen in MNHN. A specimen in MNHN labelled “Rade de Batavia”, i.e., Jakarta, Indonesia (E. Strong, USNM, photograph sent pers. comm. 20 Sep 20012) has a tall, narrow spire and possibly belongs in R. johnii , but is too incomplete for certain identification.

Distribution. The tall-spired species Recluzia johnii is much rarer than R. lutea . In this study, almost all specimens observed are from Queensland and northern New South Wales, eastern Australia; none have been observed from New Zealand. Living specimens have also been collected on northern New South Wales beaches by Riek (2017; Fig. 7 ). However, the type specimens of the synonyms demonstrate that R. johnii also occurs in the northern Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. It probably occurs throughout the tropical Indo-West Pacific province. The writer is not aware of records from the Atlantic Ocean or the eastern Pacific, but this probably results merely from its rarity.

Dimensions. See Table 12 .

Diagnosis. Moderately large (H to 39, D to 24 mm), larger than Janthina species other than J. janthina and J. globosa ; taller and narrower than all other neustonic Epitoniidae including Recluzia lutea ; mean height: diameter 1.56, mean diameter: spire height 1.20. Teleoconch of 6–7 whorls; whorls strongly and evenly inflated, of almost circular crosssection, narrower than in R. lutea ; suture deeply impressed; without obvious sculpture. Aperture almost circular, almost all specimens without anterior spout-like expansion. Lays smooth, narrow, cylindrical to weakly club-shaped, yellow egg capsules on underside of float, as in R. lutea .

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Remarks. Recluzia johnii is so rare that little can be stated about it. It is concluded here that it is a second species of Recluzia with a taller, narrower spire with straighter outlines than in R. lutea , produced by its greater translation rate and slightly more numerous whorls of narrower cross-section. Most specimens have faint, irregular sculpture of weak spiral and axial grooves and ridges, varying individually, as in R. lutea . The teleoconch also tends to be a slightly warmer shade of yellow-brown than in R. lutea . Further material is required before the status and distribution of R. johnii is certain.

Riek (2017) published on his web page several excellent photographs of specimens collected alive on northern New South Wales beaches, showing two specimens of Recluzia hargravesi (i.e., R. johnii ) feeding on the floating anemone Actinecta sp. The Recluzia specimens have extremely long, narrow, undivided cephalic tentacles, apparently much more extended than those in the photographs of R. lutea . However, the bright yellow animal, cylindrical egg capsules, and other characters are identical to those of R. lutea . It is notable that the floats of all specimens on this web page are as irregularly arranged as those of R. lutea in all other photographs observed, and it appears that the float of Recluzia species is less regular than and formed slightly differently from that of Janthina . Denis Riek (Brunswick Heads, NSW, pers. comm. 11 Nov 2015) confirmed that the cephalic tentacles of all Recluzia specimens he has seen are undivided; the double appearance in some of his photographs is due to reflection on the undersurface of the water in the aquarium. He also stated that the photographed specimens ate the Actinecta anemones voraciously; they had consumed one anemone before he reached home and they could be transferred to his aquarium. Thereafter he was able to photograph them consuming the remaining anemone.

An unlocalized specimen from Jousseaume’s collection in MNHN ( Figs 36B, D ; point identified by “JJ” in Fig. 35 ; photographs provided by E. Strong, USNM, pers. comm. 20 Sep 2012) is similar in spire height to Chemnitz’s (1795: 284, pl. 210, fig. 2076) drawing of the lost holotype of Recluzia johnii . It is unusually narrow, and has a still narrower appearance than other Recluzia specimens because its suture is markedly shallower and the spire outline consequently less strongly stepped than in any other Recluzia specimen the writer has examined (H 23.3, D 12.6, SH 9.3 mm; H/D = 1.85, D/SH = 1.35; i.e., intermediate between the means of R. lutea and R. johnii ; dimensions included in Table 12 and in calculations of dimensions and means for R. johnii , including in Table 11 ). The anterior end of the aperture is flared narrowly. It is an unusually pale yellowish grey, similar to the colour of Chemnitz’s (1795: 284, pl. 210, fig. 2076) drawing, and paler than all other specimens of R. johnii and R. lutea observed by the writer. It also has seven teleoconch whorls, indicating that the whorls are still narrower than those of other specimens assigned to R. johnii . This specimen presumably inspired Jousseaume’s (1872) note on this species. It possibly represents a third living species of Recluzia . However, as only one specimen has been observed it must be assumed to be part of the variation of R. johnii until more specimens allow it to be evaluated more fully. The available material suggests that there are two species of Recluzia .

Figures

Figure 2 (facing page 123). Shells of the five living species of Janthina and two species of Recluzia recognized in this work; apertural views, and left lateral views showing outer lip sinus.(A–F) Janthina janthina (Linnaeus);A–B, D, GNS RM4442, two specimens, beach, Takou Bay, Northland, New Zealand; C, GNS WM15986, “bicolor” form, San Lourenço Beach, Santa Maria I., Azores, Atlantic; E, GNS RM6735, “bicolor” form, Ohope Beach, Whakatane, New Zealand; F, GNS WM15297, beach between Hutchinson Bluff and Rayner Point, Raoul I., Kermadec Islands. (G–J) Janthina globosa (Swainson); G, GNS WM15254, beach, Mauritius, Indian Ocean; H–J, GNS RM5321, two specimens, Muriwai Beach, West Auckland, New Zealand. (K–L) Janthina pallida Thompson, GNS WM15256, beach, Windy Harbour, Cape D’Entrecasteaux, southern Western Australia.(M, O) Janthina exigua Lamarck, GNS RM5626, Nukumaru Beach, Whanganui, New Zealand. (N, Q) Janthina umbilicata d’Orbigny, GNS RM5627, Nukumaru Beach, Whanganui, New Zealand. (P, R) Recluzia johnii (Holten), GNS WM17360, ventral and dorsal views; trawled in sediment, 130–180 m, Swain Reefs, SE Queensland, Australia (shortest specimen, last entryin Table 12).(S–T) Recluzia lutea (Bennett), GNS RM6748,beach, Great Exhibition Bay,Northland, New Zealand (from same sample as Figs 36M–P). Scale bar 10 mm, applies to all figures.

Figure 7. Recluzia johnii (Holten), two living animals in aquaria, collected on beach in northern New South Wales; specimens reflected on under-surface of water at top of images. (A–B) two views of the same two animals feeding on an Actinecta anemone (at upper right in Fig. 7A), showing similar characters to R. lutea, but taller shell and longer (more expanded?) cephalic tentacles; in Fig. 7B, anemone has been consumed (reproduced with permission of Denis Riek, Brunswick Heads, NSW). Scale bars 10 mm.

Figure 35. Scatter diagram comparing dimensions of Recluzia species. (A) diameter compared with height; (B) diameter compared with spire height. ▲ Recluzia lutea (Table 13);  Recluzia johnii (Table 12, including Jousseaume’s specimen of Recluzia johnii, MNHN). Letters show positions of type specimens of synonyms:A — Recluzia annamitica syntype; B — Recluzia bensoni holotype; E — Recluzia erythraea holotype; G — Recluzia globosa holotype; H — Recluzia hargravesi holotype (neotype of Recluzia johnii); Je — Recluzia jehennei syntype (neotype of Janthina lutea); JJ — Recluzia johnii, Jousseaume’s specimen; M — Recluzia montrouzieri syntype; R — Recluzia rollandiana syntype (from Petit de la Saussaye, 1853); T — Janthina turrita syntype.

Figure 36. Putative fossil Recluzia, and specimens of Recluzia johnii (Holten) and Recluzia lutea (Bennett). (A, C) unidentified Epitoniidae formerly identified as Recluzia sp., NMB locality 17516, Casa Cantaure, Paraguana Peninsula, Venezuela; Cantaure Fm, Burdigalian (late early Miocene); SEM. (B, D) MNHN, Jousseaume collection, unlocalized specimen referred toRecluzia johnii (photos by E. Strong).(E, H) Recluzia lutea, USNM56411, holotype of Lymnaea palmeri Dall, Taqui River delta, head of Gulf of Mexico, eastern Pacific (photos by E. Strong). (F–G) Recluzia lutea, MNHN IM.25667, syntype of Recluzia jehennei Petit de la Saussaye and neotype designated here of Recluzia lutea Bennett, of Janthina turrita Philippi and of Recluzia rollandiana Petit de la Saussaye; Gulf ofArabia (MNHN photos).(I–J) Recluzia johnii, NHMUK197432, holotype of Recluzia hargravesi Cox and neotype designated here ofHelix johnii Holten; Port Stephens, New South Wales,Australia (photos by E. Strong).(K–L) Recluzia lutea, MNHN IM.25668, one of two syntypes of Recluzia annamitica Wattebled; Thuan-an, Hué, Vietnam (MNHN photos). (M–P) Recluzia lutea, range of shape of large specimens in one collection; Great Exhibition Bay, northern North Island, New Zealand, Mar 1998; in collection of P. Poortman (Auckland) (specimen in Fig. 2S–T is from the same sample). Scale bars:A, 1 mm; C, 300 µm; uppermost bar, 10 mm, applies to all other figures