Tricolia bicarinata (Dunker, 1846)

Phasianella bicarinata Dunker, 1846: 110 . Krauss, 1848: 105. E.A. Smith, 1911: 313. Bartsch, 1915: 145. Turton, 1932: 174, no. 1236. Type loc.: ‘ Prom. bon. spei. ’ [Cape of Good Hope]; holotype in ZMB (108.796).

Phasianella kraussi E.A. Smith, 1911: 313, text figs. Type loc.: Kalk Bay, False Bay, Cape of Good Hope; two syntypes in NHM (NHMUK 1911.4.26.1–2).

Phasianella tropidophora Tomlin, 1931: 420, pl. 33, fig. 1 [=form bicarinata]. Type loc.: East London and Cape Peninsula, restricted to Cape Peninsula by Nangammbi (2010); two syntypes in NMW (1955.158.00969–70).

Phasianella insignis Turton, 1932: 175, pl. 41, no. 1239. Type loc.: Port Alfred, E. Cape; holotype in OXUM (M002785).

Tricolia tropidophora — Barnard, 1963a: 209: Kensley, 1973: 52, fig. 146.

Tricolia bicarinata — Kilburn & Rippey, 1982: 47. Nangammbi, 2010: 113, figs 2.28–2.31. Nangammbi et al. in press.

Tricolia insignis — Kilburn & Rippey, 1982: 47. Nangammbi, 2010: 120, figs 2.32–2.35. Nangammbi et al. in press (= bicarinata).

Tricolia kraussi — Nangammbi, 2010: 126, figs 2.36–2.39. Nangammbi et al. in press (= bicarinata).

Not Tricolia bicarinata: Barnard, 1963a: 210 . Kensley, 1973: 52, fig. 142 [= Fossarus sp.].

Not Phasianella kraussi: Turton, 1932: 175, pl. 41, no. 1239 [= Tricolia kochii (Philippi, 1848)].

Distribution. Form bicarinata occurs on the Atlantic Cape coast, from Kommetjie to Namibia (Luderitz); intertidal. Form kraussi occurs only in False Bay; intertidal and near-shore reefs to 12 m. Form insignis ranges from Pondoland (Mzamba) to W. Cape (Hawston); intertidal and near-shore reefs to 30 m.

Notes. Over its quite considerable range, this species exists as three distinct ecomorphs, the typical one on the cold Atlantic coast, form insignis on the warmer south and east coasts and form kraussi in the more sheltered habitats in False Bay. Genetically they cluster as an unresolved clade exhibiting little genetic differentiation (Nangammbi et al. in press).