Crassispira bruehli, Stahlschmidt, Peter & Fraussen, Koen, 2014

Stahlschmidt, Peter & Fraussen, Koen, 2014, Two new turrid species (Gastropoda: Pseudomelatomidae) from the Palawan region, the Philippines, Zootaxa 3784 (1), pp. 89-93 : 89-91

Crassispira bruehli n. sp.

Figures 1–5

Type material. Holotype: MNHN IM- 2000-23314 (11.4 mm). Paratype 1: MNHN IM- 2000-23315 (11.2 mm). Paratypes 2–3: SMF-336431/2 (9.8 mm, 9.8 mm). Paratypes 4–5: ANSP-454324 (10.3 mm, 10.7 mm). Paratypes 6–11: PS- 020259 (9.3 mm, 10.1 mm, 10.6 mm, 11.1 mm, 11.5 mm, 11.5 mm). Paratype 12: KF (10.8 mm). Paratype 13: Conchology Inc. (10.2 mm). All from type locality.

Type locality. Philippines, Palawan, Balabac Island, 15– 65 m.

Distribution. Only known from the Palawan region. So far reported from Balabac Island (dredged at 15–65 m; type material), Puerto Princessa (dredged at 10–30 m; voucher specimens PS- 020289), Taytay Bay (dredged at 20–25 m; voucher specimens PS- 020290), and Port Barton (dredged at 20–25 m; voucher specimens PS- 020291).

Description. Shell small to medium sized, up to 11.5 mm in length, b/l 0.37–0.40, a/l 0.36–0.40, narrowly claviform with narrow aperture; 6–7 teleoconch whorls; suture moderately deep, whorls moderately convex.

Aperture narrowly pyriform with a very short, broad and deeply notched siphonal canal. Callus moderately strong, forming a rounded nodule in posterior angle of aperture, intruding to some degree into opening of anal sinus. Columella thin, smooth and glossy. Outer apertural lip thin, convex in side-view, crenulated, with a very weakly developed stromboid notch and a moderately deep, openly U-shaped anal sinus, which is directed slightly adapically. Fasciole weak and indistinct.

Adult sculpture of stout, rounded axial ribs, commencing at the subsutural band and extending well over the base, overridden by spiral cords, 8–9 on first teleoconch whorl, 8–9 on penultimate whorl. No distinct varices, but the second last axial rib (situated about one-third whorl back from lip) being the strongest followed by a very weak axial rib behind lip. Spiral cords on spire whorls wide and flat, with very narrow interstices; a total of 5–7 on first teleoconch whorl to around 7 on penultimate whorl. Around 20 spiral cords on last whorl becoming somewhat narrower towards rostrum while interstices becoming gradually wider.

Colour whitish-cream to light brown with moderate to dark brown axial streaks between axial ribs and in some cases diffuse brown markings on the last whorl, subsutural cord spotted with light to moderate brown, aperture and columella whitish-cream.

Protoconch narrowly domed, of 1–1.5 whorls, first whorl depressed, second one weakly convex; suture shallow; white or cream tinged, smooth except for growth lines near termination, transition to teleoconch not well detectable. Radula (based on Paratype 1 MNHN-23315; figs. 4–5) of the 1-0-0-0-1 type (following terminology of Kantor & Taylor, 2000). Marginal plates elongated, narrow, flattened distal end with well-defined, double cutting edges.

No preserved soft parts and operculum available for study (the radula was extracted from a dried remnant found in one shell).

Remarks. The true generic position of Crassispira bruehli n. sp. and C. pulchrepunctata Stahlschmidt & Bozzetti, 2007 is doubtful, and assignment to the genus Crassispira Swainson, 1840 (type species: Pleurotoma bottae Kiener, 1840 from eastern Pacific) is only tentative. The presence of broad and rounded axial ribs in combination with faint spiral cords is also found in several Crassispira species in the eastern Pacific such as C. ballenaensis Hertlein & Strong, 1951 . The radula, however, with its well-defined, double cutting edges, is similar to radulae of members of the genus Funa Kilburn, 1988 .

Crassispira bruehli n. sp. is only remotely allied to C. pulchrepunctata Stahlschmidt & Bozzetti, 2007 (figures 6–7) and differs by its smaller size, denser axial sculpture, broader spiral cords, and different coloration.

Etymology. Crassispira bruehli n. sp. is named in honour of Dr. Carsten Brühl in appreciation of his friendship and the intensive supervision of the first author’s doctoral thesis.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Crassispira bruehli n. sp. 1 – 2. Holotype (MNHN IM- 2000 - 23314), 11.4 mm, Philippines, Palawan, Balabac Island, 15 - 65 m. 3 – 5. Paratype 1 (MNHN- 23315), 11.2 mm, same locality as holotype. 4 – 5. Radula. 6 – 7. Crassispira pulchrepunctata Stahlschmidt & Bozzetti, 2007, holotype (LMD), 17.9 mm, Philippines, Aliguay Island, 80 – 150 m.