Turris tanyspira Kilburn, 1975

Kilburn, Richard N., Fedosov, Alexander E. & Olivera, Baldomero M., 2012, Revision of the genus Turris Batsch, 1789 (Gastropoda: Conoidea: Turridae) with the description of six new species, Zootaxa 3244 (1), pp. 1-58 : 47

Turris tanyspira Kilburn, 1975

Plate 28 , figs A–H

Turris tanyspira Kilburn, 1975: 603 , fig. 15. Type loc.: N. of Beira, central Moçambique, 10–20 fath. [18–37 m].

Turris ankaramanyensis Bozzetti, 2006: 8 , textfigs; Robin 2008: pl. 448, fig. 1. Type loc.: Ankaramany, 100 km north of Tolagnaro, S.E Madagascar, 60– 100 m. New synonym.

DESCRIPTION: Shell with b/l 0.30–0.31, a/l 0.36–0.38; siphonal canal short, narrow and oblique; fasciole strong to weak, large examples with a narrow false umbilicus; interior of aperture usually with thin spiral ridges. Suture narrowly channelled, becoming less so in large individuals; whorls weakly convex.

Sculptured by angular spiral cords, with intervals which are equal to them or wider, and are crossed by relatively coarse collabral threads (plicules); initially cords are very feebly granular. Subsutural cord relatively low and bearing an angular median ridge with a weaker one on either side. Sulcus a very deep and narrow furrow, not distinctly recessed under sinus cord, in fresh shells containing slightly lamellar collabral threads. Sinus cord surmounted by two thin ridges and forming a slight shoulder in immature shells (but not adults). Peripheral cord angular and moderately prominent, bearing 1–3 ridges, interval between this and sinus cord with 2–3 fine spiral threads. Base of spire whorls with 2–3 subequal, angular ridges with widely sloping sides, their intervals sometimes with a few spiral threads and fine axial threads. Base of last whorl with 18–28 ridges, the upper 5–6 the strongest, becoming gradually weaker anteriorly (with a few finer intermediary threads), ca 11 uniformly fine ones on base of rostrum.

White to brownish-white, with oblique axial stripes of dark brown, sinus cord pale, with a few widely-spaced brown spots and often two thin brown spiral lines; inner lip and aperture white, sometimes tinged with violet. Periostracum a translucent light brown covering, giving live shells a pale khaki hue.

Protoconch apparently very small (breadth ca 1.1 mm; perhaps 1.3 whorls, but limit not clear).

Maximum length 81.0 mm ( Bozzetti 2006).

DISTRIBUTION: Southeast Africa, from southern Mozambique to the Natal /Transkei border, and southern Madagascar; low reefs in about 30– 50 m.

TYPES: T. tanyspira : holotype NMSA G2710 . T. ankaramanyensis : holotype in MNHN, two paratypes in colln Bozzetti .

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: SOUTH AFRICA: off Phumula, southern Natal, (30°38.28’S, 30°32.92’E), 44 m, living in sand ( NMSA L7419: M. Wallace); same locality, 36 m, on low profile off-shore reef ( NMSA W2725: M. Wallace and V. Fraser). MOZAMBIQUE: N. of Beira, 18–37 m ( NMSA G2710/T7855: holotype); Lacerda Lighthouse, 40 km N. of Maputo, 20–30 m, on steep slope ( NMSA L4641: J. Rosado). SE MADAGASCAR: Ankaramany, ( NMSA L7996: L. Bozzetti) .

REMARKS: Similar to T. nadaensis , but with a deeper suture, blunter spiral cords, and the sulcus is deeper, not distinctly recessed and lacks scales. The holotype of T. tanyspira (pl. 29, figs A–B) is a small individual with blotches rather than stripes, and hence appears to differ widely from the Madagascar form described as T. ankaramanyensis (pl. 29, figs G–H). However, specimens subsequently collected off southern Natal and Mozambique agree closely with an example of the latter, kindly presented by Luigi Bozzetti.

Figures

PLATE 28. Turris tanyspira Kilburn, 1975: A, B—holotype, N. of Beira, Mozambique, 20–35 m, NMSA G2710, 49.0 x 15.6 mm; C, D—off Phumula, southern Natal, South Africa, 44 m, NMSA L7419, 78.2 x 23.1 mm. E, F - 69.3 x 20.6mm, 60–100m, Ankaramany, Madagascar, NMSA; G, H—Holotype of Turris ankaramaniensis, Bozzetti, 2008, 72.9 x 20.3mm, 60–100 m, Ankaramany, Madagascar, MNHN.