Turris kantori, Kilburn & Fedosov & Olivera, 2012

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 : 34-35

Turris kantori sp. nov.

Plate 20 , figs A–E

DESCRIPTION: Shell with spire angle 20–21º; b/l 0.29, a/l 0.37–0.42, with an acuminate, orthoconoid spire; base of last whorl constricted, siphonal canal moderately short, tapering and recurved, in adult with distinct fasciole and false umbilicus; suture deep; teleoconch whorls ca 14 in number. Anal sinus relatively shallow, parallel-sided, with a raised rim.

Subsutural cord angular, relatively narrow, with a median ridge and a weaker thread on either side; sulcus a deep, narrow furrow, slightly recessed under sinus cord complex. Sinus cord angular except for a flat or concave crest formed by a double ridge, sides steeply sloping. Peripheral cord slightly projecting, somewhat flat-topped but with sloping sides; base of whorl with two similar but slightly weaker cords, intermediary threads fine and few, sometimes absent. Base of last whorl with ca 14 ridges, those above strongest and with an occasional intermediary, those anteriorly finer and even. Collabral threads lamellate, forming small scales along lower edge of sulcus.

Colour pale brownish-yellow, with irregular, oblique flames of brown, paler behind lip, spiral ridges that surmount cords are lined with brown, interior of siphonal canal violet-tinged. Periostracum a persistent glaze, dull or reddish-brown. Attains 55.8 mm.

Protoconch somewhat worn, conical, of about 3 whorls, with axial riblets on last whorl, breadth ca 0.80 mm.

DISTRIBUTION: Gulf of Manaar (S. E. India) to southern coast of Java, in 15– 20 m.

TYPES: Holotype (Pl. 20, figs A–B) off Pangandaran (Teluk Citanduy), south coast of central Java , INDONESIA, 7º43’S; 108º42’E, in 15–20 m; collected RK, 51.2 x 14.9 mm, NHMUK 20110301 . Paratype 1 (Pl. 20. figs C–E), same data, 55.8 x 16.4 mm, NMSA L8437/T2655 .

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: INDIA: Tuticorin, Gulf of Manaar, 8º47’N; 78º08’E, ( NMSA L5459) , one worn shell, RK .

REMARKS: Turris kantori is distinguished from T. annulata by its angular, sloping-sided, flat-topped spiral cords, whose crests bear a twin (or single), brown ridge (absent in T. annulata ), in the sinus cord being weaker than the succeeding one (peripheral in annulata ) and the base of the later spire whorls bearing an extra cord (i.e. there are five main cords on the penultimate whorl in kantori , four in annulata ). The anal sinus is deeper and more parallel-sided in T. kantori and bordered by a prominently raised flange, weak in T. annulata . Finally, the suture is shallower in T. annulata , which also lacks the oblique stripes of kantori . There is also a superficial resemblance to Turris omnipurpurata Vera-Peláez, Vega-Luz & Lozano-Francisco, 2000 , which also possesses brown-lined cords. However that species differs from T. kantori not only in its narrower form, very shallow suture and lilac ground colour, but also in its subsutural and sinus cords bearing only a single, rather than a double, brown line.

Although the types were probably collected alive from fishing nets, the soft parts have decomposed to sediment. A worn shell found in a fishing village midden in the Tuticorin area (see above) indicates the possible extent of its distribution. This is not unexpected, as the fauna of the south (Indian Ocean) coast of Java and Sumatra has a significant number of species in common with southeastern India, as a consequence of predominant ocean current systems.

ETYMOLOGY: named in honour of Dr Yuri Kantor of IPEE, for his help and friendship.

Figures

PLATE 20. Turris kantori nsp.: A, B—Holotype, NHMUK 20110301, off Pangandaran, central Java, Indonesia, 15–20 m, RK, 51.2 x 14.9 mm; C–E—Paratype, same data, NMSA L2827, 55.6 x 15.1 mm.