Coralliophila, H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853

Oliverio, Marco, 2009, Diversity of Coralliophilinae (Mollusca, Neogastropoda, Muricidae) at Austral Islands (South Pacific), Zoosystema 31 (4), pp. 759-789 : 772

Coralliophila sp. A

( Figs 5 F-H; 12C) MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Banc Arago, BENTHAUS, stn DW 1970, 23°22’S, 150°43.2’W, 350-401 m, 1 lv.

DESCRIPTION

Shell of small size for the genus, 7 mm high, 4 mm wide. Protoconch (partly damaged) of 2.6+ whorls, 700+ µm high and 750 µm wide at the base, covered by pustules. Three series of axial threads, one subsutural, and two on spiral keels.

Teleoconch of 3.7 whorls, spire high, conical, with flat sides, suture incised. Aperture subquadrangular, siphonal canal open; twisted, imbricate fasciole, umbilical chink narrow and short. Teleoconch spiral sculpture of 4 nodulose spiral keels, one visible above the aperture and on the upper whorls. Axial sculpture of 9 broad ribs, fading out over base. Foliaceous growth scars over the entire teleoconch. Shell ground colour ivory-white.

REMARKS

I have been unable to identfy with certainty this shell, which does not seem an immature specimen.It bears some resemblance, in the foliaceous sculpture, to the species ascribed to Emozamia , but differs in the higher spire. I await describing a new species pending availability of more material.

Figures

FIG. 5. — A, B, Coralliophila mitraeforma Kosuge, 1985, Banc Lotus, BENTHAUS, stn DW 1948, 23°48.7’S, 147°53.5’W, 120-280 m; C, D, C.pulchella (A.Adams,1854),Rimatara Is., BENTHAUS,stn DW 2020,22°37’S,152°49.1’W,920-930 m;E, C. suduirauti Smriglio & Mariottini, 2003, Banc Lotus, BENTHAUS, stn DW 1946, 23°49.2’S, 147°41.2’W, 100-200 m; F-H, Coralliophila sp. A, Banc Arago, BENTHAUS, stn DW 1970, 23°22’S, 150°43.2’W, 350-401 m. Scale bars: A-D, 10 mm; E-H, 5 mm.