Coriophora novem ( Nowell-Usticke, 1969 ), 1958

Fernandes, Maurício Romulo & Pimenta, Alexandre Dias, 2020, Unraveling one of the ‘ Big Five’: update of the taxonomy of Triphoridae (Gastropoda, Triphoroidea) from Brazil, European Journal of Taxonomy 665 (665), pp. 1-170 : 42-45

Coriophora novem ( Nowell-Usticke, 1969)

Fig. 19 , 22H , 30 , 83

Triphora novem Nowell-Usticke, 1969: 12 , pl. 2 fig. 403.

Triphora novem – De Jong & Coomans 1988: 49, pl. 34 fig. 236. — Moolenbeek & Faber 1989: 80. — Boyko & Cordeiro 2001: 122.

Triphora sp. indet. A – Odé 1989: 111, fig. 6.

Marshallora sp. 1 – Leal 1991: 121, pl. 16 figs h–i.

Mesophora aff. novem – Rolán & Fernández-Garcés 1995: 11, figs 12–16.

Mesophora novem – Rolán & Fernández-Garcés 1995: 11, figs 8–11; 2007: 23, pl. 4 figs 1–5. — Redfern 2001: 67, pl. 33 fig. 282; 2013: 129, fig. 367. — Espinosa et al. 2007: 74; 2012: 257. — Lee 2009: 90. — Tunnell et al. 2010: 205. — Garcia & Lee 2011. — García 2016: 106.

Coriophora novem – Zhang 2011: 101, fig. 299 ( Mesophora novem ). — Özdikmen 2013: 255. — Fernandes et al. 2013: 12, figs 12, 23, 33. — Rolán & Fernández-Garcés 2015: 54, pl. 4 fig. i. — Hewitt & van Leeuwen 2017: 54. — Lamy & Pointier 2018: 284, pl. 91 fig. 4.

Material examined

Holotype

VIRGIN ISLANDS • AMNH 195419 .

Other material

BELIZE • 1 spec.; Carrie Bow Cay ; 16º47′30″ N, 88º04′42″ W; 27 May 1972; R. Houbrick leg.; USNM 879550 .

BONAIRE • 1 spec.; Nukove ; 21 m; 14 Feb. 1998; MNRJ 32363 *.

BRAZIL – Amapá • 1 spec.; GEOMAR III st. 181; UFC-Labomar 1894 . – Rio Grande do Norte • 1 spec.; BPot 1-MR43; MNRJ 31542 * • 2 specs; BPot 1-MR45; MNRJ 31543 * • 1 spec.; BPot 2-MR45; MNRJ 31544 * • 1 spec.; 04º44′53″ S, 36º25′27″ W; depth 102–108 m; 23 May 2011; MNRJ 35118 *. – Pernambuco • 1 spec.; Porto de Galinhas, Ipojuca ; 5 Oct. 1982; UFRPE . – Alagoas • 4 specs; Maceió; Jaraguá ; MORG 18264 • 37 specs; Maceió; Jaraguá ; MORG 33736 . – Bahia • 3 specs; Salvador; Itapuã ; MORG 16385 • 4 specs; Salvador; Itapuã ; MORG 33727 • 9 specs; Salvador; Itapuã ; MORG 52615 • 1 spec.; Salvador; Itapuã ; MORG 33742 • 1 spec.; Salvador; Itapuã ; MZSP 133316 • 1 spec.; Salvador, beach drift ; Apr. 1981; J.C. Tarasconi leg.; MNRJ 29366 * • 2 specs; Salvador; MZSP 64881 • 1 spec.; 13º25′43″ S, 38º49′30″ W; depth 33 m; MNRJ 33085 * • 5 specs; Ilhéus MNRJ 32374 * • 1 spec.; Ilhéus MNRJ 32975 * • 1 spec.; REVIZEE-Central C5-7R; MNRJ 18631 * • 1 spec.; Abrolhos ; Jan. 1985; MORG 29825 . – Espírito Santo • 1 spec.; 19º26′ S, 39º22′ W; depth 46 m; Oct. 2003; MNRJ 32134 * • 1 spec.; 19º26′03″ S, 39º22′35″ W; depth 44 m; Oct. 2003; MNRJ 32838 *. – Vitória-Trindade Chain • 3 specs; REVIZEE-Central C2-22R; MORG 52620 • 1 spec.; Trindade Island; Mar. 1986; H. Bulhões leg.; MORG 24433 . – Campos Basin (Espírito Santo/Rio de Janeiro) • 1 spec.; HAB 16-C4; MNRJ 18434 * • 1 spec.; HAB 16-H3; MNRJ 18622 * • 1 spec.; 22º42′ S, 40º40′ W; depth 110 m; 2006; MNRJ 18754 * • 2 specs; 23º04′ S, 40º59′ W; 17 Dec. 2004; MNRJ 18963 * • 1 spec.; 23º04′ S, 40º59′ W; 1 Apr. 2005; MNRJ 31110 * • 1 spec.; 23º04′ S, 40º59′ W; MNRJ 32625 *.

Remarks

Rolán & Fernández-Garcés (1995) and Fernandes et al. (2013) discussed the existence of two morphs under the name C. novem , one lighter in colour (like the holotype), the other darker. Typical shells of C. novem in southeastern Brazil belong to the darker morph ( Fig. 19A ), besides showing the median spiral cord of the teleoconch emerging between the seventh and ninth whorl ( Fernandes et al. 2013; Fernandes 2014). Some shells from northeastern Brazil are similar to the holotype, with a clearer coloration; a few of them are smaller and have smooth basal cords, a reduced anterior canal and the median spiral cord emerging early, even at the fifth whorl of the teleoconch ( Fig. 19C ).

Fernandes et al. (2013) indicated some inconsistencies related to the larval shell and radular formula in the generic assignment of C. novem in Mesophora Laseron, 1958 (synonym of Coriophora Laseron, 1958 ; see Marshall 1983 and Özdikmen 2013) by Rolán & Fernández-Garcés (1995). The discovery of a spiral microsculpture in the teleoconch of C. novem ( Fig. 19 F–G) is relevant, as it is very weak or usually absent in Mesophora ( Marshall 1983) but distinct in the related genus Mastonia Hinds, 1843 . Additionally, Mastonia typically has two spiral cords in the larval shell, just as in most part of the larval shell of C. novem ( Fig. 19J ), instead of the usual single cord in Mesophora ( Marshall 1983) . In contrast, C. novem possesses two basal cords ( Fig. 19H ) and a shell shape more similar to Mesophora , different from the bottle-shaped shell of Mastonia , which has only one basal cord ( Marshall 1983). Both genera are also distinguished by the more developed aperture and later emergence of the median spiral cord of the teleoconch in Mastonia ( Laseron 1958; Marshall 1983), but they share features such as the late median spiral cord and the strongly opisthocline orientation of axial ribs posteriorly to the body whorl. Except for C. novem , Coriophora / Mesophora and Mastonia are restricted to the Indo-Pacific.

According to Marshall (1983), the radulae of the type species of Coriophora , Mesophora , Mastonia and Iniforis Jousseaume, 1884 are quite similar. The radula of C. novem , illustrated in Rolán & Fernández-Garcés (1995) under the name Mesophora aff. novem , has combined features of those genera: the central tooth is similar to that of all except Mastonia , lateral teeth are more similar to those of Coriophora (in number and shape of cusps), and marginal teeth are only similar to those of Iniforis , distinct from the remaining genera because the central cusp is not elongated and thin. The radular formula of C. novem (12-1-1-1-12) is distinct from that of Mesophora (24-1-1-1-24), but identical to the type species of Mastonia ( Kosuge 1966) ; the radular formula of the type species of Coriophora and Iniforis is not known. Marshall (1983: 45) considered Mesophora (currently accepted as Coriophora ), Mastonia and Iniforis as closely related genera, warning that “it will be essential to compare radulae of many more species to ascertain the extent of variation within the groups”. The spiral microsculpture of Mastonia is quite different from that of other genera, consisting of distinct rows of small nodules covering all interspaces between the main spiral cords ( Fig. 20 ; Marshall 1983: fig. 20c), whereas C. novem exhibits a pattern more similar to that of some species of Iniforis (e.g., Rolán & Fernández-Garcés 2009: fig. 29), i.e., more discrete and resembling a peeled surface ( Fig. 19 F–G). As above-mentioned, C. novem has some features more similar to those of Coriophora , others to Mastonia ; it is preferred to maintain this species in the former genus, although pending future fine anatomical comparisons and molecular data. A proposition for a new genus exclusive to this western Atlantic species is possible, instead of tentatively maintaining it in Indo-Pacific genera.

Geographical records

USA: Florida ( Lee 2009), Louisiana ( Garcia & Lee 2002), Texas ( Tunnell et al. 2010); Gulf of Mexico ( Rosenberg et al. 2009); Bahamas ( Redfern 2001); Cuba ( Rolán & Fernández-Garcés 1995); Jamaica ( Rosenberg 2009); Puerto Rico ( Lee 2009); Virgin Islands (type locality); Antigua ( Lamy & Pointier 2018); Guadeloupe ( Rolán & Fernández-Garcés 2015); Belize (this study); Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao ( De Jong & Coomans 1988); Brazil: Amapá, Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco to Alagoas, Bahia (this study), Sulphur Bank, Vitória-Trindade Chain ( Fernandes et al. 2013), Espírito Santo to Rio de Janeiro (this study).

Bathymetric distribution

Depth: 2 m ( Rolán & Fernández-Garcés 1995) to 110 m (this study).

Figures

Fig. 19. Coriophora novem (Nowell-Usticke, 1969). A. MNRJ 18754*, 7.35 mm. B. MNRJ 18963*, 6.24 mm. C. MNRJ 29366*, 3.73 mm. D–K. Same shell as A (F–G: micro-spiral sculpture in the teleoconch). Scale bars: A–D = 1 mm; E, H–I = 500 µm; F, K = 50 µm; G = 20 µm; J = 100 µm.

Fig. 22. Triphoridae from Brazil (1). A. Metaxia excelsa Faber & Moolenbeek, 1991. B–C. Metaxia rugulosa (C.B. Adams, 1850). D. Metaxia taeniolata (Dall, 1889). E. Metaxia gongyloskymnus Fernandes & Pimenta, 2011. F. Metaxia prompta Rolán & Fernández-Garcés, 2008. G. Cheirodonta dupliniana (Olsson, 1916). H. Coriophora novem (Nowell-Usticke, 1969). I. Cosmotriphora arnoldoi Faber & Moolenbeek, 1991. J. Cosmotriphora melanura. K. Eutriphora auffenbergi Rolán & Lee, 2008. L. Eutriphora costai Fernandes & Pimenta, 2015. M. Inella apexbilirata Rolán & Fernández- Garcés, 2008. N. “Inella” differens Rolán & Lee, 2008. O. “Inella” euconfio Fernandes & Pimenta, 2019. P. “Inella” faberi Rolán & Fernández-Garcés, 2008. Q. “Inella” faceta Fernandes & Pimenta, 2019. R. “Inella” galo Fernandes & Pimenta, 2019. S. “Inella” leucocephala Fernandes & Pimenta, 2019. T. “Inella” maculata Fernandes & Pimenta, 2019. U. “Inella” vanilla Fernandes & Pimenta, 2019. V. Inella sp. 1. W. “Inella” sp. 2. X. “Inella” sp. 3. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Fig. 30. Distribution map of Coriophora novem (Nowell-Usticke, 1969); red circle = type locality.

Fig. 83. Southern limits of planctotrophic, wide-range and tropical shallow-water triphorids from Brazil; the single exception is the lecithotrophic (but with a probable planctonic larva) Metaxia rugulosa (C.B. Adams, 1850). Illustrated shells are not necessarily from the southernmost end of their range. Species are cited from the left to the right, beginning with those situated at the top of each section: 1. Iniforis pseudothomae Rolán & Fernández-Garcés, 1993, Latitriphora albida (A. Adams, 1854), Triphora atlantica Smith, 1890, Triphora scylla Fernandes & Pimenta, 2015, Metaxia excelsa Faber & Moolenbeek, 1991, Cheirodonta dupliniana (Olsson, 1916), Coriophora novem (Nowell-Usticke, 1969), Cosmotriphora melanura (C.B. Adams, 1850), Eutriphora costai Fernandes & Pimenta, 2015, Marshallora ostenta Rolán & Fernández-Garcés, 2008. 2. Metaxia taeniolata (Dall, 1889), Monophorus verecundus sp. nov., Triphora elvirae De Jong & Coomans, 1988. 3. Metaxia rugulosa, Monophorus olivaceus (Dall, 1889), Sagenotriphora osclausum (Rolán & Fernández-Garcés, 1995), Strobiligera inaudita (Rolán & Lee, 2008). 4. Cosmotriphora arnoldoi Faber & Moolenbeek, 1991, Nanaphora verbernei (Moolenbeek & Faber, 1989), Nototriphora decorata (C.B. Adams, 1850), Triphora ellyae De Jong & Coomans, 1988, Similiphora intermedia (C.B.Adams, 1850). 5. Triphora charybdis Fernandes & Pimenta, 2015, Marshallora spp. Map adapted from Google Earth.

Fig. 20. Micro-spiral sculpture of Mastonia rubra (Hinds, 1843). A–B. MNRJ 28879*, Niuatoputapu, Tonga, Polynesia, T. McCleery leg., Aug. 2003. Scale bars: A = 200 µm; B = 50 µm.