Triphora princeps G.B. Sowerby III, 1904

Albano, Paolo G., Bakker, Piet A. J. & Sabelli, Bruno, 2019, Annotated catalogue of the types of Triphoridae (Mollusca, Gastropoda) in the Natural History Museum of the United Kingdom, London, Zoosystematics and Evolution 95 (1), pp. 161-308 : 161

Triphora princeps G.B. Sowerby III, 1904

Figure 97

Triphora princeps G.B. Sowerby III 1904: 174-175, figured.

Type locality.

Not reported.

Type material.

Holotype: NHMUK 1904.12.23.147, fixed by monotypy .

Original description.

Testa perelongata, sinistrorsa, straminea, postice fusco-tincta, lineis rufo-fuscis numerosis longitudinalibus parum obliquis picta; anfractus circa 40, planulati, sulcis longitudinalibus parum obliquis hic illic foveolatis insculpti, cingulis 4 interruptis pseudo-nodulosis, aliquanto irregularibus, inaequalibus, duo inferioribus majoribus, instructi; anfractus ultimus infra sub-acute angulatus, ad angulum bicarinatus, infra angulum subconcavo-constrictus, carinis 2 aliquanto robustis munitus; rostrum longiusculum, contort-reflexum; apertura subquadrata; labrum tenue. Long. 57, diam. maj. 7 mm.

Hab.-?

This is by far the largest known species of the genus. Unfortunately, with the unique specimen there is no indication of its habitat, but it is not improbable it may have been dredged off Ascension Island, as it was found in Admiral Keppel’s cabinet in close proximity to shells so labelled. Besides its remarkable size, the shell is very distinct in character. The longitudinal brown pitted grooves intersect the spiral ridges, causing the most prominent ones to assume the form of transversely oblong nodules. There is a very small young shell of this species in the British Museum, from the Cuming Collection.

Translation of the Latin text.

A straw-like very elongated sinistral shell posteriorly dark-brown with several a little obliquely longitudinal lines dark red in colour; about 40 flat whorls with longitudinal scars slightly slanting and pitted here and there, four pseudo-nodulose spiral cords somewhat irregular, unequal, being the two anterior more developed; last whorl rather sharply angulated at the base with a bicarinated edge, restricted and concave under the periphery, two rather strong carinae; bent long siphonal canal, subquadrate aperture; thin outer lip. Length 57, greater diameter 7 mm.

Diagnosis.

Holotype 58 mm, among the largest Triphoridae . Extremely elongated conical shell, with flat whorls. Teleoconch of ca 40 whorls, initially with three weakly nodulose spiral cords. In the lower part of the shell, a fourth cord between the second and third and a fifth suprasutural cord are visible, both weakly nodulose. The holotype is a subadult and, therefore, the peristome is not fully developed. Siphonal canal long with two smooth cords on it. Base with one prominent but weakly sculptured additional cord and two faint ones. Protoconch incomplete in the holotype, but may be paucispiral; the visible whorl has two strong smooth keels. Teleoconch elegantly coloured, with a brown background and white flammules, dark brown interspaces.

Remarks.

The NHMUK 196547 specimen (Fig. 97F ) is most likely the "very small young shell of this species in the British Museum, from the Cuming collection" cited by Sowerby as also S.P. Dance observed in 1965 (note on labels accompanying the specimen). However, this specimen has a coarser sculpture and different colour pattern and we do not consider it conspecific.

Figures

Figure 97. Triphora princeps G. B. Sowerby III, 1904, unknown locality. A Original figure. B-E, G, H Holotype, NHMUK 1904.12.23.147: front (B), side (C), back (D), original labels (E), protoconch (G), peristome (H). F, I Specimen NHMUK 196547 cited by Sowerby as " very small young shell " but belonging to a different species: front (F), original labels (I). Scale bars: B-D: 10 mm; F: 5 mm.