Triphora hungerfordi G.B. Sowerby III, 1914

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 hungerfordi G.B. Sowerby III, 1914

Figure 95

Triphora hungerfordi G.B. Sowerby III 1914: 477-478, pl. 19, fig. 10.

Type locality.

Hong Kong.

Type material.

Syntypes: NHMUK 1919.12.31.17: 1 specimen, Hong Kong .

Original description.

Testa sinistrorsa, elongato-acuminata, nigro-fusca; spira elata, leviter convexa; anfractus 12, bi-seriatim pustulati; pustulis rotundatis, glabratis, inaequalibus; anfractus ultimus breviusculus, circiter sex-soriatim pustulatus; rostrum valide reflexum. Apertura subquadrata; labrum tenue, minute crenulatum; columella obliqua.

Long. 12, diam. 2¼.

Hab.- Hongkong.

In general form and appearance this shell differs but little from small dark-coloured specimens of the European T. perversa, but the nodulous spiral ridges are more unequal and irregular, and not interrupted by longitudinal furrows. A few specimens of this species were brought from Hong-kong many years ago by the late Surgeon-Major R. Hungerford, but until now it has remained nameless.

Translation of the Latin text.

Elongate slender dark-brown sinistral shell; high spire slightly convex; 12 whorls with two ridges of rounded smooth irregular pustules; rather short last whorl with about six series of pustules; anterior siphon very reflected. Subquadrate aperture; light external lip slightly crenulated; slanting columella.

Length 12, diameter 21/ 4 mm.

Locality: Hong Kong.

Diagnosis.

Syntype 5.6 mm. Shell conical, with flat sides. Teleoconch of 11 whorls bearing two spiral cords with tubercles at the intersection with slightly prosocline axia ribs. Beginning on the seventh whorl, a fine spiral thread develops between the two major cords but fully develops only on the last whorl. A very fine smooth suprasutural cord is also visible as well as fine axial threads in the interspaces. Peristome with a shallow posterior sinus and additional spiral cords between the main ones. Siphonal canal short. Base with two smooth spiral cords. Protoconch missing. Teleoconch brown with lighter first whorls and tubercles.

Remarks.

The original description refers to "a few specimens", but only one was found in the NHMUK. The other specimens may have been sold and dispersed. Trifora hungerfordi closely resembles Triforis fusca Dunker, 1860 ( Albano and Bakker 2016). However, caution is necessary in establishing these as synonyms because of the lack of the protoconch. In the Indo-Pacific, species with morphologically indistinguishable teleoconchs may have entirely different protoconch types (P.G. Albano and P.A.J. Bakker pers. obs.).

Figures

Figure 95. Triphora hungerfordi G. B. Sowerby III, 1914, Hong Kong. A-F, H, I Syntype NHMUK 1919.12.31.17: front (A, B), side (C, D), back (E), aperture (F), peristome (H), original labels (I). G Original figure. Scale bars: A-E: 1 mm; F, H: 0.5 mm.