Triphora smithi 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 smithi G.B. Sowerby III, 1904

Figure 98

Triphora smithi G.B. Sowerby III 1904: 175, figured.

Type locality.

Not reported.

Type material.

Holotype: NHMUK 1904.12.23.146, fixed by monotypy .

Original description.

Testa elongato-acuminata, pallide, straminea, anfractus circiter 35, planulati, cingulis spiralibus 2-4 acutiusculis laevibus instructi, aliter laeviusculi; anfractus ultimus obtuse angulatus, ad angulum bicarinatus, infra angulum leviter convexus, triliratus; rostrum breviusculum, leviter contortum; apertura subquadrata; labrum tenue. Long. 33, diam. maj. 5 mm.

Hab.-?

Although much smaller than t. princeps, this shell is larger than any other known species of the genus. It is broader in proportion to its length than T. princeps, and both the spiral ridges and the interstices between them are remarkably smooth, showing only irregular growth-lines. The specimen is at present unique.

Translation of the Latin text.

A straw-like pale elongated sharp sinistral shell, about 35 plain whorls with 2-4 light and acute spiral cords differently slender; trilirate last whorl obtusely angulated with a bicarinate angle and a light convexity under it; bend siphonal canal rather short; subquadrate aperture; thin outer lip. Length 33, larger diameter 5 mm.

Diagnosis.

Holotype 32 mm, but lacks the apex. Elongated conical shell with flat whorls. Teleoconch of 21 whorls (but the original description states 35, suggesting that the apical part may have got broken after the description). Whorls with three smooth spiral cords, the first smaller, but present since the early teleoconch. A fourth smooth suprasutural cord is also visible. Peristome not fully developed in the holotype. Siphonal canal long. Base with one additional smooth spiral cord. Protoconch missing. Teleoconch whitish with greyish interspaces between cords.

Remarks.

The general appearance and sculpture is very similar to T. gracilior E.A. Smith, 1903, although the latter has orange flecks not observable in T. smithi . E.A. Smith (1916) suggested that T. smithi is a synonym of T. gracilior .

Figures

Figure 98. Triphora smithi G. B. Sowerby III, 1904, unknown locality. A Original figure. B-F Holotype, NHMUK 1904.12.23.1476: front (B), side (C), back (D), original labels (E), peristome (F). Scale bar: B-D: 5 mm.