Seraphs sopitus (Brander, 1766)

Caze, Bruno, Merle, Didier, Pacaud, Jean-Michel & Saint Martin, Jean-Paul, 2010, First Systematic Study using the Variability of the Residual Colour Patterns: The Case of the Paleogene Seraphsidae (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Stromboidea), Geodiversitas 32 (3), pp. 417-477 : 428-430

Seraphs sopitus (Solander in Brander, 1766) ( Figs 6F, G ; 9 )

Bulla sopita Solander in Brander, 1766: 19, pl. 1, fig. 29a.

Seraphs convolutus Wood, 1829: 7 , pl. 1, fig. 29a. Non Terebellum convolutum Lamarck, 1802 .

Terebellum sopitum – d’Orbigny 1850: 352, no. 263 partim. — Newton 1894: 98.

Terebellum (Seraphs) sopitus – Cossmann 1889: 96, 97.

Terebellum (Seraphs) sopitum – Cossmann 1904: 46.

Seraphs sopitus – Jung 1974: 16-21 partim, pl. 1, figs 1-3.

TYPE LOCALITY. — Hordwell ( England), Bartonian (Middle Eocene).

TYPE MATERIAL. — Lectotype ( BMNH GG21010 ) designated by Jung (1974).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. — See Appendix 1.

DESCRIPTION

Shell

Shell up to 40 mm in height and 14 mm in diameter, inflated with short and blunt apex ( Fig. 6F, G ). Aperture long and narrow. Callus of the inner lip thin and rarely preserved, except on the largest shell. Columella mainly straight but bent back, near the base. Outer lip very thin, not thickened and sinuous for the whole height in labral view ( Fig. 6G ). Siphonal notch moderately deep on the dorsal side of the shell. No sculpture on the surface of the shell.

Colour pattern

The colour pattern consists of numerous small and irregular dots on a lighter background ( Fig. 9 ). These dots show two levels of residual pigmentation ( Fig. 9C, D, H, J, K ): triangular spots, darker than the background, with the apex orientated towards the outer lip and diffuse, fluorescent spots lighter than the background and orientated towards the inner lip. These white fluorescent spots, adjacent to the base of the triangles, are variable in shape. They can be narrower than the dark triangles ( Fig. 9C, D, J, K ) or bigger and ovoid to almost circular ( Fig. 9H ). These two components form the dots. The dots are of various sizes. Th ey are more distorted and axially elongated on the shell extremities ( Fig. 9A, C ). When they coalesce, these dots form sinuous axial nearly collabral rows ( Fig. 9A, E, F ).

Figures

FIG. 6. — Seraphs Montfort, 1810 shells in normal light: A-E, S. volutatus (Solander in Brander, 1766); A-C, MNHN A28776 (ex Galerie de Zoologie coll.), Grignon, Yvelines, France, Lutetian; A, ventral view; B, labral view; C, dorsal view; D, E, lectotype of Terebellum convolutum Lamarck, 1802,MNHN B70325 (Lamarck coll.), Grignon,Lutetian; D, ventral view; E, dorsal view; F, G, S. sopitus (Solan- der in Brander,1766),MNHN A28778 (Faullummel coll.), Le Limon, Seine-et-Marne, France, Bartonian;F, ventral view; G, labral view; H-J, S. olivaceus (Cossmann,1889);H, I, MNHN A28577 (Ledon coll.),Chaussy (Les Garennes),Val d’Oise,France,Lutetian;H, ventral view; I, dorsal view; J, MNHN A29225, labral view (Ledon coll.), Chaussy (Les Garennes), Lutetian. Scale bars: 10 mm. Photographs by C. Lemzaouda (MNHN).

FIG. 9. — Seraphs sopitus (Solander in Brander,1766) under UV light:A-D, MNHN A28884,Saint-Witz (Le Guépelle),Val d’Oise,France, Bartonian; A, dorsal view; B, labral view; C, D, detailed views of the dots; E-H, MNHN A27526, Saint-Witz (Le Guépelle), Bartonian; E, dorsal view; F, abapertural view; G, H, detailed views of the dots; I-K, MNHN A28778, Le Limon, Seine-et-Marne, France, Bartonian; I, dorsal view; J, detailed view of the dots; K, abapertural view. Scale bars: A, B, E, F, I, K, 10 mm; C, D, J, 2 mm; G, H, 5 mm. Photographs by C. Lemzaouda and P. Loubry (MNHN).