Clathrodrillia wolfei (Tippett, 1995) Tippett, 1995

Fallon, Phillip J., 2016, Taxonomic review of tropical western Atlantic shallow water Drilliidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Conoidea) including descriptions of 100 new species, Zootaxa 4090 (1), pp. 1-363 : 110-112

Clathrodrillia wolfei (Tippett, 1995) , new combination

( Plate 49 )

“Sp. L” of Rice & Kornicker, 1965: 129, pl. 8, fig. 6 [is this species according to Tippett, 1995: 129]. Drillia (Drillia) wolfei Tippett, 1995: 127 , 129, figs. 1, 28, 31.

Drillia wolfei Tippett, 1995 : Turgeon et al. (1998: 102); Williams (2005; 2009: species 1512); García (2007: 8, fig. 29); Lee (2009: 124); García (2012a: 7, fig. 3).

Type material. Holotype 16.6 x 6.0 mm (USNM 880070); single paratypes (10), all from the type locality, are in AMNH 226536, ANSP 399201 (14.0 x 5.2 mm), DMNH 202362, IRSNB, LACM, MCZ 316100, MNHN, MORG, NHM, and NM. All types D. Wolfe! March–May 1971 from the Elmer Dewey Willis scallop plant. The holotype and ANSP paratype were examined for this work.

Type locality. 15 km E of Cape Lookout, North Carolina, in 20 fms [36 m].

Other material examined. An additional 45 specimens were examined: Mexico: 1 spec., 12.8 x 4.6 mm, in 10 fms, NW Campeche (DMNH 114884); 1 spec., 10.2 x 3.8 mm, in 77–81 m, Campeche, 20°52.40'N, 92°24.83'W, E. Garcia! 10 Jun 2005 (P. Stahlschmidt coll.); 1 spec., 14.6 x 5.3 mm, in 93–94 m, ca. 20 km WSW of Triángulos Reef, Campeche Bay, 20°51.16'N, 92°26.28'W, E. García! aboard R/V Pelican, 10 Jun 2005 (EFG 26975); 3 spec., 12.4 x 4.5, 13.1 x 4.5 & 13.2 x 4.7 mm, in 63–65 m, ca. 13 km SW of Triángulos Reef, Campeche Bay, 20°51.49'N, 92°21.44'W, E. García! aboard R/V Pelican, 10 Jun 2005 (EFG 26976); 2 spec., 11.6 x 4.3 x 13.6 x 4.3 mm, in 77– 81 m, SW of Triangulos Reefs, 20°52.40'N, 092°24.83'W, E. García! aboard R/V Pelican, 10 Jun 2005 (EFG 26544); 4 spec., 12.6 x 4.6 & 11.9 x 4.2 mm (EFG 26527), 13.9 x 5.0 & 12.6 x 4.6 mm (UF 470288) in 73–77 m, ca. 50 km WSW Arcas Cays, Campeche Bank, 20°00.35'N, 92°26.10'W, E. García! aboard R/V Pelican, 10 Jun 2005; 1 spec., 9.7 x 3.6 mm, in 28–48 m, ca. 60 km N of Arcas Cays, Campeche Bank, 20°46.97'N, 91°55.86'W, E. García! aboard R/V Pelican, 11 Jun 2005 (EFG 26697). Louisiana: 1 spec., 10.0 x 3.9 mm, in 68–104 m, Sackett Bank off Mississippi R Delta, 28°37.86'N, 89°33.25'W, E. García! aboard R/V Pelican, 24 Nov 1996 (EFG 28073); 1 spec., 12.0 mm, in 27–28 m, offshore, 28°44.76'N, 090°14.15'W, E. García! aboard R/V Pelican, 24 Aug 2012 (EFG 30799). Alabama: 1 spec., 12.0 x 4.0 mm, in 51 m, ca. 85 km S of Dauphin I., 29°27.26'N, 88°21.11'W, E. García! aboard R/V Pelican, 24 Nov 1996 (EFG 17014). W Florida: 1 spec., 15.3 x 5.1 mm, in 39 m, ca. 46 km SW of Panama City, Bay Co., 29°43.08'N, 85°53.16'W, E. García! aboard R/V Pelican, 2 Jul 2006 (EFG 27593); 1 spec., 11.5 x 4.2 mm, in 39–40 m, ca. 45 km SW of Panama City, 29°43.06'N, 85°52.99'W, E. García! aboard R/V Pelican, 2 Jul 2006 (EFG 27635); 1 spec., 11.9 x 4.0 mm, in 12–30 m, S of Naples, Collier Co., J. Moore! 1971 (USNM 900282); 3 spec., 13.1 x 5.1, 14.2 x 4.9 & 12.2 x 4.2 mm, Gulf of Mexico, off W Florida, J. Moore! (USNM 900283); 2 spec., 15.6 x 5.2 & 12.5 x 4.7 mm, off Ft. Myers, Lee Co., J. Moore! July 1964 (USNM 900284); 7 spec., 4 best 12.8 x 4.5, 12.2 x 4.0, 13.4 x 4.4, 15.6 x 5.4 mm, in 46 m, SW of Johns Pass, Pinellas Co., (DMNH 114854); 1 spec., 13.5 x 4.9 mm, in 46 m, ca. 117 km WSW of Anna Maria Is., Manatee Co., J. Moore! (EFG 14885); 1 spec., 11.9 x 4.5 mm, SW of St. Johns Pass, Collier Co., M.E. Powlus! (UF 158174). Florida Keys: 4 spec., 8.0 to 12.3 mm in length, in 55 m, SW of Sombrero Light, Marathon, Sep 1964 (DMNH 114865); 1 spec., 11.5 x 3.9 mm, in 36 m, 235° off Sombrero Key Light, off Marathon, McGinty! 4 July 1951 (UF 258775); 1 spec., 11.1 x 3.9 mm, in 61 m, off Key Vaca, Marathon, T. Kalafut! 1980 (UF 470287); 2 spec., 13.3 x 4.9 & 12.5 x 4.6 mm, in 5 m, W of John Sawyer Bank, Marathon (EFG 11800); 1 spec., 12.0 x 4.0 mm, in 60 m, west coast, Monroe Co., 24 50’N, 0 82 50’W, Jun 1961 (UF 259027); 1 spec., 11.6 x 4.3 mm, in 36 m, off Key West (UF 155359); 3 spec., 12.4 x 4.2, 14.4 x 5.1 & 12.7 x 4.5 mm, in 62 m, off Dry Tortugas, M.E. Powlus! 1 Jul 1960 (UF 155372). E Florida: 1 spec., 11.6 x 3.9 mm, in 53 m, 65 mi E of St. Augustine, St. Johns Co., T. Yocius! Jun 1972 (UF 470289).

Range and habitat. Mexico (Campeche Bank: off Yucatan; off Campeche); Louisiana; Alabama; W Florida (off Collier Co.; off Lee Co.; off Manatee Co.; off Hillsborough Co.; off Pinellas Co.; off Bay Co.); Florida Keys (off Marathon; Key West; Dry Tortugas); E Florida (St. Johns Co.); North Carolina (off Cape Lookout). Reported from soft bottoms at 12–137 m depths, but most commonly at 46– 81 m.

Description. Shell small (to 19 mm; 16.6 mm this study) fusiform, semi-translucent or opaque, whorls flat to slightly convex over the length of the spire, number up to about 11; spire tall, somewhat acuminate, last whorl approximately 56% of total length, including anterior canal; aperture narrow. Predominant sculpture of narrow ribs cut by well-spaced spiral incised lines. Protoconch of 1¾–2 smooth round whorls, tip lopsided by the rapid expansion of the first whorl. Axial sculpture of narrow, widely spaced, straight to slightly opisthocline ribs with ridged crests that extend from suture to suture on the spire whorls and evanesce at the anterior fasciole on the last whorl, number about 8–10 on penultimate and 5–8 on last whorl to varix. Ribs greatly reduced and curved on the shoulder forming a concave sulcus ¼- to ⅓-whorl height. Vari x like preceding ribs but larger, about 2x their width; positioned about ⅓-turn from the edge of the outer lip (not visible in ventral view of shell). Spiral sculpture of regularly spaced (closer in sulcus) spiral incised lines. Microscopic growth striae visible between incised lines. Sulcus narrow, concave, axial ribs, low and curved, spiral striae close and finer. Outer lip thin, flexed outward at the anal sinus and flexed inward at lip’s edge and bends along anterior canal. Edge of lip forms an arc from anal sinus to the anterior canal; stromboid notch shallow. Lip bulges somewhat from varix to its edge, and is reinforced with up to 6 axial folds. Anal sinus deep, U-shaped; offset from shell axis on body whorl shoulder by outward bend of outer lip, and with inner edge of sinus flared up, appears spout-like. Inner lip recumbent, margined, thickest and erect anteriorly along canal, thinnest on parietal wall, and formed into a tubercle posteriorly at its junction with the outer lip. Anterior canal long, open, appearing as only a slight narrowing of the shell aperture, bent to the right at its tip in ventral view, unnotched; fasciole slightly swollen, twisted, marked with spiral threads. Color a uniform white, cream, or light brown, or white with a light golden central spiral band, or off-white with light golden brown ribs; varix usually with a darker color patch.

Remarks. Taxonomy. Tippett confirmed the proper placement of this species in Drilliidae by demonstrating the drilline nature of its radula (Tippett, 1995: 129, fig. 28). The deep, well-spaced spiral incised lines and the moderately long anterior canal with a slightly swollen, twisted, anterior fasciole align this species with Clathrodrillia . Its lack of well defined shoulders, or turreted whorls, and few and modest ribs, set it apart from most other members of the genus. Variability. The average total length of 42 measured specimens is 12.71 mm (8.0– 16.6 mm), which is smaller than the average length of 15.7 mm (14.1–19.0 mm) reported by Tippett for specimens from off North Carolina. Specimens from the more southerly portion of its distribution are smaller and lighter in color. The average W/ L ratio of 38 specimens is 0.358. Identification. This species is similar to Bellaspira margaritensis McLean & Poorman, 1970 in overall shape and size; however, the anal sinus of mature C. wolfei is deep and Ushaped; the anal sinus of B. margaritensis is characteristic of that genus—a shallow indentation of the outer lip of mature specimens. Specimens of a variant of B. margaritensis from Venezuela been mistaken as this (see Pl. 9, Figs. 1 –8. They are brown in color and have stronger spiral lines than usual for that species. Clathrodrillia wolfei is similar in shape to Syntomodrillia woodringi Bartsch, 1934 and Leptadrillia splendida Bartsch, 1934 . From S. woodringi it differs in being larger and having spiral incised lines that cut across ribs, not just between. Spiral incised lines are absent altogether in L. splendida .

Figures

Fig. 1: ventral, lateral & dorsal views; Fig. 2: enlarged view of protoconch (not to scale); Fig. 3: apical view, V = varix, L = edge of outer lip.

PLATE 49. Clathrodrillia wolfei (Tippett, 1995). Upper panel. Figs. 1 – 2: holotype, E of Cape Lookout, North Carolina (USNM 880070). Fig. 1: ventral, lateral & dorsal view; Fig. 2: enlarged view of protoconch (not to scale). Fig. 3: apical view of paratype in Fig. 4: V = varix, L = edge of outer lip. Lower panel. Fig. 4: paratype, E of Cape Lookout, North Carolina (ANSP 399201); Figs. 5 – 6: off Dry Tortugas (UF 155372); Fig. 7: off Key West (UF 155359); Figs. 8 – 9: SW of Sombrero Light, Florida Keys (DMNH 114865); Figs. 10 – 11, 18: Gulf of Mexico (USNM 900283); Figs. 12, 14: SW of Johns Pass, Pinellas Co., W Florida (DMNH 114854); Figs. 13, 16: off Ft. Myers, Lee Co., W Florida (USNM 900284); Fig. 15: W of St. Johns Pass, Collier Co., W Florida (UF 158174); Fig. 17: off Collier Co., W Florida (USNM 900282); Fig. 19: W coast of Yucatan Peninsula (DMNH 114884).