Phos hirasei G.B. Sowerby III, 1913

Fraussen, Koen, Galindo, Lee Ann & Rosado, José, 2020, Deep-water Photinae (Gastropoda: Nassariidae) from eastern Africa, with descriptions of five new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 720, pp. 144-169 : 148-149

Phos hirasei G.B. Sowerby III, 1913

Fig. 1 F–I

Phos hirasei G.B. Sowerby III, 1913: 558 .

Antillophos cf. hirasei – Kilburn, Marais & Fraussen 2010: 26.

Type locality

Japan.

Material examined

MOZAMBIQUE • 1 dd; off Quissico , ex-pisces; 24°56′ S, 35°12′ E; depth 110–120 m; J. Rosado leg.; JR • 1 dd; Ponta Dobela , ex-pisces; 26°32′ S, 32°58′ E; depth 110–125 m; J. Rosado leg.; JR • 1 lv; NE Inhaca Island , among sponges; 25°50′ S, 33°07′ E; depth 92–96 m; J. Rosado leg.; dredge; JR • 1 dd; off Sofala Bank , ex-pisces; 20°07′ S, 36°09′ E; depth 120–130 m; J. Rosado leg.; JR ( Fig. 1 F–G) .

SOUTH AFRICA • 1 dd; off Transkei, Msikaba; depth 90–110 m; 2004; F. Lorenz leg.; dredge; KF 4692 ( Fig. 1 H–I) • 2 lv; Natal, Umkomaas; depth 85–95 m; F. Lorenz leg.; dredge; KF 7982 • 2 lv; Mtwalume; 30°32′ S, 30°44′ E; depth 100–110 m; J. Rosado leg.; dredge; JR.

Distribution

Phos hirasei is well known in the West Pacific, where it is found from southern Japan in the north, along the Philippines and to New Caledonia in the south. The species was recorded from South Africa by Kilburn et al. (2010: 26) and we hereby confirm the records from East Africa and extend the range to Transkei (northeastern South Africa) and southern to central Mozambique.

Remarks

Phos hirasei is characterized by its irregular pattern, consisting of fine spiral lines alternating white (on top of the axial ribs) and brown (between the axials), often accentuated where the white spirals cross the large brown dots on the axial ribs, in combination with a dark purple protoconch.

Shell variability is suspiciously high in this species, but after studying hundreds of specimens from the entire Indo-West Pacific we are unable to conclude whether the many morphotypes reflect intraspecific variability or belong to distinct taxonomic units. Shells may differ considerably in density of sculpture, in thicknes, in size and in colour pattern. The species, however, seems to be monophyletic as far we can judge from molecular data collected up to now (Fraussen & Galindo in prep.).

The few specimens from South Africa and Mozambique we studied all have a thick shell, a characteristic that we also observed in some populations off New Caledonia.

Figures

Fig. 1. A–C. Phos elegantissimus Hayashi & Habe, 1965. A–B. Specimen from Mozambique, off North Quissico, depth 95–135 m, in trap, 23.8 mm long (JR). C. Specimen from Mozambique, off Sofala Bank, ex-pisces, depth 120–140 m, 24.8 mm long (JR). — D–E. Phos gemmulifer Kilburn, 2000, NW Mayotte, Mozambique Channel, BIOMAGLO stn DW4848, 12°35′ S, 44°55′ E, depth 399–402 m, 28.1 mm long (MNHN 2013-69815). — F–I. Phos hirasei G.B. Sowerby III, 1913. F–G. Specimen from Mozambique, off Sofala Bank, 20°07′ S, 36°09′ E, ex-pisces, depth 120–130 m, 26.3 mm long (JR). H–I. Specimen from South Africa, off Transkei, Msikaba, dredged at 90–110 m, 25.7 mm long (KF 4692). — J–K. Phos laevis Kuroda & Habe, 1961, Madagascar, Campagne CREVETTIERE 1974 stn DC01, 12°39′ S, 48°16′ E, depth 240 m, 23.5 mm long (MNHN). Scale bars: 5.0 mm.