Cerithiopsis gemmulosa (C. B. Adams, 1850 )

Pimenta, Alexandre Dias, Faria, Raquel Garofalo De Souza, Figueira, Raquel Medeiros Andrade & Fernandes, Maurício Romulo, 2024, Unraveling another of the ‘ Big Fiveʹ: new species and records of Cerithiopsidae from Brazil (Caenogastropoda: Triphoroidea), Zootaxa 5494 (1), pp. 1-71 : 9-11

Cerithiopsis gemmulosa (C. B. Adams, 1850) —species complex

( Figs 1–2 )

Cerithium gemmulosum C. B. Adams, 1850: 120 .

Cerithium gemmulosum : Clench & Turner (1950: 287, pl. 38, fig. 13); Dunker (1875: 244, not figured, checked).

Cerithiopsis gemmulosum : Rolán & Espinosa (1996: 134, figs. 7–10, 49); Collin (2004: 193, fig. 1); Espinosa & Ortea (2001: 23, not figured); Espinosa et al. (2005: 29, not figured).

Cerithiopsis gemmulosa : Lange-de-Morretes (1949: 80, not figured, checked); ( Rios 1970: 44, not figured); Abbott (1974: 109, not figured); Rios (1975: 48, pl. 13, fig. 176 [holotype image reproduced]); Rios (1985: 50, pl. 19, fig. 224 [holotype image reproduced]); Mello & Perrier (1986: 120, not figured); Absalão (1989: 2, not figured); Odé (1989: 25, not figured); Oliveira (1992: 280, not figured); Rios (1994: 93, pl. 31, fig. 368 [holotype image reproduced]); Rolán, Espinosa & Fernández-Garcés (2007: 13, figs. 101–104 [operculum and radula figured]); Santos et al. (2007: 226, not figured); Lee (2009: 86, fig. 418; Rosenberg et al. (2009: 644, not figured); Krisberg (2010a: https://olram9.wixsite.com/letstalkseashells/copy-oftemplate-98; Rolán et al. (2012: 9, fig. 13); Espinosa et al. (2012: 76, fig. 377); Longo et al. (2014: 4, fig. 3O); Agudo-Padrón (2015: 65, not figured).

Type material. Holotype: MCZ 186075 .

Type locality. Jamaica.

Material examined. The holotype and: USA: -- Florida: Naples, Jacob P. Mitchell coll., vii/2007: BMSM 81286 [4*p]; Sebastian Inlet, M. Krisberg coll., 01/i/1999: MNRJ 17992 [1*p]; Cedar Point, Sarasota Bay, Northrop coll., vi/1956: MNRJ 54887 [2*p]; off Florida, Northrop coll., vii/1956: MNRJ 54898 [1*p]; Brazil: -- Maranhão state: 01°49′S, 42°55′ W, 62 m, Oceanographic Ship “ Amorim do Vale ” coll., 22/xi/2008: MZSP 95577 [1]; Parcel Manoel Luís, 15/i/2008: IBUFRJ 17546 [1]; -- Ceará state: Paracuru, xii/2009: CMPHRM 2930 B [1]; -- Pernambuco state: Praia de Jaguaribe, Ilha de Itamaracá , P. Maestrati coll., 1983–1989: MNHN [3*p]; MNHN [3*]; -- Bahia state: Baía de Todos os Santos, O. Falcão coll., 03/iv/1997: IBUFRJ 14146 [1*]; Praia de Itapuã, Salvador, J. Vaz coll., 22/vii/1975: MZSP 155546 [1 lv]; Praia de Itapuã, Salvador, L. Trinchão coll., vii/1975: MZSP 155508 [4 lv]; -- Espírito Santo state: Praia de Camburi, Vitória, L. Simone coll., 04/vii/2008: MZSP 88024 [1 lv]; -- Rio de Janeiro state: Praia da Tartaruga , Búzios , F. Noel coll., 26/v/2005: IBUFRJ 15246 [2*]; Praia Azeda, Búzios, M. Fernandes & L. Souza coll., 15/iii/2015: MNRJ 26853 [18 lv *p]; Arraial do Cabo, 17/iii/2005: MZSP 105884 [2 lv]; Praia das Conchas, Cabo Frio , F. Noel coll., 23/iv/2005: MNRJ 33005 [2*p]; Baía de Guanabara, Ugo Balsini coll., iii/1977: MORG ex–19330 [1*]; Ilhas Maricás, Maricá, M. Fernandes & L. Souza coll., 12/ii/2015: MNRJ 34238 [58 lv *p]; -- São Paulo state: Ilha da Serraria, Ilhabela : MZSP 103939 [2 lv]; Praia do Portinho , llhabela, F. Santos, V . Amaral & P. Lima coll., 22/xi/2009: MZSP 92738 [5 lv]; -- Santa Catarina state: Florianópolis : MZSP 8336 [1].

Remarks. Cerithiopsis gemmulosa ( Figs 1–2 ) was originally described from Jamaica (C. B. Adams, 1850) and its holotype ( Fig. 1A–B ) was figured for the first time by Clench & Turner (1950). Although this species was cited by Abbott (1974) from the Atlantic coast of the USA, by Odé (1989) from the Gulf of Mexico, and by Dunker (1875) and Lange-de-Morretes (1949) from south Brazil (these Brazilian records were followed by Rios 1994)- These records after the original description did not provide illustrations or descriptions of new material, except for the reproduction of the holotype image in some cases. It was only by the end of the 20 th century that new specimens of C. gemmulosa (from the Caribbean) were figured and described: Rolán & Espinosa (1996) studied material from Cuba; Rolán et al. (2007) presented illustrations of radula and operculum; Collin (2004) studied its development; Krisberg (2010a) studied material from Florida ( USA); Rolán et al. (2012) described the protoconch.

The holotype of C. gemmulosa ( Fig. 1A–B ) is a large shell of about 5 mm long but lacking the protoconch (which was merely described as “apex acute” in the original description) and bearing a concave base with a partly broken outer lip ( Fig. 2H ). It is uniformly brown colored and sculptured with small, rounded nodules arranged in the typical pattern of most Cerithiopsis species, with three spiral cords, regularly spaced; the axial ribs are distinctly visible between the nodules ( Fig. 2H ).

The morphology of the holotype contrasts with a common shell morphology in specimens from Florida, USA ( Fig. 1G–J ), which have larger and closely adjacent rounded nodules with weak axial ribs between them; besides that, the number of axial ribs is much greater in the holotype (31 on sixth teleoconch whorl vs. 18 in the same whorl of the shell in Fig. 1G ). The overall shell shape is also somewhat distinct in shells from Florida, being more acuminate; the base of the shell presents a median basal cord, below the subperipheral cord (but the base of the holotype is supposedly incomplete). Specimens figured by Krisberg (2010a), also from Florida, present this pattern, and are called “non-holotype morph” herein.

Judging from the figures in Rolán & Espinosa (1996: figures 7–9), both morphs were found in the samples from Cuba, although such variation was not mentioned by the authors. The shells in figures 7 and 8 of that paper are more closely related to the holotype, whereas that in figure 9 presents the pattern of the “non-holotype morph” .

Rolán & Espinosa (1996), Krisberg (2010a) and Rolán et al. (2012) figured protoconchs of specimens from Cuba and Florida, which are conical with slightly convex smooth whorls. Rolán & Espinosa (1996) recorded 3.5 protoconch whorls, and Krisberg (2010a) four whorls; in both cases, the teleoconch corresponds to the “non-holotype morph”. The shells from Florida herein examined present protoconchs as described above, with 3.5 to 4 whorls ( Fig. 2A–B ), but very tiny granules are seen in the suture and are scarce above it.

Cecalupo & Perugia (2020) described two species from Martinique and Guadeloupe: Cerithiopsis altiusae , based on shells much similar to the “non-holotype morph” in teleoconch sculpture, but smaller; and Cerithiopsis etiennei , based on shells much similar to the holotype, with the same feature of visible axial ribs between nodules in teleoconch whorls, and sculpture pattern on the base, with small axial riblets close to the suture in the protoconch.

Previous literature records of Cerithiopsis gemmulosa from Brazil are very dubious, except that by Lange-de-Morretes (1949), probably following the record by Dunker (1875), whose material could be tracked in MZSP 8336 ( Fig. 1K ) and shows a shell very similar to the “non-holotype morph” ( Fig. 1G–H ). The record of C. gemmulosa by Rios (2009) is associated with a figure that corresponds to Cerithiopsis lata and erroneously indicates synonymies with C. iota (C. B. Adams, 1845) and C. albovittata (C. B. Adams, 1850) ; the latter is a valid and quite different species, discussed below.

Shells representing the two morphs are found in Brazil. Shells in Fig. 1C–F are similar to the holotype, with the same pattern of numerous and distinct axial ribs, small nodules, although they present a different color of light yellow/white surface (but some shells seem worn). Shells in Fig. 1L–O belong to the “non-holotype morph” and are also remarkably like C. altiusae . The only difference is that these Brazilian shells are considerably smaller and have larger protoconchs of 4.5–5 whorls ( Fig. 2C–D, F–G ) when compared to those from Cuba of 3.5–4.0 whorls, but similarly to shells from Florida. Some other shells from northeast to southeast Brazil ( Fig. 1P–T ) are also in the holotype morph (less acuminate shells, with a non-sculptured base and visible axial threads on teleoconch sculpture) and have an almost entirely white shell. They are very similar to one paratype of C. etiennei , also a white shell ( Cecalupo & Perugia 2020: plate 12, figures 2d–f).

Based on the available conchological data, it would be highly speculative to relate the available names C. gemmulosa , C. altiusae and C. etiennei to the morphological variation mentioned above. The protoconch of the holotype morph is unknown and the evaluation of variability of shell sculpture depends on the study of new samples from the type locality ( Jamaica), currently unavailable.

In a study of larval development of C. gemmulosa, Collin (2004) recognized the difficulty to properly identify the species and stated that “this identification should be considered provisional”. Also, Odé (1989) considered the complex including C. gemmulosa and C. greenii . Members of this complex of very similar species along the western Atlantic cannot be properly distinguished from each other solely based on shell morphology. New material (especially from Jamaica), anatomical and genetic data are needed.

Geographic distribution. The geographic distribution of the C. gemmulosa species complex, based on the material herein studied as well as literature records, includes localities in the Warm Temperate Northwest Atlantic and Tropical Northwestern Atlantic provinces, ranging from the Gulf of Mexico and Florida to south Brazil (North Brazil Shelf, Tropical Southwestern Atlantic and Warm Temperate Southwestern Atlantic). However, this distribution should be considered with caution because of the mentioned problems with the identification of species from this complex.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Cerithiopsis gemmulosa (C. B. Adams, 1850) species complex. A–B: holotype from Jamaica (MCZ 186075); C–D, F, N–O: shells from Rio de Janeiro state (C–D: MORG ex–19330; F: MORG 33005; N–O: MNRJ 26853); E, P–T: shells from Bahia state (E: IBUFRJ 14146; P–Q: MZSP 155546; R–T: MZSP 155508); G–J: shells from Florida (G–H: MNRJ 17992; I–J: BMSM 81286); K: shell from Santa Catarina state (MZSP 8336); L–M: shell from Pernambuco state (MNHN). Lengths of whole shells: A–B: 5.1 mm; C–D: 4.7 mm; E: 4.5 mm; F: 4.3 mm; G–H: 5.3 mm; I–J: 3.9 mm; K: 4.9 mm; L–M: 3.4 mm; N–O: 3.0 mm; P–Q: 3.0 mm; R: 3.7 mm; S–T: 3.4 mm. Scale bar: 1 mm. Horizontal lines indicate that the two images are from the same shell.

FIGURE 2. Cerithiopsis gemmulosa (C. B. Adams, 1850) species complex. A–B: protoconch of shell from Florida (BMSM 81286; B: magnification of figure 1J); C: protoconch of shell in figure 1M (MNHN); D: protoconch of shell from Rio de Janeiro state (MNRJ 26853); E: protoconch of shell in figure 1Q (MZSP 155546); F: protoconch of shell in figure 1O (MNRJ 26853); G: protoconch of shell from Rio de Janeiro state (MNRJ 34238); H: body whorl of holotype (MCZ 186075); I: body whorl of shell in figure 1D (MORG ex–19930); J: body whorl of shell in figure 1H (MNRJ 17992; K: body whorl of shell in figure 1J (BMSM); L: body whorl of shell from Pernambuco state (MNHN); M: body whorl of shell in figure 1O (MNRJ 26853). Scale bars: A–G: 100 µm; H–M: 1 mm.