Mitromorpha (Mitrolumna) karpathoensis ( Nordsieck, 1969 )

Amati, Bruno, Smriglio, Carlo & Oliverio, Marco, 2015, Revision of the Recent Mediterranean species of Mitromorpha Carpenter, 1865 (Gastropoda, Conoidea, Mitromorphidae) with the description of seven new species, Zootaxa 3931 (2), pp. 151-195 : 166-169

Mitromorpha (Mitrolumna) karpathoensis ( Nordsieck, 1969)

( Figs 11 A–P; 12A–C; 13; 27M; 28C)

Pusia (Pusionella) karpathoensis Nordsieck, 1969:256

Mitrolumna cf. crenipicta Dautzenberg, 1889 : Nordsieck 1977? Mitrolumna olivoidea var. unifasciata , BDD, 1883: 121–122

Type material. M. karpathoensis , lectotype (H. 5.4 mm) and 5 paralectotypes ( Mifsud 2001:14, Pl. 2, fig. 25) NSG Frankfurth; M. olivoidea var. unifasciata , not found at MNHN and MCZR.

Type locality. Karpathos, Grecia

Other material examined. Italy: Bosa Marina, Sardinia, 35 m, 5 sh (CS); “Ennio Falco” cave, Porto Conte, Sardinia, 5–15 m, viii.2003, 1 sh (MO); La Maddalena Is., Sardinia, 25 m, 1 sh (CS); Tuscan Arcipelago, unspecified depth, 4 sh (SB-MS); Giannutri Is., 40 m, 2011, 1 sh (CS); Ponza Is., 60 m, 13 sh (CS); “Punta La Guardia”, Ponza Is., 50 m, 2 sh (MO); Zannone Is., 30 m, 13. vi.2009, 3 sh (MO); Ventotene Is., 22 m, 1 sh (CS); Procida Is., Secca delle Formiche, Napoli, 4 sh (PC); Capri Is., Grotta Azzurra 14 m, 7 sh (CS); Capri Is., 1 sh ( MCZR, coll. Monterosato M- 21-17319); Gulf of Napoli “fondi coralligeni” (ex Tiberi), 1 sh ( MCZR, coll. Monterosato, M- 21-17325 labelled Mitra columbellaria ); Capo Spartivento, Palinuro, 50 m, 36 sh (SB-MS); “Occhi” cave, Palinuro, 12 m, 5 sh (CS); Palinuro 2 sh (PC); Marina di Camerota, 33 m, viii.1985, 39 sh (CS); Bagnara Calabra, 61 m, 6 sh (AR); Scilla, Reggio Calabria, 6 sh (PC); Scilla harbour, Reggio Calabria 1sh (PC); Scilla, Dente di Skilla, Reggio Calabria, 42 sh (PC); Villa San Giovanni, loc. Santa, Reggio Calabria, 4 sh; Cannizzaro, unspecified depth, 5 sh (SB-MS), 1 sh (PC); “Lo Scalone”, Messina, 40 m, 30 sh (SB-MS); Palmi, 70 m, vi.2008, 3 sh (AR); Scilla, 42 m, 9 sh (CS), 30 m, 2 sh (CS); Favignana Is., Sicily, 1sh (PC); Salina Is. , Sicily, 35 m, vii.2002, 1 sh (MO), 3 sh (BA), 46 m, 2 sh (CS); Catania, 35 m, 1 sh (AR); Vendicari, 24 m, vii.1985, 1 sh (white) (IN); Punta Altarella, Levanzo Is., Sicily, 31 m, v.1991, 4 sh (BA), 2 sh (MO); Ustica Is., 30 m, 1 sh (AR); Lampedusa Is., 60 m, 1 sh (AR); Lampedusa Is., Punta Cappellone, 3 sh (PC); Capo Grecale, Lampedusa Is., 50 m, vii.2009, 3 sh (BA); Pantelleria Is., 40–60 m, 1 sh (AR); Skerki Bank, 30 m, 2008, 9 sh (CS), 20 m, 2008, 1 sh (CS); Talbot Bank, 25 m, 32 sh (CS); Marettimo Is., Sicily, 25–45 m, 4–20. vi.1998, 9 sh (MO); Salina Is. , Sicily, 46 m, 15 sh (CS); Marettimo Is, 25–45 m 20. iv.1998, 3 sh (CS); Bay of Carini, Sicily, 12 m, 1 sh (CS); Bacino di Carenaggio (undetected locality), (ex Coen), 6 shs. ( MCZR, coll. Monterosato, M- 21-17325 labelled Mitra columbellaria ).

Cyprus: Monipower Stn., Limassol, 1985, 7 sh (morph B) (CS); Cape Greco, Protaras, 37 m, 1 sh (morph B) (AR).

Distribution and habitat. Central and eastern Mediterranean Sea; the morph B only from Cyprus. Recent. Empty shells in bioclastic coarse sediments in 12– 70 m. Found alive amidst the Posidonia oceanica rhizomes ( Albano & Sabelli 2009:74). Found sympatric, often at different depths, with M. olivoidea , M. columbellaria , M. alyssae n. sp., M. bogii n. sp., M. mariottinii n. sp., M. mifsudi n. sp., M. nofronii n. sp., M. cossyrae n. sp. and M. tricolorata n. sp. A single shell from Manilva, La Chuellera (PC) would represent the only record from Spain, of a species which is otherwise common elsewhere; we regard this record as doubtful.

Description. Shell of medium size for the genus ( Figs 11 A–P; 27M), height 5.4–7.9 mm, width 2.7–3.9 mm, solid, fusiform, biconic, slender, H/W=1.910–2.272. Protoconch paucispiral ( Figs 12A–C ; 28C), shiny, of 1.25–1.5 convex whorl, d 0.175–0.25 mm, Do 0.30–0.45 mm, DM 0.45–0.60 mm, h 0.40–0.55 mm, covered by numerous microgranules, sometimes aligned and often welded to each other particularly on the first half whorl; slightly flexuose axial lines on the last 0.25 whorls. Protoconch-teleoconch boundary well marked, flexuose, opisthocline. Teleoconch of 4.5–5.2 barely convex whorls. Sculpture starting with 3 spiral cordlets crossed by 11–13 axial ribs on the first whorl. Additional spiral cordlets between the adapical ones, and between the suprasutural one and the suture. Axial ribs present on all whorls (20 on the penultimate) except the last one, and producing nodules at the intersection with the spirals. Last whorl sculptured subsuturally by 30–40 spiral cordlets, of which 3–4 above the aperture and twice as broad as the interspaces, and 10–15 on the base, equidistant, of variable size; periphery smooth or very weakly striated. Two columellar folds, the posterior larger. Orthocline growth lines visible over the entire surface of the last whorl. Outer lip sharp, thickened internally with 10–11 denticles, the second or third posterior more prominent. Anal sinus shallow. Siphonal canal short, and wide. Coloration monochrome, dark brown, with a lighter (almost white) band above and below the suture, with darker blotches on the adapical part. Often, 4–5 brown bands in correspondence of some spiral cordlets are visible. Threefour spiral cordlets on the base with alternate white and brown blotches. Soft parts white hyaline, with sparse milky white spots ( Albano & Sabelli 2009: 74) ( Fig. 11 G).

Remarks. M. karpathoensis is rather variable in size and shape (H/W ratio), in the presence and strength of the sculture, in the number of axials and spirals, and in the coloration. Four distinct morphs can be identified.

Morph A ( Fig. 11 A–F, I, K), corresponding to the type material, with the typical colored pattern, and the spiral and axial sculpture on the first whorls, almost absent on the periphery of the last whorl, with large nodules at the intersections; rare completely white specimens.

Morph B ( Fig. 11 H), of larger size, with a finer spiral sculpture on the last whorl, with spirals of equal size, equidistant and more numerous ( Scaperrotta et al. 2012: 101).

Morph C ( Fig. 11 O, P), with a very weak spiral sculpture, with subsutural whitish-yellowish band, apical diameters smaller than morph A: d 0.20–0.25 mm, Do 0.35–0.45 mm, DM 0.45–0.60 mm and morph C: d 0.175 mm, Do 0.30 mm, DM 0.45 mm. Range restricted to Cyprus ( Mifsud 2001, pl. 2, fig. 28).

Morph D ( Fig. 11 L–N), with strong axial ribs present also on the last whorl, marked spiral sculture present on the last whorl, with spirals equidistant and of equal size, and slender protoconch. Occasional specimens with lighter coloration ( Mifsud 2001: pl. 2, fig. 26c). Intermediate specimens have been frequently observed at several localities, including Porto Palo (Paolo Albano, Bologna, pers. comm.), and Palinuro, Marettimo Is., Vendicari, Porto Conte, Talbot Bank.

M. karpathoensis has less spirals than M. olivoidea (Nslw (aa): 8–11 and Nslw: 34– 39 v. Nslw (aa): 3–4 and Nslw: 18–25 in M. karpathoensis ), and lives in shallower habitat. M. columbellaria has a different chromatic pattern, monochrome, occasionally with a subsutural darker or lighter band, a different coloration of the soft parts, yellow-orange with dark eyes, and a different sculpture never with large nodules on the first whorls. M. wilhelminae has a more inflated outline in the juveniles (almost keeled), and a lighter coloration with darker spiral striae and alternate dark and light blotches). See under M. alyssae n. sp. and M. nofronii n. sp. for the differences with these species. M. olivoidea var. unifasciata BDD, 1883 (relevant material not found at MNHN and MCZR: however, it is a varietal name deemed to be infrasubspecific, thus unavailable), can plausibly ascribed to M. karpathoensis , due to the features stated in the original description (coloration ‘ foncée ’, and the presence of ‘ une fascie interrompue’).

Figures

FIGURE 11. Mitromorpha karpathoensis (Nordsieck, 1969). A. Cape Palinuro, H = 6.3 mm (SB-MS); B. Salina Is., Italy, H = 6.6 mm (BA); C. Salina Is., Italy, juvenile, H = 3.2 mm (BA); D. Salina Is., Italy, close-up of the first whorls (BA); E. Ponza Is., Italy, juvenile, H = 2.1 mm (CS); F, G. Acitrezza, Italy, juvenile,? 80 – 100 m with a sketch of the living animal (by Danilo Scuderi); H. Cape Palinuro, Italy, 50 m, H = 8.8 mm (SB-MS); I. Cape Palinuro, Italy, 50 m, H = 6.35 mm (SB-MS); J, K. Gulf of Napoli, Italy, “ coralligenous bottoms ”, H = 5.5 mm, (MCZR, M- 21 - 17319); L. Cape Palinuro, Italy, 50 m, H = 6.6 mm (SB- MS); M. Vendicari, Italy, H = 5.9 mm (IN); N. Vendicari, Italy, close-up of the first whorls (IN); O – P. Cyprus, H = 5.55 mm, 6.15 mm (CS).

FIGURE 12. A – C. Mitromorpha karpathoensis (Nordsieck, 1969), (SEM), Acitrezza, Sicily, Italy, (MNHN). Scale bars: 200 µm (A), 100 µm (B, C).