Coralliophila erosa (Röding, 1798)

(Fig. 4A, B)

Cantharus erosus Röding, 1798: 133 .

Pyrula abbreviata Lamarck, 1816: 8, pl. 436.

Murex plicatus Wood, 1818: 124, pl. 26, fig. 56a.

Pyrula deformis Lamarck, 1822: 146 .

Rapana fragilis A. Adams, 1854: 98 .

Trichotropis dorbignyanum Petit de la Saussaye, 1851: 261, pl. 7, fig. 2.

Rapana suturalis A. Adams, 1854: 98 .

Rapana coralliophila A. Adams, 1854: 98 .

Rhizochilus exaratus Pease, 1861: 399 .

Coralliophila stearnsiana Dall, 1919: 339 .

Coralliophila groschi Kilburn, 1977: 190, figs 19, 20.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Cantharus erosus: repository unknown.

Pyrula abbreviata: 2 possible syntypes, 36.0 mm (MHNG 1098 /69/1); 37.9 mm (MHNG 1098 /69/2) .

Murex plicatus: repository unknown.

Pyrula deformis: holotype (MHNG 1098/71).

Rapana fragilis: holotype (BMNH 1984100; figured by Kosuge & Suzuki [1985: pl. 38, fig. 8]) .

Trichotropis dorbignyanum: probable holotype (MNHN; figured by Kosuge & Suzuki [1985: pl. 38, figs 3, 4]) .

Rapana suturalis: syntype (BMNH 1984113; figured by Kosuge & Suzuki [1985: pl. 38 figs 5, 6]) .

Rapana coralliophila: syntype (BMNH 1984111; figured by Kosuge & Suzuki [1985: pl. 46, fig. 6]) .

Rhizochilus exaratus: lectotype (BMNH 1961177; figured by Kay [1965: pl. 4, figs 19-21] and by Kosuge & Suzuki [1985: pl. 38, fig. 7, “ex Kay 1965 ”]); 2 paralectotypes (BMNH 1961178, selected by Kay [1965]).

Coralliophila stearnsiana: holotype (USNM 46377; figured by Kosuge & Suzuki [1985: pl. 38, fig. 11]) .

Coralliophila groschi: holotype (NM H382 - T2047; figured by Kosuge & Suzuki [1985: pl. 38, fig. 9]) .

TYPE LOCALITY. — Cantharus erosus: not designated.

Pyrula abbreviata: not indicated.

Murex plicatus: “East Indies”.

Pyrula deformis: unknown.

Rapana fragilis: Philippines.

Trichotropis dorbignyanum: “Taiti” on the probable holotype’s label (MNHN), “Océan Pacifique, M. Bernardi” (Petit de la Saussaye 1851).

Rapana suturalis: Bulusan, Province of Albay, Luzon, Philippines. Rapana coralliophila: Isle of Ticao, on reefs at low water.

Rhizochilus exaratus: Hawaiian Islands [Sandwich Is].

Coralliophila stearnsiana: Lower California.

Coralliophila groschi: East of Posto Lunga, Lunga Bay, northern Mozambique.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — The type material and: BENTHAUS, stn DW 1926, Banc Président Thiers, 24°38.2’S, 146°00.8’W, 50-90 m, 1 lv (Fig. 4A, B).

DISTRIBUTION. — Indo-West Pacific (Kay 1979). From Izu Peninsula (Japan) to tropical Indo-Pacific (Tsuchiya 2000), “intertidal to 20 m, on Acropora, Scleractinia [sic] and other corals” (Higo et al. 2001: 216). Coral Sea, New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands, empty shells intertidal to 57 m (Oliverio 2008b). Austral Islands, living in 50- 90 m.

REMARKS

This is a common shallow water species throughout the Indo-Pacific, found mainly on Acropora -like corals. The record of a single specimen (dredged by RV Alis), notwithstanding the relevant collecting effort by the land based RAPA 2002 workshop, indicates a scarcity of this species.