Ergalatax contracta (Reeve, 1846)

Houart, Roland & Héros, Virginie, 2008, Muricidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from Fiji and Tonga, Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle 196, pp. 437-480 : 458

Ergalatax contracta (Reeve, 1846)

Fig. 4I

Buccinum contractum Reeve, 1846 : pl. 8, fig. 53.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Fiji. SUVA 2: stn CP 45, 17°52’S, 18°21’S, 178°09’E, 26 m, 1 dd; stn CP 19, 18°26’S, 178°04’E, 177°13’E, 35 m, 1 lv; stn DW 62, 17°48’S, 177°13’E, 32 m, 48-50 m, 1 dd (Fig. 4I); stn DW 26, 18°24’S, 178°05’E, 42- 1 dd; stn BS 82, 17°39’S, 177°22’E, 21 m, 1 lv, 2 dd . — SUVA 43 m, 1 dd.

4: stn DW 10, 18°21’S, 178°07’E, 39-43 m, 1 lv; stn DW 11,

DISTRIBUTION. — Indo-West Pacific.

REMARKS. — A highly variable and common species in the whole Indo-West Pacific. However, it is not certain whether E. calcarius (Dunker, 1860) from Japan and E. smithi ( Schepman, 1911) from Indonesia are synonyms or should be considered separate species. The Fiji specimens are typical E. contracta with a high spire, shouldered teleoconch whorls, broad and high axial ribs, and a short siphonal canal.