Coralliophila, H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853

Oliverio, Marco, 2009, Diversity of Coralliophilinae (Mollusca, Neogastropoda, Muricidae) at Austral Islands (South Pacific), Zoosystema 31 (4), pp. 759-789 : 772

Coralliophila sp. B

( Fig. 6A, B )

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Marotiri Is., BENTHAUS, stn DW 1881, 27°54.6’S, 143°28.5’W, 112-121 m, 1 dd.

DESCRIPTION

Shell of small size for the genus, 8.1 mm high, 5 mm wide. Protoconch abraded of 1.8 whorls, with two spiral keels.Teleoconch of 4.5 turriculated whorls, spire high, conical, with flat sides. Aperture damaged, oval, siphonal canal long, open; twisted, imbricate fasciole, umbilical chink closed.Teleoconch spiral sculpture of 14 cordlets and two major cords, irregularly disposed; 6 cordlets and the adapical cord visible above the aperture. Axial sculpture of 8-10 broad orthocline ribs. Shell ground colour orange-pinkish.

REMARKS

I have been unable to identfy with certainty this shell. It is a partly broken juvenile which superficially resembles to Coralliophila abnormis (E. A. Smith, 1878) and to juveniles of C. fearnley (Emerson & D’Attilio, 1965) but differs in the stronger spiral and axial sculpture, and the wider protoconch at the base. Due to the lack of additional material I refrain from describing a new taxon. Th e shell is in relatively good condition, but its habitat (shallow or deep waters) cannot be defined.

Figures

FIG. 6. — A, B, Coralliophila sp. B, Marotiri Is., BENTHAUS,stn DW 1881, 27°54.6’S,143°28.5’W,112-121 m. C, D, Coralliophila sp. C, BENTHAUS, stn DW 1943, N of Raivavae, 23°48.7’S, 147°39.1’W, 950 m. Scale bars: A, B, 2 mm; C, D, 5 mm.