Vexillum (Protoelongata) species 1, 2014

Herrmann, Manfred, Stossier, Günter & Salisbury, Richard, 2014, A new subgenus including three new species of the genus Vexillum (Gastropoda: Costellariidae) from the central Indo-Pacific with remarks on Vexillum (Pusia) semicostatum (ANTON, 1838), Contributions to Natural History 24, pp. 1-55 : 26

Vexillum (Protoelongata) species 1

( Figs 69–71 )

Vexillum semicostatum (ANTON, 1838) 12.6 mm. Madagascar – Robin & Martin (2004), plate C–28, fig. 2 nd row, left [non (ANTON, 1838)]

Comments: This species so far is only known from Madagascar. Bob Abela took a photo of a live specimen during the Atimo Vatae expedition, organized by the MNHN to the south of Madagascar in 2010. The animal shows the typical colouration of the new subgenus Protoelongata . The shell is pictured in Robin & Martin (2004) and there are two worn specimens in the collection of the second author. Further investigation is necessary to verify the protoconch characteristics.

Figures

Plate 19: Vexillum (Protoelongata) species Figs 69–71: species 1 Fig. 69: specimen, collected during the Atimo Vatae expedition (MNHN), south of Madagascar, 2010. Figs 70–71: scaled 4 x; Specimens, Madagascar, Fort Dauphin, 11.5 mm x 4.9 mm and 11.3 mm x 4.9 mm, GS. Figs 72–73: species 2, scaled 6 x; Fig. 72: specimen, Papua New Guinea, West New Ireland, off Kavin Village, 32 m, in sand, collected 6 Nov 2002 by Sandro Gori, 10.4 mm x 4.3 mm, SG 30252. Fig. 73: specimen, Indonesia, Sulawesi, Togian Islands, West Batudaka Island, 29–32 m, in grit from crevices along reef slope, collected by Peter Stahlschmidt Oct 2010, 8.4 mm x 3.6 mm, SMF. Photos: Fig. 69 Bob Abela, Figs 70–71 Günter Stossier, Fig. 72 Sandro Gori, Fig. 73 Manfred Herrmann.