Triphora apicibulbus Turton, 1932

Albano, Paolo G., Bakker, Piet A. J. & Sabelli, Bruno, 2019, Annotated catalogue of the types of Triphoridae (Mollusca, Gastropoda) in the Natural History Museum of the United Kingdom, London, Zoosystematics and Evolution 95 (1), pp. 161-308 : 161

Triphora apicibulbus Turton, 1932

Figure 102

Triphora apicibulbus Turton 1932: 118, pl. XXV, fig. 863.

Type locality.

Port Alfred, South Africa.

Type material.

OUMNH: lost.

Additional material.

NHMUK 1933.9.4.34-36: 3 specimens, Port Alfred , South Africa (coll. W.H. Turton) .

Original description.

The shape of the shell is narrowly conic; 1 minute and 2 bulbous nuclear whorls, the remaining 8 very slightly globular. The surface is marked by 3 rows of tubercles on each whorl, and there are 2 basal cords. The colour is white, except the base, which is light brown. The size of the type is 6 × 1.5 mm. The shell grows up to 8 mm, but the larger ones do not show the sculpturing so plainly. Characteristics. Near 860, [Triphora] madria, though wider, with only 2 basal cords. It is wider than 858, [Triphora] innocens. But the brown colour at the base best distinguishes it; and also the very bulbous protoconch, the last nuclear whorl being larger than the succeeding one. This gives it a curious appearance, and I think justifies the name. It is true that [T.] madria has something like it, as noticed by Bartsch, but not nearly so pronounced. I attach two photos, the smaller shell, 4 mm, showing this better than the other.

Diagnosis.

Height range 5.5-6.1 mm. Shell slightly cyrtoconoid, with flat sides. Teleoconch of ca 10 whorls with three strong spiral cords, all visible since the first whorl, with coalescent tubercles which on the last whorls look like continuous bands. Siphonal canal short. Base with two-three additional smooth spiral cords. Paucispiral protoconch of 1.5 whorls, apparently smooth but the specimens are worn. Shell white in colour.

Figures

Figure 102. Triphora apicibulbus Turton, 1932, Port Alfred, South Africa, NHMUK 1933.9.4.34 - 36. A Original figure. B, C NHMUK 1933.9.4.34: front. D, E, H NHMUK 1933.9.4.35: front (C, D), protoconch (H). F, G, I NHMUK 1933.9.4.36: front (F, G), protoconch (I). J Original labels. Scale bars: B-G: 1 mm; H, I: 0.2 mm.