Nodicostellaria Petuch, 1987

Simone, Luiz Ricardo L. & Cunha, Carlo M., 2012, Taxonomic study on the molluscs collected in Marion-Dufresne expedition (MD 55) to SE Brazil: Xenophoridae, Cypraeoidea, mitriforms and Terebridae (Caenogastropoda), Zoosystema 34 (4), pp. 745-781 : 764

Genus Nodicostellaria Petuch, 1987

Nodicostellaria crassa (Simone, 1995) ( Fig. 6 E-L)

Thala crassa Simone, 1995: 805-811 , figs 1-11. — Rios 2009: 292, fig. 737.

Nodicostellaria crassa – Salisbury 2000: 222. — Simone 2011: 170.

Vexillum (Nodicostellaria) crassum – Turner 2001: 26. — Rosenberg & Salisbury 2003: 2.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Brazil, Espírito Santo, off Itaúnas, continental slope of Abrolhos, 18°59’S, 37°50’W, 295 m depth, MNHN, 10 shells, MZSP 102887, 2 shells ( Fig. 6L ) ( MD 55, stn DC 75, Bouchet, Leal & Métivier coll., 27. V.1987). — Off Regência, 19°34’S, 38°55’W, 340-360 m depth, MNHN, 93 shells, MZSP 102872, 16 shells (stn CB 92, 29. V.1987). — Rio de Janeiro, off Ponta do Retiro, 21°32’S, 40°09’W, 295-300 m depth, MNHN, 56 shells, MZSP 102886, 15 shells (stn CB 96, 31. V.1987). — Off Arraial do Cabo, 23°42’S, 42°07’W, 430-450 m depth, MNHN, 27 shells, MZSP 102871, 5 shells ( Fig. 6 E-K) (stn CB 104, 01. VI.1987). — Off Cabo de São Tomé, 21°35’S, 40°11’W, 300-307 m depth, MNHN, 1 shell (stn DC 10, 10. V.1987).

TYPE LOCALITY. — Brazil, São Paulo, continental slope off Ubatuba , 24°25’00’’S, 44°16’05’’W, 320 m depth ( R / V W. Besnard, stn 5365; 07.XII.1988) .

MEASUREMENTS (inmm). — MNHN (DC104) ( Fig. 6 E- J): 25.4 × 7.9; MZSP 102887 ( Fig. 6L ): 14.1 × 4.5.

REMARKS

Following previous authors ( Salisbury 2000; Turner 2001) this species was transferred from Thala H. & A. Adams, 1853 to the genus Nodicostellaria ( Petuch 1987: 107; type species: Costellaria kaicherae Petuch, 1979 , OD, from NE Brazil) by its larger size for a Thala , strong spiral and axial sculpture, both predominating, and convex whorls profile.However, unlike the original description of the genus, N. crassa possesses liration in outer lip, despite in being weak, and has only three folds in the columella, instead of four ( Fig. 6K ). These characters must be added to the genus’ description or another genus must be erected for the species. Until the resolution of these features, a conservative approach, considering Nodicostellaria , is here adopted.

Nodicostellaria crassa so far was restricted to the continental slope off São Paulo state. The presently studied sample expands considerably the geographic distribution of the species c. 1000 km towards north, showing that the species is distributed in the slope along entire southeast Brazilian coast. The bathymetric range, however, remains the same, from 240 to 600 m depth.

Being the commonest mitriform species, N. crassa shows an interesting level of variation, with the southernmost specimens with white colour and more orthocline axial threads ( Fig. 6L ), while the northern specimens are pale brown in colour with sculpture normally prosocline axial threads ( Fig. 6G, H ). However, these patterns are variable and redundancies exist. The live-collected animals are always covered by sponge, forming expansions accumulated laterally ( Fig. 6E, F ); the cover is easy to remove ( Fig. 6 G-I). The protoconch has been confirmed to bear two rounded whorls ( Fig. 6J, L ), somewhat cylindrical, with deep suture and clear limit with teleoconch. The upper fold is normally bifid along distal edge, mainly in larger specimens ( Fig. 6K ).

Figures

FIG. 6. — Costellariids: A, Turricostellaria ovir n. sp., holotype MNHN 25237, apertural view (L 9.9 mm); B, same, dorsal view; C, paratype MZSP 102860, apertural view (L 5.2 mm); D, same, detail of apex in profile; E, Nodicostellaria crassa (Simone, 1995), MNHN (stn CB104), apertural view with sponge coating (L 25.4 mm); F, same, dorsal view; G, same, cleaned shell, apertural view; H, same, right view; I, same, dorsal view; J, same, detail of protoconch; K, same, detail of inner lip, apertural-slightly right view; L, MZSP 102887, apertural view (L 14.1 mm).