Kermia geraldsmithi, Kilburn, 2009

Kilburn, Richard Neil, 2009, Genus Kermia (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Conoidea: Conidae: Raphitominae) in South African waters, with observations on the identities of related extralimital species, African Invertebrates 50 (2), pp. 217-217 : 219-221

Kermia geraldsmithi sp. n.

Figs 1–3

? Philbertia (Pseudodaphnella) sp.: Oyama & Takemura 1957: Philbertia (2), figs 7, 8.

Etymology: Named in honour of its collector, Mr Gerald Smith of Durban.

Description: Shell fusiform with truncated base; b/l 0.40–0.46, a/l 0.36–0.46; whorls slightly convex with angular, sloping shoulder, subsutural region wide and concave, suture undulating, base of body whorl constricted above rostrum into a slight but distinct waist; rostrum thick and convex; siphonal canal strongly contracted but expanded terminally, end truncate, level, in dorsal view medially convex, not notched. Outer lip flat in side view, with 4 serrations, caused by ridge terminations; inner edge with 3 equalsized teeth and sometimes a weak 4 th; inner lip smooth and flattened, posterior end of aperture with a parietal pad. Anal sinus shallow, U-shaped.

Axial ribs slightly prosocline, fairly straight, weaker below suture, on base extending onto rostrum as rounded nodules; in t/s high, asymmetrically rounded, with steeply sloping sides, ribs wider than their intervals, 9 or 10 per whorl. Spiral ridges thinner than axials in intervals, expanding on ribs to form angular nodules, ridges nearly equal in strength, adapical row slightly the stronger, abapical one slightly weaker; first two whorls with two rows of nodules plus a third usually beginning to develop above suture, later whorls with three main rows of nodules, plus a weak ridge immediately below suture; last whorl with a shallow waist-like furrow at base of rostrum containing a thin ridge, strengthening and bearing angular nodules on dorsum; rostrum forming a moderate fasciole, which bears 3 ridges weakening anteriorly, the upper 2 with angular nodules. Interstices with extremely fine and close collabral striae.

Protoconch ( Fig. 3 ) bluntly conical, of 3.3 whorls, last two whorls with prosocyrt axial riblets, crossed diagonally by oblique threads; 1 st whorl with a few minutely pliculate spiral threads above its suture; dark brown; breadth 0.46 mm.

White, alternate ribs with axially elongated orange-brown blotches, basal constriction dark to medium orange-brown; protoconch dark orange-brown.

Dimensions: 4.6× 2.1 mm (holotype), largest paratype 5.5× 2.3 mm.

Comparison and remarks: This appears to be the species figured by Oyama and Takemura (1957) as ‘ Philbertia (Pseudodaphnella) sp.’, based on a specimen from southern Japan (Amami–Oshima Is). The most similar described species is the Japanese Clathurella excellens Sowerby, 1913 . The holotype of that ( Fig. 4 ) differs from K. geraldsmithi in its angular shoulder, darker brown blotches, fewer axial ribs (8 per whorl) and more numerous spiral ridges (5 on penultimate whorl). Japanese authors (e.g. Oyama & Takemura (1957: Philbertia (3), figs 7, 8); Fukuda (1995: 24, pl. 67, fig. 986); Higo et al. (2001: 109, fig. G3809, holotype); Hasegawa et al. (2000: 659, pl. 328, fig. 194) cite excellens as Philbertia (Pseudodaphnella) excellens . Unfortunately, the holotype of that species lacks its protoconch, and no details of it are available to me, so that its generic position remains to be confirmed.

Holotype: NMSA W6533 /T2354. SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: off Park Rynie (30°19'S: 30°44'E), depth ca - 35 m, in shell grit, dived G. Smith, 1996.

Paratype 1: same data as holotype, to be deposited in BMNH . Paratypes 2–9: NMSA S2999 /T 2377, between Bhanga Neck and Kosi Bay, depth ca - 13 m, D. Herbert .

Other material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: Kosi Bay , 14 km S of estuary mouth, ca - 20 m (D. Herbert, R. Broker; NMSA S2579 ) , 1–4 km S of estuary mouth, ca - 18 m (D. Herbert, K. Bloem; NMSA S2311 ) and - 23–24 m (D. Herbert, K. Bloem; NMSA S2900 ) ; Park Rynie , ca - 16 m, in shell grit (D. Herbert; NMSA S5920 ) ; Aliwal Shoal, off Scottburgh , ca - 16 m, sand (D. Herbert; NMSA S5920 ) .

Distribution: Inner continental shelf of KZN and probably southern Japan, in - 13– 35 m.

Figures

Figs 1–7. Kermia geraldsmithi sp. n., Pseudodaphnella (?) excellens (Sowerby, 1913), and Kermia clathurelloides sp. n.: (1–3) K. geraldsmithi, holotype NMSA W6533/T2354, 4.6×2.1 mm, apertural (1) and side (2) views, and ESEM of protoconch (3); (4) Pseudodaphnella (?) excellens, holotype of Clathurella excellens, BMNH 1914.1.7.267, Osumi, Japan; 9.6×4.2 mm; (5–7) K. clathurelloides, holotype NMSA W6533/T2360, 11.3×4.0 mm, apertural (5) and side (6) views, and ESEM of protoconch (7).