Zafra spadicea, Monsecour & Raines, 2024

Monsecour, Kevin & Raines, Bret K., 2024, New species and genus of Columbellidae (Gastropoda: Buccinoidea) from the Western Pacific, Zootaxa 5514 (4), pp. 353-367 : 364

Zafra spadicea sp. nov.

Figures 5 K–P

Type Material. Holotype LACM 3372, 5 Paratypes LACM 3373, 5 Paratypes MNHN-IM-2018-1785, 6 Paratypes CKM, 6 Paratypes MSF fa184.

Type Locality. Northern Mariana Islands, Saipan, The Grotto , 15.2702 o N, 145.8346 o E, 30 m deep .

Additional Material Examined. 13 specimens, all from type locality.

Distribution. Currently only known from the type locality.

Description. Shell of average size for genus, up to 3.3 mm; fusiform, elongate. Protoconch paucispiral, of 1.4– 1.5 smooth whorls. Transition to teleoconch clearly visible. Teleoconch of 3.7–4.2 whorls, slightly shouldered; suture not impressed. Axial sculpture of 15–17 strong ribs, wider than interspaces. Spiral sculpture consisting of subsutural cord clearly present on all teleoconch whorls, except beginning of first whorl. Basal cords extending to adapical edge of columella. Intersections of axial ribs and adapical 2–3 basal cords creating crenulate appearance. Aperture narrow, 41–47% of shell height. Outer lip slightly thickened, with continuation of basal cords abapically. Inside with sinus on adapical end and 4 denticles, diminishing in strength toward abapical end, adapical two denticles partially fused. Columellar callus with pronounced sharp edge, not denticulate, basal cords emerging through. Parietal callus thin. Siphonal canal short, open, slightly recurved. Teleoconch whorls yellowish to orange brown, with network of paler off-white spade-shaped spots and pronounced white subsutural spiral band. Protoconch off-white to cream. Aperture and columella off-white to background color. Radula not studied. Height of holotype: 3.0 mm.

Remarks. Zafra spadicea is similar to Zafra thaanumi sp. nov. from Wake Atoll, but differs by its more swollen shell shape, higher number of ribs on the teleoconch whorls and its slightly different color pattern, which is paler and does not have the second white spiral band at mid-height of the last whorl. Zafra spadicea is also comparable to Z. ocellatula , but differs by its smaller size, its paucispiral protoconch, fewer teleoconch whorls and greater number of larger spots in the color pattern.

Etymology. Latin spadicea meaning spades. After the spade-shaped spots on the shell.

Figures

FIGURE 5. A–H, Zafra thaanumi sp. nov.; A–B, Holotype. LACM 3857, 3.1 mm; C–D, Paratype 1. LACM 3858, 2.6 mm; E–F, Paratype 2. MNHN-IM-2018-1784, 3.4 mm; G–H, Paratype 3. CKM, 2.7 mm; I–J, Zafra ocellatula (Hervier, 1900), Papua New Guinea, New Ireland, Kavieng, CKM, 4.0 mm; K–P, Zafra spadicea sp. nov.; K–L, Holotype. LACM 3372, 3.0 mm; M–N, Paratype 1. LACM 3373, 2.9 mm; O–P, Paratype 2. MNHN-IM-2018-1785, 3.2 mm.