Turris spectabilis (Reeve, 1843)

Plate 27, figs A–F

Pleurotoma spectabilis Reeve, 1843: pl. 1, sp. 6; Weinkauff 1875: 22, pl. 4, fig. 9. Type loc.: Ticao Is., Philippines.

Turris spectabilis; Hedley 1922: 217; Powell 1964: 336, pl. 181, figs 16, 17; Habe 1970: 121, pl. 38, fig. 21; Cernohorsky 1972: 182, pl. 53, fig. 1; Drivas & Jay 1986: 28, text fig.; Wilson 1994: 194, pl. 38, fig. 11; Hasegawa et al. 2000: 631, pl. 314, fig. 60; Olivera & Sysoev 2008: pl. 682, fig. 8; Robin 2008: pl. 449, fig. 1.

DESCRIPTION: Shell somewhat pyramidal-fusiform (b/l 0.26–0.31, a/l 0.34–0.39) on account of its shorter base and siphonal canal; the canal is recurved to the right. Whorls strongly convex, with periphery median. Outer lip in side view strongly convex, opisthocline above; anal sinus shallow, linear.

Sculpture: subsutural area concave, without a distinct strong cord (but 1–3 fairly weak to very weak ridges in subsutural area) nor a sulcus. Sinus cord narrow, depressed and ledge-like in adult (thin and granular in juveniles); periphery with a prominent, sloping angle, formed by the bluntly angular peripheral cord (and a weaker one immediately above it); base of spire whorls with 1-3 ridges, and some thin ridges. Base of last whorl with 10–12 spiral ridges, those above widely-spaced and obtusely angled, those on end of rostrum thin and closer. Interstitial sculpture of oblique striae, visible mainly on base of whorls and on rostrum.

Yellowish-white, vividly stained below the suture (particularly on early whorls) with a band of reddish-or orange-brown (occasionally dark brown) and usually with a similar zone around upper part of base; main cords with conspicuous spots or bars of dark brown, strongest on peripheral cord; sinus cord and basal cords vividly spotted with dark brown and white.

Attains 80 mm.

DISTRIBUTION: Zululand and Gulf of Aden eastwards through Indonesia and the Philippines to Melanesia (Marshall Islands), Queensland, Japan and Kiribati, New Caledonia and French Polynesia in clean sand, often under rocks or coral, 4– 120 m.

TYPES: Holotype originally in Stainforth colln, now evidently lost (Powell 1964) .

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: JAPAN: off Kii, 90 m (NMSA J3691: M. Azuma) . PHILIPPINES: Olango Is., 15 m, and 20–25 m (G. Poppe colln); same data, 24–40 fath. [44–73 m] (BO colln); between Bohol, Olango and Cebu Islands, 20–60 m; Bogo, northern Cebu, deep water (BO colln); Panglao, Bohol (NM L1856: D. Steinke); off Punta Engano, Mactan Is. (NMSA K2438: F. J. Springsteen) . MARQUESAS IS.: Nuku Hiva (BO colln, dived H, Morrison) . QUEENSLAND: Townsville (BO colln, ex K. & G. Rowse) . THAILAND: Ko Aen Village, Talang, Phuket, 10–20 m, fishing nets (NMSA L5196: RK); Pattam, Saibury district, 10–15 m, nets (NMSA L5113: S. Patamakanthan) . MOZAMBIQUE: Quissimajul Bay, 3–4 m, mud, sand and algae (BO colln, ex C. P. Fernandes); N. of Beira, 18–37 m (NMSA G3267: B. Lafferty) . SOUTH AFRICA: Leadsman Shoal, northern Zululand, 7–11 m, under stone ledge, half buried on sand (NMSA E2502: D. Herbert, dived); same locality, 8–11 m (NMSA E6511: D. Herbert, dived); NEW CALEDONIA: 20°49.5’S, 165°19.6’E, 10 m, MNHN; 20°40.4’S, 165°114.9’E, 26-40 m, MNHN; FRENCH POLYNESIA: 23°48.5’S, 147°53.5’E, 120-150 m, MNHN .

REMARKS: The shorter siphonal canal, lack of a differentiated subsutural cord or sulcus, and the combination of vivid reddish- or orange-brown zones and dark brown spots distinguish T. spectabilis from T. garnonsii and T. babylonia .