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.