Kermia pumila (Mighels, 1845)

Figs 34–38

Pleurotoma pumila: Mighels 1845: 23; Johnson 1949: 228, pl. 27, fig. 11 (‘neoholotype’ = lectotype). Type locality: Oahu [= Kauai, fide Johnson 1949: 217], Hawaii.

Philbertia (Kermia) pumila: Cernohorsky 1978: 162, pl. 57, fig. 14.

Kermia pumila (Mighels): Kay 1979: 362, fig. 118L.

Mangelia digitale Reeve, 1846: pl. 8, sp. 70. Type locality: unknown.

Pleurotoma (Mangelia) reticulata Garrett, 1857: 102 (non T. Brown, 1827, nec Bronn, 1831). Type locality: Hilo Bay, Hawaii. [ = Pleurotoma pumila fide Pease 1868; Tryon 1884; Kay 1979]

Pleurotoma clandestina Deshayes, 1863: 110, pl. 12, figs 15, 16. Type locality: Réunion I.

Clathurella violacea Pease, 1868: 218, pl. 15, fig. 15; Johnson 1994: 27, pl. 6, fig. 15 (lectotype). Type locality: Paumotus [Tuamotus], Polynesia.

Type material (examined unless otherwise indicated): P. pumila: lectotype (designated by Johnson 1949) MCZH 176993 (Fig. 34). M. digitale: types probably lost (originally in Stainforth coll.). P. reticulata: not seen. P. clandestina: one syntype in MNHN (a juvenile, badly encrusted by “Byne’s disease”). C. violacea: lectotype (Fig. 35), worn (designated by Johnson 1994) MCZH 231971, 4.6× 1.8 mm, paralectotypes MCZH 231971 (not seen).

Regional locality data: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: between Bhanga Neck and Kosi Bay, near pinnacles of reef, - 10–12 m, hand-dredged sand (D. Herbert; NMSA S2391) .

Distribution: Polynesia, Hawaii, Fiji and Okinawa to the Mascarenes, Seychelles, and northern KZN, intertidal to about - 20 m, under coral and stones.

Remarks: The single South African specimen, in fresh (probably live-collected) condition, appears to be the first record of K. pumila from the African mainland. Only the most important references are cited above. The protoconch of a specimen from Réunion I., collected by Dr M. Jay, is illustrated here (Fig. 38).