Seraphs sp. 2

Caze, Bruno, Merle, Didier, Pacaud, Jean-Michel & Saint Martin, Jean-Paul, 2010, First Systematic Study using the Variability of the Residual Colour Patterns: The Case of the Paleogene Seraphsidae (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Stromboidea), Geodiversitas 32 (3), pp. 417-477 : 434

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5252/g2010n3a4
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A69848-FF86-1E4E-FC8F-FEABFB1DF970
treatment provided by	Marcus
scientific name	Seraphs sp. 2
status

Treatment

Seraphs sp. 2 ( Figs 11D, E View FIG ; 12 View FIG D-F)

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Lutetian, Fresville (Coteau de Vauville), Manche, 2 ex. ( MNHN A28577 View Materials , de Morgan coll.).

DESCRIPTION

Shell

Shell 18 mm in height and 6 mm in diameter, slightly inflated with short and blunt apex. Aperture long and narrow. Callus of the inner lip not preserved. Straight columella near the base.Outer lip extending to the apex but broken in labral view ( Fig. 11D View FIG ). Siphonal notch not observable ( Fig. 10E View FIG ). No sculpture on the surface of the shell.

Colour pattern

On the best preserved specimen, the residual pattern is only composed of two levels of residual pigmentation: dark spiral stripes on a lighter background. The stripes are broad and have marked borders ( Fig. 12 View FIG D-F). Th ey are continuous and each stripe has the same width on the whole of the last whorl. The width of the different stripes is variable. On the less well-preserved specimen, a dark spiral stripe is present with dots, like in S. volutatus .

COMPARISONS

The shell shape of Seraphs sp. 2 is similar to that of young S. volutatus ( Fig. 6 View FIG A-C) and both species lack sculpture. Under UV light, the best preserved specimen is very different from the other Seraphs in showing thick and dark spiral stripes. The less well-preserved specimen is slightly similar, but bears dots as in S. volutatus .

DISCUSSION

If the best preserved specimen bears this peculiar pattern, the less well-preserved specimen suggests continuity between this pattern and that of S. volutatus , because of the occurrence of dots. Th us, as for Seraphs sp. 1 , we prefer to avoid describing a new species, based on a small number of specimens.