Phos laevis Kuroda & Habe, 1961

Fraussen, Koen, Galindo, Lee Ann & Rosado, José, 2020, Deep-water Photinae (Gastropoda: Nassariidae) from eastern Africa, with descriptions of five new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 720, pp. 144-169 : 149-150

Phos laevis Kuroda & Habe, 1961

Fig. 1 J–K

Phos laeve Kuroda & Habe in Habe, 1961 : app. 20–21.

Phos laevie [sic] – Kuroda & Habe in Habe 1961: 61, pl. 31, fig. 8.

Type locality

Japan, SW Shikoka, off Cape Ashizuri, 100– 300 m.

Material examined

MADAGASCAR • 1 dd; Campagne CREVETTIERE 1974 stn DC01; 12°39′ S, 48°16′ E; depth 240 m; 1974; Campagne CREVETTIERE 1974 exped.; MNHN ( Fig. 1 J–K) • 1 dd; between Nosy Bé and Leven Banc, MIRIKY stn DW3217; 12°33′ S, 47°56′ E; depth 391–438 m; Jun. 2009; MIRIKY exped.; MNHN .

RÉUNION • 4 dd (3 jv); MD32 stn DC128; 20°51′ S, 55°36′ E; depth 280–340 m; 1982; MD32 exped.; MNHN .

Distribution

Formerly known from Japan and the Philippines, the species is here recorded from off Madagascar (Campagne CREVETTIERE 1974 stn DC01 and MIRIKY stn DW3217) and off Réunion island (MD32 stn DC128).

Remarks

Phos laevis is characterized by its pale colour without pattern and moderately smooth shell with a glossy surface. Variability of the sculpture is high; some specimens are smooth without much spiral sculpture and with weak axial sculpture mainly on the upper spire whorls, while other specimens have well developed axial ribs; a few specimens have smooth but well visible spiral cords running along all whorls. Because an identical variability is observed in specimens from the western Pacific (Fraussen & Galindo in prep.) we tentatively regard these specimens from the East Indian Ocean as conspecific with the West Pacific P. laevis .

Phos (Greek, latinized to Phos , see Montfort 1810: 495) is masculine, as evidenced by the original combination in Montfort’s type species ( Phos senticosus ). The word ʻ laeve ʼ is an adjective and it is therefore mandatory to correct the gender ending (to agree “with the generic name with which it is at any time combined” according to ICZN 31.2 and 34.2) to P. laevis , as is also correctly done in the WoRMS database.

Figures

Fig. 1. A–C. Phos elegantissimus Hayashi & Habe, 1965. A–B. Specimen from Mozambique, off North Quissico, depth 95–135 m, in trap, 23.8 mm long (JR). C. Specimen from Mozambique, off Sofala Bank, ex-pisces, depth 120–140 m, 24.8 mm long (JR). — D–E. Phos gemmulifer Kilburn, 2000, NW Mayotte, Mozambique Channel, BIOMAGLO stn DW4848, 12°35′ S, 44°55′ E, depth 399–402 m, 28.1 mm long (MNHN 2013-69815). — F–I. Phos hirasei G.B. Sowerby III, 1913. F–G. Specimen from Mozambique, off Sofala Bank, 20°07′ S, 36°09′ E, ex-pisces, depth 120–130 m, 26.3 mm long (JR). H–I. Specimen from South Africa, off Transkei, Msikaba, dredged at 90–110 m, 25.7 mm long (KF 4692). — J–K. Phos laevis Kuroda & Habe, 1961, Madagascar, Campagne CREVETTIERE 1974 stn DC01, 12°39′ S, 48°16′ E, depth 240 m, 23.5 mm long (MNHN). Scale bars: 5.0 mm.