Mitromorpha (Mitrolumna) mifsudi, Amati, Bruno, Smriglio, Carlo & Oliverio, Marco, 2015

Amati, Bruno, Smriglio, Carlo & Oliverio, Marco, 2015, Revision of the Recent Mediterranean species of Mitromorpha Carpenter, 1865 (Gastropoda, Conoidea, Mitromorphidae) with the description of seven new species, Zootaxa 3931 (2), pp. 151-195 : 179-180

Mitromorpha (Mitrolumna) mifsudi n. sp.

( Figs 17 ; 24A–E; 28J)

Type material. Holotype, Caprera Is., Arcipelago della Maddalena, Sardinia, 0.25 m, viii.1978 Carlo Smriglio leg., (H 5.1 mm, W 2.75 mm) ( MNHN IM- 2000-27710) ( Figs 24 A–C, E); paratypes: type locality, 3 lv (CS). Type locality. Caprera Is., Maddalena Archipelago, Sardinia.

Etymology. Dedicated to Costantine Mifsud (Rabat, Malta) for his studies on the Mediterranean malacofauna. Distribution and habitat. Known only from the type locality, in the western Tyrrhenina Sea. Recent. Live specimens under rocks without algal covering, in 0.25 m water. Found sympatric, often at different depths, with M. columbellaria and M. karpathoensis .

Description. (in parentheses the data of the holotype) Shell small for the genus ( Fig. 24 A–E), height 4.85–5.1 (5.1 mm), width 2.45–2.75 (2.75 mm), solid, fusiform, biconic, stout, H/W=1.854–2.000 (1.854). Protoconch paucispiral ( Fig. 28J ) shiny, of 1.25–1.3 (1.3) slightly convex whorl (last 0.25 whorl almost flat), d 0.20–0.24 (0.20 mm), Do 0.35–0.40 (0.40 mm), DM 0.50–0.55 (0.55 mm), h 0.40–0.45 (0.45 mm), sculptured by sparse rare microgranules. Protoconch-teleoconch boundary well marked, barely flexuose, opisthocline. Teleoconch of da 3.8–4.1 (4.1) slightly convex whorls. Sculpture starting with 3 (3) weak spiral cordlets crossed by 18 (18) opisthocline axial ribs on the first whorl. Additional spiral cordlets between the adapical ones and between the suprasutural one and the suture. Last whorl sculptured over the entire surface by 18–19 (18) scarcely pronounced spiral cordlets, flat, equidistant, of equal size, but weaker on the periphery, as broad as three times the interspaces, of which 4–5 (4) above the aperture. Axial ribs present only on the first three whorls producing nodules at the intersection with the spirals. Two strong columellar folds, the posterior slightly bifid on its outer tip ( Fig. 6D ). Weak growth lines visible over the entire surface. Outer lip sharp, thickened internally with four pairs of denticles barely elongated, the posterior pair more pronounced. Anal sinus barely visible. Siphonal canal short, and wide. Coloration dark brown in the background (including the protoconch), with sparse lighter blurs. The columellar folds and the inner side of the outer lip lighter brown. Soft parts white with black eyes ( Fig. 24 D).

Remarks. M. mifsudi n. sp. is characterized by the small size, the flat spiral cords and the low ratio H/W (1.854–2.000). M. columbellaria ( Figs 1–4 ) can be distinguished by the finer but more pronounced spirals and the less pronounced columellar folds; furthermore, it is generally more slender (H/ W 1.980 –2.190). M. mariottinii n. sp. ( Figs 22 A–E; 23A–D; 27H) has more pronounced and more spaced apart sculpture, and a different coloration with a brown background, the suprasutural cord with white blotches, and the two adapical ones (sometimes only the most adapical) darker; furthermore it is generally more slender (H/ W 2.000 –2.321). See under M. tricolorata n. sp. ( Figs 26 A–F; 27O) for the differences with this species.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Mitromorpha columbellaria (Scacchi, 1836). A-C. Scilla, Italy, 40 m, H = 6.75 mm (AR); D. Neotype of Mitromorpha algeriana (Pallary, 1900 ex Monterosato ms), Oran, Algeria, H = 5.75 mm (MNHN, IM- 2000 - 27714); E – F. Algeria, H = 7.25 mm (MCZR, M- 21 - 17319), labelled “ Mitromorpha algeriana v. cingulosa ” (Monterosato in schedis); G – I. Neotype of Mitra. columbellaria Scacchi, Capri Is., Italy, H = 6.95 mm (MCZR, M- 21 - 17319); J – K. Holotype of Mitromorpha mediterranea Mifsud, 2001, ‘ Méditerranée’, H = 5.4 mm, (IRSN-IG 3354); L – N. Lectotype of Mitromorpha leontocroma (Brusina, 1866), H = 6.9 mm (CNHM- 2088 c); O – P. Messina, Italy, harbour 30 – 50 m, juvenile with sketch of the living animal (by Danilo Scuderi).

FIGURE 2. Mitromorpha columbellaria (Scacchi, 1836). A – C. Mitromorpha granulosa (Locard, 1886) Porquerolles, France, H = 5 mm (coll. Locard, MNHN); D – E. Mitromorpha granulosa (BDD, 1884) Tunisia, not measured (coll. Dautzenberg, MNHN); F – I. Mitromorpha major (Locard, 1886) Porquerolles, France, H = 4.7 mm, 5 mm, 5.9 mm (coll. Locard, MNHN); J – K. Mitromorpha olivoidea (Cantraine, 1835), Roussillon, France, not measured, (coll. Dautzenberg, MNHN); L – O. Mitromorpha major (Locard, 1886) Toulon, France, H = 5.4 mm, 4.8 mm, 6.2 mm, (coll. Locard, MNHN).

FIGURE 3. Mitromorpha columbellaria (Scacchi, 1836). A – C, E. Salina Is., Italy, morph D, H = 6.6 mm (BA); D. Salina Is., Italy, morph D, juv. specimen; F, G. S. Vito lo Capo, Italy, morph D, H = 5.8 mm (MCZR, M- 21 - 17319); H, I. Provence, France, morph E, H = 6.05 mm, (coll. Monterosato ex Sollier, MCZR, M- 21 - 17319); J. Portopalo di Capo Passero, Italy, H = 4.45 mm (IN); K, L. Ragusa, Italy, H = 5.85 mm, (coll. Monterosato, ex Coen, ex Brusina, MCZR, M- 21 - 17319); M, N. var. major (BDD, 1883) (var. maxima Monterosato in schedis), Oran, Algeria, H = 9.5 mm (coll. Monterosato ex Pallary MCZR, M- 21 - 17319); O. locality unknown, white specimen, H = 8 mm (MCZR, M- 21 - 17319); P. Caprera Is., Italy, 20 m, white specimen, H = 6.05 mm, (CS); Q. Portopalo di Capo Passero, Italy, white specimen, H = 4.95 mm (IN); R. Palinuro 50 m, H = 6.8 mm (SB-MS).

FIGURE 4. Mitromorpha columbellaria (Scacchi, 1836). A – B. Levanzo Is., Italy, H = 6.25 mm (IN); C – D. La Maddalena Is., Italy, H = 7.05 mm (IN); E. ‘ GG 48 ’, H = 3.6 mm (MO); F, G. Marina di Camerota, Italy, H = 3.9 mm (CS); H. Cabo de Palos, Spain, H = 5.95 mm (IN); I. Marina di Camerota, Italy, 35 m, H = 6.4 mm (CS); J – K. Anzio, Italy, H = 3.25 mm (IN); L. Mitromorpha columbellaria drawn after Philippi (1844: 195, pl. XXVII, fig. 17).

FIGURE 17. Distribution of Mitromorpha spp. based on the type material and the material examined in this work. Closed circles, Mitromorpha wilhelminae (van Aartsen, Menkhorst & Gittenberger, 1984). Grey circle, Mitromorpha alyssae n. sp. Open circles, Mitromorpha nofronii n. sp. Black box, Mitromorpha mifsudi n. sp. Open box, Mitromorpha mariottinii n. sp. Grey box, Mitromorpha cossyrae n. sp. Star, Mitromorpha tricolorata n. sp.

FIGURE 22. Mitromorpha mariottinii sp. n .. A – C, E. Holotype, Marina di Camerota, Italy, 35 m, H = 5 mm (MNHN, IM- 2000 - 27709); E. close-up of the first whorls. D. Cape Palinuro, Italy, H = 3.6 mm, juvenile (CS).

FIGURE 24. Mitromorpha mifsudi sp. n. A – C, E. Holotype, Caprera Is., Italy, H = 5.1 mm (MNHN, IM- 2000 - 27710); E: close-up of the first whorls; D. Sketch of the living animal from Caprera Is., Italy (CS).

FIGURE 26. Mitromorpha tricolorata n. sp. A – C, F. Holotype, Lampedusa Is., Italy, H = 5.7 mm (MNHN, IM- 2000 - 27713); F. close-up of the first whorls, Lampedusa Is., Italy. D. Paratype, Lampedusa Is., Italy, H = 5.85 mm (BA); E. Lampedusa Is., Italy, H = 2.9 mm, juvenile.

FIGURE 28. A – L. Mitromorpha spp. Fist whorls (SEM). A. Mitromorpha columbellaria, Marina di Camerota, Italy (CS); B. Mitromorpha olivoidea, Lampedusa Is., Italy (MO); C. Mitromorpha karpathoensis, Salina Is., Italy (BA); D. Mitromorpha wilhelminae morph A, Alboran Is., Spain (CS); E. Mitromorpha wilhelminae morph B, Alboran Is., Spain (MO); F. Mitromorpha alyssae, holotype (MNHN); G. Mitromorpha bogii, paratype, Secca delle Vedove, Italy, 200 – 300 m, (MCZR, 00080); H. Mitromorpha cossyrae, holotype (MNHN); I. Mitromorpha mariottinii, holotype (MNHN); J. Mitromorpha mifsudi, olotipo (MNHN); K. Mitromorpha nofronii, holotype (MNHN); L. Mitromorpha tricolorata, holotype (MNHN). Scale bars: 100 µm.

FIGURE 6. A – D. A – C— Mitromorpha columbellaria (Scacchi, 1836), (SEM), Torre San Giovanni, Apulia, Italy (MO). D, schematic drawing of the posterior columellar fold. Scale bar: 500 µm (A, B), 100 µm (C).