Natica, Scopoli, 1777

Simone, Luiz Ricardo L., 2014, Taxonomic study on the molluscs collected during the Marion-Dufresne expedition (MD 55) off SE Brazil: the Naticidae (Mollusca: Caenogastropoda), Zoosystema 36 (3), pp. 563-593 : 586

Natica (ss) sp. (an operculum)

( Fig. 10C, D )

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Brazil, Espírito Santo: off Itaúnas , 18°59’S, 37°50’W, 295 m, MNHN, 1 operculum ( MD55 sta. DC75 ; coll. Bouchet, Leal & Métivier, 27.V.1987) .

REMARKS

An operculum was collected (14.4 × 8.3 mm), and its analysis shown that it does not belong to anyone of the known species in Brazilian coast and neighborhood. It barely resembles the operculum of Natica ss, as that of N. vitellus (Linnaeus, 1758) , the type species of the genus, has an elaborated set of folds in outer edge ( Fig. 10C ), and is relative smooth in remaining regions. The erosion of its inner surface, which lacks the usual organic matrix that normally covers it ( Fig. 10D ), shows a certain degree of transportation or long time after death. The relative good preservation allows the deduction that the enigmatic species occurs in the region. Because of the obvious incompleteness of data, a formal description of the species is here considered premature.

Figures

FIG. 10. — Shells and operculum of MD55 naticid species; A, B, Natica juani Costa & Pastorino, 2012, shell MNNH (sta. DC82): A, dorsal view; B, apertural view; C, D, collected isolated operculum of a Natica ss; C, outer view; D, inner view; E-K, Eunaticina abyssalis n. sp. holotype: E, frontal view; F, dorsal view; G, apical view; H, umbilical view;I, detail of apex; J, protoconch, apical view; K, detail of superficial sculpture in middle level of body whorl. Measurements: A, B, W 3.0 mm; C, D, 14.4 × 8.3 mm; E-H, W 26.6 mm; I, K, 1.0 mm; J, 1.6 mm.