Lophiotoma brevicaudata, (REEVE, 1843)

LOPHIOTOMA BREVICAUDATA ( REEVE, 1843) View in CoL

( FIG. 9 A, B)

Pleurotoma brevicaudata Reeve, 1843 View in CoL (in 1843–1846): pl. 15, fig. 126.

Lophiotoma brevicaudata View in CoL – Powell, 1964: 406.

Type material: Lectotype and two paralectotypes in the NHMUK [designated by Powell (1964)] (not illustrated).

Type locality: Ticao Island , Philippines, H. Cuming collection .

Diagnosis: Shell small, turriform, with prominent spiral sculpture; spire coloured light-brown or tan, siphonal canal dark-brown. Whorl outline indistinctly convex, as subsutural cord separated from succeeding cords by wide and deep depression. Sinus cord wide, composed of two ridges with rather shallow interspace, followed by two cords on whorl’s base. Interspaces between cords sculptured by fine treads. Shell base convex, constricted to rather slender siphonal canal, sculptured with dense spiral to oblique cords. Aperture elongate, anal sinus moderately deep, wide, angulated at tip. Outer aperture lip with white callus, distinctly lirate within.

Remarks: Lophiotoma brevicaudata is one of the easily recognizable species, primarily because of its characteristic colour pattern with tan or light brown background colour, and dark siphonal canal. Crests of spiral ridges are sometimes dark-brown as well. In particular, rather monotonous coloration of the spire readily sets L. brevicaudata apart from the most closely related L. abbreviata . At the same time, L. brevicaudata is notably lighter, and in maturity smaller than L. polytropa . In addition to colour pattern, a rather short siphonal canal, as compared to L. acuta , L. jickelii , L. vezzaroi , L. semfala sp. nov. and L. kina sp. nov., allows rather straightforward identification of L. brevicaudata among congeners. The radula was examined in one sequenced specimen from Vanuatu ( Fig. 5D). The radula is very similar to other congeners, with duplex marginal teeth. The anterior (inner) half is solid, narrowly lanceolate, dorso-ventrally compressed with sharp lateral cutting edges. In the posterior half the major and accessory limbs bifurcate at an angle of about 45°, rather thin. The central formation was not studied due to radula preparation.

Distribution: Confirmed distribution of the species (based on sequenced specimens) is from Philippines to Vanuatu. According to MNHN material, also New Caledonia.