Revision of the genus Turris Batsch, 1789 (Gastropoda: Conoidea: Turridae) with the description of six new species Author Kilburn, Richard N. Author Fedosov, Alexander E. Author Olivera, Baldomero M. text Zootaxa 2012 2012-03-22 3244 1 1 58 https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3244.1.1 journal article 10.11646/zootaxa.3244.1.1 20d1b63e-e569-489f-8e0a-165ae81b3204 1175-5326 246329 Turris ambages Barnard, 1958 Plate 2 , figs A–D Turris ambages Barnard, 1958: 148 , fig. 231; Powell 1964: 337 ; Barnard 1969: 604 , figs 3a, b; Kensley 1973: 202 , fig. 798; Kilburn 1983: 556 , figs 2 (protoconch), 19–20 ( holotype ), 21. Type locality (designated Kilburn 1983 ): off O'Neil [Neill or Cunge] Peak, Zululand, 90 fath. [ 165 m ]. DESCRIPTION: Shell medium-sized, b/l 0.29–0.31, a/l 0.30–0.45, suture relatively shallow, whorls gently convex, last whorl with a basal angle, subsutural cord low, usually shallowly bifid, weakly crenulate or finely pliculate, slightly weaker than sinus cord, sulcus deeply and narrowly channelled; sinus cord on shoulder, bearing a series of low, lunulate crenules or nodules (when fresh each with an oblique basal “tail”); anterior to sinus cord is a prominent, rounded peripheral cord, with sloping sides, and a weaker basal cord. Base of last whorl with wellspaced spiral cords and ridges, upper ones often coarsely nodose, becoming progressively weaker anteriorly, intermediary lirae few or absent. Anal sinus openly U-shaped and relatively shallow. PLATE 2. Turris ambages Barnard, 1958 : A , B —S-E of Illovo, southern Natal , 90 m , NMSA D4090, 43.6 x 12.2 mm ; C , D —off Phumula, southern Natal , 44 m , NMSA W7420, 51.2 x 16.5 mm . Yellowish-white, with irregular axial streaks and blotches of brownish-orange, particularly between the crenules. Protoconch papilliform, of ca 2.5 whorls, the initial one blunt and relatively large; smooth with arcuate axial riblets near termination; diameter ca 1.25 mm . Attains 50 mm . DISTRIBUTION: Continental shelf and upper slope of KwaZulu-Natal and southern Mozambique , from Quissico south as far as the Natal /Transkei border, in about 38–165 metres, in sand pockets on low profile sandstone reefs.\ TYPES: Holotype SAMC A8685 . OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED (all NMSA , dredged RK et al. , unless indicated otherwise): ZULULAND: S.E. of Durnford Point, 95 m , sponge rubble (E8611, E8434) and 100 m , mud and sponge rubble (E8634) . S.E. of Cape Vidal, 110 m , sponge rubble (E4924) . NATAL NORTH COAST: off Tongaat Bluff, 85 m , coarse sand (E9871) . NATAL SOUTH COAST: off Umlaas Canal, 128 m (B6310, B7938), and 135 m (B7939); dredged A. Connell ; N.E.. of Green Point, 75 m , coarse sand and rubble (D3978) , S.E. of Green Point, 100 m , fine sand and rubble (D3981) ; between Green Point and Widenham, 70 m , coarse sand and sponge (D3524) ; off Phumula, southern Natal, 44 m ( NMSA W7420) ; off Scottburgh, 100 m , (B3478: dredged A. Connell) ; off Park Rynie, 100 m , coral rubble (W400) . TRANSKEI: beach drift between Mzamba and Mtentu Rivers, don. J. Stannard (E6014) . REMARKS: This uncommon south-east African endemic somewhat resembles T. ruthae and T. brevicanalis in its more or less crenulated sinus cord. T. ambages and T. ruthae are compared below. T . brevicanalis has more evenly convex whorls with more numerous, less close-set spiral ridges, of which the peripheral one is relatively weaker than in T. ambages .