Evolution of Janthina and Recluzia (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Epitoniidae)
Author
Beu, Alan G.
text
Records of the Australian Museum
2017
Rec. Aust. Mus.
2017-08-23
69
3
119
222
http://dx.doi.org/10.3853/j.2201-4349.69.2017.1666
journal article
228171
10.3853/j.2201-4349.69.2017.1666
d63960a1-e0c5-4b97-8e7d-f8be80d376d6
2201-4349
4677010
08B086EB-8D24-4FD0-975A-E045E2596BF1
Recluzia lutea
(
Bennett, 1840
)
Figs 2S–T
,
36E–H, K–P
, 37
Janthina lutea
Bennett, 1840: 298
(refers to description by
Bennett, 1840: 63
).
Janthina turrita
“von dem Busch
”
Philippi, 1849: 15
; H. Adams & A.Adams, 1854: 87;
Mörch, 1860: 284
;
Tryon, 1887: 39
.
Recluzia jehennei
Petit de la Saussaye, 1853: 118
, pl. 5, fig. 3; H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854: 87;
Mörch, 1860: 283
;
Küster, 1868: 11
, pl. 1, fig. 15;
Tryon, 1887: 39
, pl. 10, fig. 28;
Smith, 1910: 202
; Fisher-Piette, 1950: 14;
Bosch
et al
., 1995: 111
, fig. 443.
Recluzia rollandiana
Petit de la Saussaye, 1853: 119
, pl. 5, fig. 2; H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854: 87, pl. 69, fig. 2;
Chenu, 1859: 119
, fig. 520;
Mörch, 1860: 284
;
Küster, 1868: 12
, pl. 1, fig. 14;
Tryon, 1887: 38
, pl. 10, figs 25–27;
Abbott, 1963: 151
;
Habe, 1964: 48
, pl. 14, fig. 7; Habe & Kosuge, 1966: 102, pl. 40, fig. 10;
Bennett, 1966: 43
, pl. 11, fig. 1;
Abbott, 1968: 92
, fig. 4;
Cernohorsky, 1972: 198
, pl. 56, fig. 11;
Abbott, 1974: 113
, fig. 1182;
Powell, 1976: 107
;
Powell, 1979: 254
, pl. 48, fig. 23;
Colman, 1986: 3
, text-fig.;
Rios, 1994: 102
, pl. 33, fig. 417; Spencer & Willan, 1996: 24;
Smith, 1998: 813
, fig. 15.151B;
Spencer
et al
., 2009: 206
; Raven & Bracegirdle, 2010: 28, text-fig.
Ianthina lutea
Bennett.
–
Benson, 1860: 413
.
Recluzia bensoni
A. Adams, 1861: 402
;
Yen, 1942: 219
, pl. 19, fig. 122;
Tryon, 1887: 39
.
Recluzia montrouzieri
Souverbie, 1871: 334
;
Souverbie, 1872: 20
: 57
, pl. 1, fig. 8; Habe & Tokioka, 1953: 57, fig. 12.
Lymnaea
?
palmeri
Dall, 1871: 135
.
Recluzia globosa
E.A.
Smith, 1876: 551
, pl. 30, fig. 8;
Tryon, 1887: 39
, pl. 10, fig. 29.
Recluzia rollandiana
var. β
annamitica
Wattebled, 1886: 67
, pl. 3, figs 4a–b;
Tryon, 1887: 38
, pl. 10, fig. 26.
Recluzia lutea
(Bennett)
.–
Oliver, 1915: 525
;
Hedley, 1918
: M62;
Powell, 1924: 285
;
Powell, 1937: 74
;
Powell, 1946: 77
;
Powell, 1957: 98
;
Powell, 1962: 91
;
Rehder, 1980: 53
, pl. 7, fig. 6;
Boone, 1984: 8
;
Higo
et al
., 1999: 174
;
Okutani, 2000: 319
, pl. 158, fig. 5;
Poppe, 2008: 722
, pl. 306, fig. 2.
Recluzia palmeri
(Dall)
.–
Dall, 1925: 25
, pl. 17, fig. 8;
Keen, 1971: 443
, fig. 690;
Abbott, 1974: 114
; Abbott & Dance, 1982: 70, bottom right fig.;
Poorman, 1980: 183
.
Recluzia effusa
“Martens
”
Thiele, 1928: 78
, footnote, fig. 2 (shell not illustrated).
Recluzia hargravesi
Cox.
–
Allan, 1950: 95
, text-fig. 22.6;
Wilson, 1993: 281
, pl. 44, figs 35A–B (misidentification as
R. johnii
Holten, 1802
).
Recluzia rollandiana bensoni
A.Adams.
–
Kuroda
et al
., 1971: 245
, pl. 62, fig. 16.
Recluzia
cf.
jehennei
Petit.
–
Churchill
et al
., 2011a: 802
, fig. 1 (upper);
Churchill
et al.
, 2011b: 441
, figs 1A–F.
Type material
. No type material of
Janthina lutea
is present in any museums the writer has consulted, and there is nothing in
Bennett’s (1840)
work to indicate that he retained any specimens.
Bennett’s (1840: 63)
description stated merely that this is an elongate, yellow species of
Janthina
with narrower whorls than
J. janthina
; a
neotype
therefore is required to associate this name unambiguously with the present
Recluzia
species. The type locality is
2°53'S
174°55'E
(
Bennett, 1840: 62
), a short distance southwest of the
Phoenix Islands
,
Kiribati
, central western Pacific Ocean. However, as
Recluzia lutea
is pelagic and almost cosmopolitan, occurring in all world tropical and temperate seas, selection of a
neotype
from near the original type locality seems unimportant in this case, particularly as almost no material from the central Pacific has been observed by the writer.
The writer also has been unable to trace any type material of
Janthina turrita
. Little that is diagnostic is available for this species, but the name “turrita” suggests that it applies to a
Recluzia
species rather than to
Janthina
, and the dimensions (H 14.5, D
10 mm
) rule out a position in
Janthina
. The name was not illustrated and has been referred to again only by
Tryon (1887: 39)
, who listed it among inadequately known species. The original description stated that the shell is fusiform, turreted, dark, smooth, with well-rounded whorls, deep sutures, and a short spire. The outer lip is straight and recedes strongly. The upper whorl surface is blue, and the base is pale reddish shading to rust red. The locality is unknown. Apart from the mysteries of the receding (incomplete?) lip and the colour, there seems to be little else this could refer to other than a
Recluzia
species. The late Dr Rudolf Kilias informed the writer that Dr Gerhard von dem Busch was a physician in
Bremen
. Enquiry at Übersee Museum
Bremen
revealed that von dem Busch’s collection is indeed located there.
Janthina turrita
is listed in von dem Busch’s manuscript catalogue with the locality “Adelaide”. However, the specimen is not present (T. Kruckow, Übersee Museum
Bremen
pers. comm.
05 Mar 1975
), presumably because it was sent to Philippi. The writer has also been informed by N. Bahamonde (Museo Nacional de Historia Natural,
Santiago
, pers. comm.
25 Mar 1975
) that no material identified as
Janthina turrita
is present there in Philippi’s collection. C. Zorn (
ZMB
pers. comm.
30 Jan 2016
) has also informed the writer that no material bearing this name is present in ZMB. Therefore, this name also requires a
neotype
.
Recluzia jehennei
, one figured
syntype
MNHN25667 (
Figs 36F, G
), listed by Fisher-Piette (1950: 14) as the
holotype
; “this shell was found in the open ocean, in the Gulf of Arabia, by Commandant Jehenne” (translation from
Petit de la Saussaye, 1853: 119
).
Recluzia rollandiana
, no type material present in MNHN. The description by
Petit de la Saussaye (1853: 120)
indicated that the specimen remained “belonging to M Rolland de Roquan”, and so presumably is long lost; from “environs de Mazatlan” (“later identified as actually from
New Caledonia
”;
Keen 1971: 903
). The remaining
syntype
of
Recluzia jehennei
,
MNHN25667 (
Figs 36F, G
) is here designated the
neotype
of
Janthina lutea
Bennett, 1840
, the
neotype
of
Janthina turrita
Philippi, 1849
and the
neotype
of
Recluzia rollandiana
Petit de la Saussaye, 1853
, to refer these names unambiguously to the present species rather than to
R. johnii
.
Recluzia bensoni
,
holotype
NHMUK1878.1.28.394, labelled “
China
Sea, R. Benson”, a small, narrow, juvenile specimen of
Recluzia lutea
, illustrated by
Yen (1942: 219
, pl. 20, fig. 122). Yen’s illustration suggests that
R. bensoni
is possibly part of the variation of
R. johnii
, but the dimensions plot at the base of the field of
R. lutea
in
Fig. 34
.
Recluzia montrouzieri
, one specimen in MNHN presented by the author was formerly considered to be a
syntype
but, as with
Janthina capreolata
, the type material was stated by
Souverbie (1871)
to be in MHNB, and the MNHN specimen is not a type; two
syntypes
MHNB2004.TY.163, from Art Island,
New Caledonia
; photograph of
syntypes
sent by Laurent Charles, MHNB and Virginie Héros, MNHN (pers. comm.
21 Sep 2012
).
Lymnaea palmeri
,
holotype
USNM56411 (
Dall, 1925: 25
, pl. 17, fig. 8), from the delta of the Taqui River, near Guaymas,
Mexico
, head of the Gulf of California. Abbott & Dance (1982: 70, bottom right fig.) illustrated the
holotype
of
Lymnaea palmeri
clearly. This specimen agrees in shape with that of the taller specimens of
Recluzia lutea
, but its original stated dimensions placed it within the field of
R. johnii
in
Fig. 34
. The photographs (
Figs 36E, H
) sent by E. Strong (USNM pers. comm.
20 Sep 2012
) show that the stated dimensions (
Keen, 1971: 443
) were probably inaccurate, but they have been retained in
Table 13
and
Fig. 35
. The overall appearance is accepted here as confirming that
R. palmeri
is a synonym of
R. lutea
.
Recluzia globosa
,
holotype
NHMUK1876.1.10.119, labelled “Tarawa, Gilbert Group, received from John Brazier Esq. per Mr Henry Adams”, another small, very short specimen. All small specimens of
R. lutea
are very short compared with adults, and the dimensions of the
holotype
fall within the range of variation of
R. lutea
(
Fig. 35
).
Recluzia rollandiana
var.
annamitica
, two
syntypes
MNHN25668 (one in
Figs 36K–L
), from beach at Thuan-an, near Hué,
Vietnam
.
Recluzia effusa
holotype
ZMB/Moll-13704 (E. Strong, USNM, pers. comm.
20 Sep 2012
), not seen; from “chinesischen See”. The status of this name is not clear, as the shell is poorly preserved, but it is assumed here to be a further synonym of the more common
Recluzia
species.
Other material examined
. Present-day specimens from Australia and New Zealand:
Australia
:
New South Wales
:
Dingo Beach, Cape Gloucester (
AMS
); Catherine Hill Bay (
AMS
C11333); Port Macquarie (
NMV
); Collaroy Beach, Sydney (
AMS
); Cronulla, S of Sydney (
AMS
C75719).
Queensland
:
Michaelmas Cay, off Cairns (
AMS
C53537); King’s Beach, Caloundra (
NMV
,
AMS
); Lady Elliott I. (
AMS
C69170).
Tasmania
:
Black Rocks, Richmond River (
AMS
C76081).
Kermadec Islands:
Raoul I. (
SAMA
;
AMS
C36656;
GNS
WM5654, 1;
NMNZ
M202865,5; M202866, 1; M200986, 3; M202867, 1; M214384,20).
New Zealand
:
Twilight Beach
,
Cape Reinga
(
NMNZ
M100807
,
2
); N end of
Ninety Mile Beach
(
NMNZ
M117600
,
6
; M117826, 7); S of
Scott Pt.
,
Ninety Mile Beach
(
NMNZ
M117256
,
20
); S of the
Bluff
,
Ninety Mile Beach
(
NMNZ
M277745
,
3
);
Great Exhibition Bay
,
Mar 1998
(
GNS
RM6748
,
4
;
NMNZ
M155930
,
59
;
P. Poortman
colln., 20);
Rarawa
,
Great Exhibition Bay
(
NMNZ
M081519
,
1
);
Taupiri Bay
,
N of Whangarei
(
NMNZ
M081518
,
26
);
Laings Beach
,
Mangawai
,
Hauraki Gulf
(
AWM
);
Mangawai Heads
(
NMNZ
M277744
,
1
);
Tryphena
,
Great Barrier Island
(
Powell 1924: 285
; in
AWM
);
Whangamata
,
Bay of Plenty
(
AWM
).
Figure 37.
Recluzia lutea
(Bennett)
, NMNZ M081518, small specimens and larval shells; beach, Taupiri Bay, Northland, New Zealand; SEM.
(A–B)
apical views of shell and protoconch.
(C–D
,
G)
apertural view of incomplete specimen with 10 larval shells attached to dried float material; C, lateral view of protoconch of large specimen; D, whole shell; G, larval shell attached by dried float material to large specimen below its protoconch.
(E–F)
third specimen, lateral views of shell and protoconch. Scale bars: A, D, E, 1 mm; B, F, 200 µm; C, G, 300 µm.
Distribution
.
Recluzia lutea
occurs uncommonly throughout the world tropical and temperate ocean, but its limits are very poorly known. Large rafts of specimens are cast ashore in some locations, but much less frequently than for all
Janthina
species. In
New Zealand
,
R. lutea
is recorded only from the northeastern North Island warm-water region, in eastern
Northland
and the
Bay of Plenty
, as far southeast as Waihau Bay, easternmost
Bay of Plenty
. Much the largest lots have been seen from Great Exhibition Bay and Ninety Mile Beach in the northernmost North Island, where specimens are sometimes cast ashore in large numbers after unusually persistent onshore winds.
Thompson (1991)
gave a popular account of wash-ups of “about three hundred” specimens during Easter 1991 at Cape Maria van Diemen and Great Exhibition Bay, northernmost North Island. Large numbers of specimens also are cast shore from time to time all around eastern, northern and Western Australia. Specimens are also recorded from throughout the Indo-West Pacific province as far north as central
Japan
, in the Red Sea, and rarely in the eastern Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean.
Dimensions
. See
Table 13
.
Diagnosis
. Moderate-sized (H to 36, D to
22 mm
), larger than
Janthina exigua
and
J. umbilicata
but smaller than all other
Janthina
species and
Recluzia johnii
; taller and narrower than all
Janthina
species, but shorter and wider than
R. johnii
; mean height: diameter 1.44, mean diameter: spire height 1.51. Teleoconch of 4.5–5.5 whorls; whorls strongly and evenly inflated, of almost circular cross-section, wider than in
R. johnii
; suture deeply impressed; without obvious sculpture. Aperture slightly flared anteriorly in many large specimens. Lays smooth, narrow, cylindrical to weakly clubshaped, yellow egg capsules on underside of float.
Remarks
.
Recluzia lutea
is superficially smooth and lightly polished when the periostracum is removed, but most specimens are found with the thin, pale brown, matt periostracum still at least partly adhering.
Recluzia lutea
has strongly and evenly inflated whorls and a much more deeply impressed suture than in any
Janthina
species. Weak axial and spiral grooves and ridges occur on many specimens, varying individually. The outer lip is vertical and straight, i.e., with no sinus in the lip, and the inner lip is narrowly but variably reflected over the narrow umbilicus.
Bennett’s (1840)
description of
Janthina lutea
is quite adequate to make this name available, although which species he had is not determinable from the description.
Bennett (1840: 298)
stated “In the course of the narrative I have had occasion to mention a yellow and very rare species of this genus [
Janthina
]: and for which I would propose the name
Janthina lutea
”. This is a reference to his earlier description (
Bennett, 1840: 63
): “One species of this family, which I obtained here, was new to me: and is certainly very rare: its shell was yellow: rather smaller and more elongated than
J. communis
[i.e.,
J. janthina
]; and the whirl more prominent and spiral. The contained animal was also of a yellow colour: but in the form of the float and other respects, it closely resembled the ordinary blue shelled species”. The
neotype
designated here establishes that this name applies to the shorter
Recluzia
species identified here as
Recluzia lutea
.
Bennett (1834)
earlier described a specimen of
Janthina
captured at sea at
0°14'S
20°07'W
, NW of
Ascension Island
, central Atlantic Ocean, but did not mention the “yellow species”.
Petit de la Saussaye (1853: 118–119
, pl. 5, figs 2–3) named two short-spired species of
Recluzia
, distinguishing the two by
R. rollandiana
having more inflated whorls, a more deeply impressed suture, and more pronounced spiral striae than
R. jehennei
. However, his illustrated shells are both well within the range of variation of
R. lutea
. A. Adams (1861) provided no dimensions or illustration of
Recluzia bensoni
, but the
holotype
was illustrated by
Yen (1942
: pl. 19, fig. 122). The illustration and examination of the
holotype
(NHMUK1878.1.28.394) demonstrate that this is a very small, narrow specimen of
R. lutea
.
Souverbie’s (1872
: pl. 1, fig. 8) illustration of a
syntype
and examination of the
syntypes
of
R. montrouzieri
demonstrate that this also is indistinguishable from the
holotype
of
R. rollandiana
, and falls within the variation of
R. lutea
.
Wattebled’s (1886
: pl. 3, fig. 4) illustration of a
syntype
and examination of the
syntypes
of
Recluzia rollandiana
var.
annamitica
show that this also is closely similar to the type material of
R. rollandiana
and
R. jehennei
, and again is part of the variation of
R. lutea
. Four specimens (
Figs 36M–P
) from the same sample from Great Exhibition Bay,
Northland
,
New Zealand
, are illustrated to show the range of variation of
R. lutea
, although they do not include the most extreme specimens observed. The specimen in
Fig. 2S–T
is from the same sample.
A collection of specimens of
Recluzia lutea
cast ashore on the beach at Taupiri Bay,
Northland
,
New Zealand
(NMNZ M081518, collected by A. Allo,
24 Mar 1982
; 12 moderate-sized to large shells plus 14 small juveniles) consists of specimens ranging in height from
29.4 mm
to larval shells. Some of these were studied by SEM (
Figs 37A–G
). All specimens less than c.
13 mm
high are short and wide and closely resemble
Alexania natalensis
and the
holotype
of
R. globosa
in all characters. Several have dried floats attached, each now forming a thin, dark brown, rigid, irregular mass. Several larval shells were incorporated in the float material of some of the moderate-sized specimens (some now separated). One small shell has 10 larval shells attached to the exterior of its teleoconch by dried float material (
Figs 37C–D, G
). These confirm statements by
Colman (1986)
and
Churchill
et al
. (2011a)
that juveniles of
R. lutea
, including recently metamorphosed larval shells, live attached to the floats of adults. Also, a photograph of a living specimen of
R. lutea
published on a web page (
Churchill
et al
., 2011b
: figs 1A–B;
Riek, 2017
;
Fig. 6C
) clearly shows a relatively large juvenile specimen of
R. lutea
on the float of an adult female, lying between the float and the foot. The protoconch in the specimens studied by SEM, although very similar to that of
Janthina
species, with very similar sculpture and an identical protoconch 1, is shorter and has a protoconch 2 of only 2.2 whorls, rather than 3.2 whorls in the
Janthina
species available for study. However, the significance of this apparent distinction is uncertain, in view of the lack of knowledge of the number of protoconch whorls in
J. pallida
.