Taxonomic review of tropical western Atlantic shallow water Drilliidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Conoidea) including descriptions of 100 new species
Author
Fallon, Phillip J.
text
Zootaxa
2016
4090
1
1
363
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.4090.1.1
e6b35f5a-435e-4473-b29e-1e4d842f84b0
1175-5326
263299
203BAC25-B542-48FE-B5AD-EBA8C0285833
Cerodrillia minima
,
new species
(
Plate 29
)
Type
material.
Holotype
4.9 x
2.3 mm
, ex coll. H.G. Lee (UF 496651); a total of 18
paratypes
: 5 from the
type
locality (all
types
E. García! aboard R/V
Pelican
,
16 Jun 2005
): 5.2 x 2.3, 6.0 x 2.4, 6.0 x 2.4, 5.6 x
2.5 mm
, ex coll. H.G. Lee (UF 496652), & 5.3 x
2.3 mm
(EFG 26620A); 9 spec., 5.7 x 2.4, 5.4 x 2.3, 5.3 x
2.4 mm
(USNM 1291331), 5.7 x 2.5, 5.4 x 2.4, 4.5 x
2.1 mm
(ANSP 464984), 5.9 x 2.5, 6.0 x 2.5 & 5.5 x
2.3 mm
(EFG 26619A), in
73–77 mm
, approximately
53 km
SW of
Arcas
Cays, Campeche Bank,
20°00.35'N
,
092°26.10'W
, E. García! aboard R/V
Pelican
,
11 Jun 2005
; 4 spec., 6.0 x 2.5, 5.7 x 2.6, 5.2 x 2.3 & 4.9 x
2.3 mm
, in
77–81 m
,
16 km
SW of
Triángulos
Reefs, Campeche Bank,
20°52.40'N
,
092°24.83'W
, E. García! aboard R/V
Pelican
,
10 Jun 2005
(EFG 26617A).
Type
locality.
NW of Arenas Cay, outer Campeche Bank (off Yucatan State),
Mexico
,
22°16.28'N
,
091°30.42'W
, in
107–
108 m
.
Range and habitat.
Mexico
(Outer Campeche Bank: SW of
Arcas
Cays; SW of
Triángulos
Reefs; NW of Arenas Cay). Reported from on mud at
77–
108 m
.
Description.
Shell
very small (to 6.0 mm), fusiform, mostly translucent, of 6.5–7 convex whorls, the last comprises an average of 60% of total shell length.
Protoconch
1¾–2 smooth regularly expanding translucent whorls, the first partially imbedded in the second, producing a blunt apex.
Axial sculpture
of strong ribs, 9–12 on penultimate, 8–12 on last to varix, curved, running suture-to-suture, sigmoid on base and evanesce at anterior fasciole; round in axial profile with no change in sulcal area. Rib crests ridged in cross section. Very fine growth striae present over entire shell.
Varix
positioned behind anal sinus, cup-handle-like.
Spiral sculpture
limited to a few (1–5) spaced spiral threads on base, and indistinct ridges on anterior fasciole.
Anal sinus
moderately deep, wide, edges slightly divergent; set off a short distance from the suture.
Sulcus
indistinct; ribs little changed.
Outer lip
thin, jutting outward from the base of the varix, without strengthening ribs; edge forms a low arc from and congruent with the anal sinus to the anterior canal; stromboid notch not seen in examined specimens.
Inner lip
erect on canal, thin and unemarginate, or only faintly so on parietal wall, a low callus present at suture.
Anterior canal
long for the genus, straight, unnotched; anterior fasciole not swollen.
Color
a uniform light golden brown, protoconch and aperture lighter.
Remarks.
Taxonomy
.
Cerodrillia minima
has all the characteristics that define the genus: ribs that extend from suture-to-suture with little change in the sulcal area, a cup-handle-like varix behind the anal sinus, ¼-turn from the edge of the lip, an anal sinus spout-like, and spiral microsculpture restricted to the shell base. It is unique for the relatively long anterior canal and its small size.
Variability.
The 19 examined shells have an average length of
5.48 mm
(4.5–6.0 mm); their average W/
L ratio
average is 0.436.
Identification.
Cerodrillia minima
is not easily confused with its congeners; however, its small size, color, and habitat are similar to
Syntomodrillia triangulos
,
new species
, and
Syntomodrillia mellea
,
new species
. These latter species differ in possessing ribs that “sag” such that the whorl peripheries are below mid-whorl, their varix is not cup-handle-like and is located further away from the edge of the outer lip, and in possessing a narrower aperture with a spout-like anal sinus.
Etymology.
The Smallest
Cerodrillia
. From the Latin
minima
, feminine form of the adjective
minimus
, meaning smallest.