New species of Gregorioiscala and Opalia (Caenogastropoda: Epitoniidae) in the Western Atlantic: a case of republication
Author
Lima, Silvio Felipe Barbosa
Author
Christoffersen, Martin Lindsey
text
Zootaxa
2014
3835
3
392
396
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.3835.3.9
4d935775-dfc1-43a6-8b08-9c14a902ac69
1175-5326
228287
5A6FCB87-F1EE-4C8C-A7EC-ACF4A686BB39
Gregorioiscala pimentai
n. sp.
Type
material.
Holotype
,
MNRJ
18.306 (
Fig. 1
).
Type
locality and distribution.
continental slope of the state of Alagoas (northeastern
Brazil
), 'Natureza',
10°06'35'' S
,
35°46'41'' W
,
720 m
,
16.xii.2001
.
Description.
Shell whitish, small (
3.4 mm
long), strong, thick, conical. Protoconch with about 2 moderately convex whorls, sculptured with microscopic pits. Spire moderately high. Suture rather deep. Teleoconch with about 6 constricted whorls; whorls strongly convex, irregular in outline; surface covered by intritacalx densely sculptured with microscopic pits in square pattern. Axial sculpture with strong, moderately thick, rather high, rounded, prosocline, widely spaced ribs that do not form crenulations in subsutural region. Last whorl sculptured with 10 to 14 axial ribs, faint on basal ridge, weakly invading basal disc. Base delimited by slight ridge (resembling a keel). Basal disc strongly flattened, large, sculptured with microscopic pits, very weak axial ribs and prominent spiral rib at periphery of inner lip; intersection of axial and spiral rib(s) forming slight nodules. Aperture rounded; peristome thickened, double. Outer lip thickened by projection of axial rib. Umbilicus becoming very narrow, chinked.
FIGURE 1.
Gregorioiscala pimentai
n. sp.
, holotype, MNRJ 18.306. A, ventral view; B, view of body whorl; C, protoconch – lateral view; D, teleoconch – detail of sculpture. Scale bars: A. 300 µm, B. 200 µm, C–D. 100 µm.
Etymology.
In homage to Dr. Alexandre D. Pimenta (MNRJ) for his initiative in reviewing the epitoniids and nystiellids of the Brazilian coast.
Remarks.
Gregorioiscala pimentai
n. sp.
resembles
G. annectens
(
Powell, 1951
)
described from the
Falkland Islands
in having a similar shell shape, teleoconch whorls with an irregular outline and a well-developed basal ridge. The new species differs clearly from
G. annectens
in having prominent axial ribs on all teleoconch whorls, a slight basal ridge and basal disc ornamented with pits and ribs.
Powell (1951: 115, pl. 7, fig. 23)
and
Weil
et al
. (1999
: 24, fig. 53) characterized
G. annectens
by the presence of obsolete axial ribs, mainly on the last teleoconch whorls, and a strong basal ridge. Furthermore, basal disc of
G. annectens
is not sculptured with spiral or axial ribs, as observed in
G. pimentai
n. sp.
The irregular outline of the teleoconch whorls and strong, widely spaced axial ribs of
Gregorioiscala pimentai
n. sp.
are similar to those found on
G. pachya
(Locard, 1897)
from southwest Europe and the Azores. However, the shell of
G. pimentai
n. sp.
has a conical shape that is clearly smaller in total length, a smaller number of teleoconch whorls (about 6) and axial ribs with equal strength on all teleoconch whorls in comparison to
G. pachya
.
Bouchet & Warén (1986
: 544–545, figs.
1254–1255
) and
Weil
et al
. (1999
: 42, fig. 113) characterized
G. pachya
as having a total length reaching about
33 mm
, a very solid, heavy teleoconch sculptured with broad axial ribs that are sometimes thickened into varices. Furthermore,
G. pimentai
n. sp.
has a straight columellar axis and thickened peristome, while
G. pachya
has a curved columellar axis and very thickened peristome, mainly on the region of the outer lip.