Bellaspira pentagonalis Dall 1889
Creators: name: Fallon, Phillip J.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Mollusca
Gastropoda
Neogastropoda
Drilliidae
Bellaspira
Bellaspira pentagonalis

description: Bellaspira pentagonalis (Dall, 1889)
(Plates 11, 12)
Drillia pagodula var. pentagonalis Dall, 1889a: 90: Dall (1889b: 98–99).
Clathrodrillia pentagonalis (Dall, 1889): Perry et al. (1938: 27).
Bellaspira (?) pentapleura Schwengel, 1940b: 52, is a synonym according to McLean & Poorman (1970: 4). The type locality is off Palm Beach, Florida in 45 fms.
Bellaspira pentagonalis (Dall, 1889): McLean & Poorman (1970: 4, figs. 4, 5); Abbott (1974: 276; sp. 3128); Turgeon et al. (1988: 96); Turgeon et al. (1998: 102); Lyons (1998: 27); Williams (2005; 2009: 1513); García (2007: 8).
Not this species or unconfirmed extralimital reports.
Bellaspira pentagonalis (Dall, 1889): Sander & Lalli (1982: Tables 1 & 4 [Barbados = B. barbadensis, n. sp.]); Rios (2009: 309, fig. 781 [Amapá, Brazil. No photographs of the referenced specimens were included, so their reports could not be confirmed.]) García & Lee (2004: 22; fig. 57 [Louisiana; needs verification, poss.= B. aurantiaca, n. sp.]). Bellaspira aff. pentagonalis (Dall, 1889): Rios (1994: 160, pl. 53, fig. 714 [Amapá, Brazil]).
Type material. Dall states in his original description that there are “two similar specimens” of his Drillia pagodula pentagonalis, presently cataloged as syntypes, one each in USNM 93000 and USNM 679297. The one in USNM 93000 was erroneously stated by McLean & Poorman (1970) as a holotype. Since Dall did not designate a single type from among the two specimens in the original publication, the inference of a holotype was an error (ICZN 2000 Article 74.5). The specimen in USNM 93000 is herein declared the lectotype. It is the larger and best preserved of the two. Sizes are 6.9 x 3.0 mm (lectotype) and 5.5 x 2.9 mm (paralectotype in USNM 679297).
The number of types of Bellaspira pentapleura Schwengel, 1940 is uncertain. Schwengel mentions the existence of “several” specimens dredged by T.L. McGingy in 45 fms off Palm Beach and states the “ type ” lot catalog number is ANSP 176450. This lot has two specimens, so an inference of a holotype, or paratype cannot be made. Instead these and possibly other lots comprise a series of syntypes. Several other lots were dredged by T.L McGingy from 45 fms and are variously labeled as “ types ” or “ paratypes ” but their type status is uncertain because dates of collection are not stated. The lots in question are: ANSP 315787 (3), ANSP 178614 (1), and ANSP 221837 (4). Lot USNM 665777 (2), originally from the collection of J. Schwengel, is also labeled “ paratypes ”, collected by T.L McGinty from 65–70 fms in 1941, which postdates the published date of the original description and thus not likely part of the original type series.
Type locality. USFC Sta. 2596, 17 mi [27 km] E of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, 35°08′30″N, 75°10′00″W, in 49 fms [90 m] depth.
Other material examined. An additional 116 specimens were examined. E Florida: 2 spec., 6.6 x 2.9 & 9.1 x 3.6 mm, in 43 m, 69 km E of Ponte Vedra, St. Johns Co., ex batfish, H.G. Lee! 12 Mar 1988, (UF 470267); 1 spec., 11.5 x 4.3 mm, in 37 m, off Daytona, Yocius! 1974 (USNM 900079); 1 spec., 11.0 x 4.7 mm, in 30 m, off Ft Lauderdale, Broward Co., ex. B.J. Piech (EFG 11795); 2 spec., 6.0 x 3.1 & 6.0 x 2.8 mm, in 119–128 m, off Palm Beach, T.L. McGinty! (USNM 665777); 1 spec., 10.0 x 4.2 mm, in 82 m, off Palm Beach, Palm Beach Co., T.L. McGinty! 3 Jul 1940 (ANSP 178614); 3 spec., 8.4 x 3.7, 9.3 x 4.3 & 10.0 x 4.3 mm, in 82 m, off Palm Beach, Palm Beach Co., T.L. McGinty! 3 Jul 1940, ex J. Schwengel (ANSP 315787); 4 spec., 7.0 x 3.2, 7.7 x 3.6, 7.7 x 3.7 & 8.1 x 3.9 mm, off Palm Beach, Palm Beach Co., ex B.R. Bales (ANSP 221837); 1 spec., 12.3 x 5.4 mm, in 73 m, off Lantana, Palm Beach Co., T.L. McGinty! 18 May 1951, ex. K. Valentine (ANSP 209360); 4 spec., the best 2: 6.7 x 3.6 & 5.7 x 2.7 mm, in 165 m, off Palm Beach, Palm Beach Co., L.A. Burry! (UF 358435); 8 spec., 2 measured: 8.7 x 3.7 & 7.5 x 3.2 mm, in 110–137 m, N of Palm Beach inlet, Palm Beach Co., McGinty! 24 Feb 1950 (UF 250925); 2 spec., 6.2 x 2.8 & 7.9 x 3.4 mm, in 55–73 m, Dodge Estate to Palm Beach inlet, Palm Beach Co., R/V Triton! 14 Dec 1950 (UF 219674). Florida Keys: 1 spec., 5.9 x 2.7 mm, in 61 m, Marathon: S of Key Vaca, T. Kalafut! Jun 1990 (UF 470268); 3 spec., 15.4 x 6.1, 9.1 x 4.1 & 6.8 x 3.0 mm, in 183–213 m, SE of Looe Key, J. Moore! Sep 1964 (USNM 900080); 1 spec., 10.7 x 4.3 mm, in 274–320 m, off Looe Key, 1 Jul 1949 (UF 358510); 4 spec., 9.2 x 4.4, 9.5 x 4.1, 8.6 x 3.7 & 8.1 x 4.2 mm, in 183 m, off Key Largo, L.A. Burry! (UF 358446); 1 spec., 7.1 x 3.2 mm, W of John Sawyer Bank, N of Marathon, Jo & Rusty Bennett! Nov 1966 (EFG 11608A); 1 spec., 10.7 x 4.3 mm, in 183 m, off Key Largo, L.A. Burry! (UF 358431); 2 spec., 8.6 x 3.9 & 8.1 x 3.4 mm, in 64 m, NW of Ft. Jefferson, Dry Tortugas, J. Moore! Mar 1964 (EFG 11610). W Florida: 1 spec., 9.5 x 4.1 mm, in 56–59 m, SW of Cape San Blas, 29°17.48'N, 085°38.79'W, E. García! aboard R/V Pelican, 3 Jul 2006 (EFG 27678); 2 spec., 10.2 x 4.3 & 10.5 x 4.4 mm, Gulf of Mexico, J. Moore! (USNM 900083); 1 spec., 10.7 x 4.4 mm, off Cedar Keys, J. Moore! 1966 (USNM 900084); 1 spec., 7.8 x 3.4 mm, off Cedar Keys, J. Moore! 1966 (USNM 900085); 1 spec., 5.2 x 2.6 mm, in 86.1 m, SOFLA Sta. 18, Gulf of Mexico (25.756111; -83.703611) 28 Apr 1981 (USNM 843161); 2 spec., 8.2 x 3.6 & 7.8 x 3.5 mm, in 104–108 m, ca. 165 km W of Pinellas Co., 27°45.27'N, 84°27.64'W, E. García! aboard R/V Pelican, 5 Jun 2004 (EFG 25137); 6 spec., 6.9 x 3.6, 8.7 x 4.2, 7.3 x 3.4, 7.2 x 3.3, 6.0 x 3.1 & 5.3 x 2.6 mm, in 52 m, off Egmont Key, 27°35'—N, 082°45'—W, R.C. Hoerle! 1968 (USNM 822942); 1 spec., 16.7 x 6.2 mm, in 259 m, Tampa Bay, Hillsborough Co., J. Moore!, Jul 1964 (AMNH 243085); 10 spec, the best 1: 11.4 x 4.5 mm, Gulf of Mexico, J. Moore! (USNM 900081); 12 spec., 8.8 x 4.9, 8.7 x 3.9, 8.7 x 3.8, 7.7 x 3.5, 7.9 x 3.6, 7.6 x 3.4, 7.6 x 3.5, 7.7 x 3.4, 6.8 x 3.4, 7.2 x 3.3, 6.3 x 2.9 & 6.5 x 3.1 mm, in 219 m, W of Egmont Key, Hillsborough Co., J. Moore aboard Cavalier! May 1963 (UF 470269); 5 spec., the best 2: 8.2 x 3.5 & 7.8 x 3.3 mm, in 55 m, SW of Panama City, J. Moore! Sep 1963 (USNM 900082); 1 spec. 7.8 x 3.7 mm, off Anna Maria, Manatee Co., J. Moore! (author’s coll.); multi-specimen lot, up to 6.4 x 2.9 mm, in 34 fms [62 m], SSW of John’s Pass, Pinellas Co. (DMNH 107098); 3 spec., 9.3 x 3.7, 9.9 x 3.9, 8.4 x 3.8 mm, in 70 fms [128 m], SW of Egmont Key, Hillsborough Co. (DMNH 107695); 3 spec., 14.1 x 5.5, 11.4 x 5.5, 11.6 x 4.6 mm, in 25–32 fms [46–59 m], off Anna Maria Key (DMNH 114834); 1 spec., 9.9 x 4.5 mm, in 73–79 m, ca 164 km W of Sanibel I., Lee Co., 26°25.74'N, 83°43.70'W, E. García! aboard R/V Pelican, 4 Jun 2004 (EFG 25424); 4 spec., 1 measured: 10.3 x 4.5 mm, in 55 m, W of Cape Romano, Collier Co., J. Moore! 1966 (UF 255903). Mexico: 5 spec., 8.0 x 3.5, 7.9 x 3.1, 7.7 x 3.6, 7.5 x 3.4 & 7.6 x 3.4 mm, in 77–81 m, Campeche Bank off Campeche, 20°52.40'N, 092°24.83'W, E. García! aboard R/V Pelican, 10 Jun 2005 (EFG 26542); 4 spec., 8.1 x 3.7, 8.2 x 3.7, 7.7 x 3.4 & 7.2 x 3.3 mm (EFG 26517), and 3 spec., 7.6 x 3.5, 8.8 x 3.8 & 8.4 x 3.9 mm (UF 470270), in 63–65 m, Campeche Bank off Campeche, 20°51.49'N, 092°21.44'W, E. García! aboard R/V Pelican, 10 Jun 2005. French Guiana: 7 spec., 10.4 x 4.4, 8.8 x 4.0, 7.7 x 3.7, 7.6 x 3.5, 6.9 x 3.3, 6.4 x 2.7 & 5.8 x 2.5 mm, in 94 m, GUYANE 2014 Sta. DW4359, off French Guiana, 06°52.2'N, 53°02.6'W, 30 July 2014 (MNHN IM-2012-43468).
Range and habitat. North Carolina; E Florida; Florida Keys; W Florida; off Louisiana; Mexico (Campeche Bank off Campeche); French Guiana. The report of this species off Amapá, Brazil by Rios, if true, would extend the range southward. Most frequently reported from moderately deep water in the range of 25–128 m; however, specimens have been reported from as shallow as 3 m and as deep as 457 m.
Description. Shell broadly fusiform, small (to 16.7 mm), with up to 9½ whorls, approximately 64% of the total length occupied by the last whorl, giving the shell a squat appearance. Shell surface glossy. Protoconch of approximately 1¾–2 smooth round whorls. Axial sculpture of broad round ribs that stretch from suture-to-suture on spire whorls, and evanesce on the shell base; usually 5 per whorl, but occasionally 6–7 on the penultimate or as few as 4 on the body whorl. Interspaces wider than ribs. The five ribs give a pentagonal shape to the whorls in cross section. Ribs almost always align whorl-to-whorl. Varix usually a thickened last rib, rarely the penultimate, approximately ¼- to ⅓-whorl from the edge of the outer lip. Spiral sculpture of fine spiral incised lines made jagged by microscopic growth striae, becoming heavier, thread-like, anteriorly on shell base; spiral threads on anterior fasciole. Sulcus is obscure, ill defined; usually only a slight reduction in rib height in the sulcal area, but sometimes marked by a slight inflection of the crest of the ribs. Outer lip thin, straight, the edge forming a low arc from the sulcus to the tip of the anterior canal. Stromboid notch obsolete. Anal sinus a slight invagination of the outer lip below the suture with a low callus on the parietal wall; on older specimens, inside edge of outer lip thickens forming a distinct channel. Inner lip is thin to thick, depending on the age of the specimen, slightly erect anteriorly but otherwise recumbent; a low callus present at its junction with the outer lip. Anterior canal short, but distinct, open, with a notch at its tip. Color white with two yellowish-brown spiral bands or a single broad band on ribs that vary in width and color intensity; some with a continuous band that is lighter in color between the ribs than on rib crests.
Remarks. Taxonomy. An updated description is warranted because Dall described the species from juveniles in poor condition, which he placed in subspecific status with Fenimorea pagodula (Dall, 1889), an unrelated species, and because of the recent discovery of another species that can exhibit the pentagonal shape (B. aurantiaca, new species). Although the types are in poor condition (probably long dead at time of collection over 120 years ago) the better of the two (Plate 11, Fig. 1) can be matched to recently collected adult specimens in much better condition on account of the unique shell form and coloration of the types. Bellaspira pentagonalis (Dall, 1889) has all of the characteristics of the genus: shell microsculpture of fine spiral incised lines, axial ribs extending from suture-to-suture, and the characteristic anal sinus of an inverted “V” at the junction of the inner and outer lips, and only a slight invagination of the outer lip edge, seen when the shell is viewed laterally. Variability. The average length of 89 specimens is 8.41 mm (5.2–16.7 mm), and the average W/ L ratio is 0.449. The color pattern varies; the wide central brown spiral band that colors the ribs may be entire, or broken into two narrower bands. Both color patterns are illustrated in Plate 12. No consistent geographic (E Florida versus W Florida) difference has been observed in the limited sample examined. The two-banded pattern is more common; the single wide band has only been observed in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and specimens from the western Gulf are very pale. Six- and seven-sided forms are also occasionally encountered (see Plate 11, Figs. 19, 20). Identification. This species is easily recognized by its pentagonal shape in apical view, from the five ribs/whorl, and color pattern. It is closest to B. aurantiaca and to B. amplicostata, new species. It differs from B. aurantiaca in possessing a glossy shell (spiral microsculpture more subdued) and a different color pattern (yellowish brown bands on rib crests
description: Published as part of Fallon, Phillip J., 2016, Taxonomic review of tropical western Atlantic shallow water Drilliidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Conoidea) including descriptions of 100 new species, pp. 1-363 in Zootaxa 4090 (1) on pages 36-38, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4090.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/263299