Splendrillia interpunctata
Creators: name: Fallon, Phillip J.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Mollusca
Gastropoda
Neogastropoda
Drilliidae
Splendrillia
Splendrillia interpunctata

description: Splendrillia interpunctata (E.A. Smith, 1882), new combination
(Plates 153, 154)
Pleurotoma (Clavus) interpunctata E.A. Smith, 1882: 207.
Drillia interpunctata (E. A. Smith, 1882): Tyron (1884: 191); Piele (1926: 84).
Drillia innocens Melvill, 1923: 164 –165, pl. 4, fig. 5, may be a junior subjective synonym. Type locality is Cuba. Trew (1987: 46).
Douglassia (cerodrillia? [sic]) nodosa Usticke, 1969: 28, pl. 6, fig. 1131, may be a junior subjective synonym (Pl. 153, Fig. 6). Type locality is Marina Key, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Is. Faber (1988: 86 [taxonomic status unknown]); Boyko & Cordeiro (2001: 59).
Douglassia (Lissodrillia?) nodosa Usticke (1969): Nowell-Usticke (1971: 24, pl. 4, fig. 1131).
Type material. Four syntypes: 14.1 x 5.1, 15.3 x 5.7, 13.6 x 5.9, & 9.5 x 5.0 mm (NHMUK 20100311). The latter three are worn.
Two syntypes of Drillia innocens Melvill, 1923 are in NHMUK 1982077. The “ holotype ” of Douglassia (cerodrillia? [sic]) nodosa Usticke, 1969 is in AMNH 195464. The holotype designation by Nowell-Usticke (1971: 24) published after the original description does not meet the requirement of ICZN 2000 Article 73.1.3 (The holotype of a new nominal species-group taxon can only be fixed in the original paper) and is therefore invalid. The existence of more than one is inferred from the reference to a range of sizes in the original publication. So Nowell-Usticke’s cannot be considered a holotype by monotypy, and his holotype designation cannot then be implicitly considered a lectotype designation (ICZN 2000 Article 74.5) as claimed by Boyko & Cordeiro (2001: 59). To fix the status of the name-bearing type, the specimen in AMNH 195464 is herein designated the lectotype of Douglassia (Cerodrillia?) nodosa Usticke, 1969.
Type locality. St. Thomas, [U.S. Virgin Is.], West Indies.
Other material examined. An additional 55 specimens were examined: Cuba: 1 spec., 11.0 x 4.3 mm, in 6 m, Maria La Gorda, Pinar del Rio Province, Cuba (author’s coll.); 5 spec., 7.3 x 3.0, 7.5 x 3.1 (USNM 900109), 9.1 x 3.6 mm (USNM 900110), 8.9 x 3.6 mm (author’s coll.) & 8.5 x 3.5 mm (H.G. Lee coll.) at 7.6 m, SW end of Cayos de San Felipe, Cuba, G. Mackintosh! 21 Aug 1995; 2 spec., 9.0 x 3.3 & 7.7 x 2.9 mm, at 6 m, Cabo de San Antonio, Cuba, G. Mackintosh! 12 Aug 1995 (USNM 900112); 1 spec., 9.0 x 3.5 mm, at 2.7 m, Cabo de San Antonio, Cuba, G. Mackintosh! 12 Aug 1995 (author’s coll.). Dominican Republic: 1 spec., 13.4 x 6.0 mm (missing protoconch), Samana Bay, Dominican Republic (USNM 86872); 1 spec., 8.8 x 3.9 mm, in 1.2-2.4 m, W portion of Bayahibe, Dominican Republic, Glenn Duffy! 6 Apr 1986 (H.G. Lee coll.). Puerto Rico: 2 spec., 15.5 x 5.5 & 15.3 x 5.8 mm, in 12 m, Tourmaline Reef, Puerto Rico, G. Mackintosh! Nov 1993 (M. Williams coll.); 3 spec., 12.2 x 4.5, 9.2 x 3.9 (apex miss.) & 5.3 x 2.6 mm (juv.), Ramey Air Base, Rifle Range, Puerto Rico, 18 Nov 1956 (UF 163900); 1 spec., 11.5 x 4.5 mm, Punta Jiguero, G.L. Warmke! 5 Jan 1957 (UF 162327). Br. Virgin Is.: 2 spec., 12.6 x 5.5 & 10.1 x 4.8 mm, Tortola I., Br. Virgin Is. (ANSP 15477); 18 spec., 9.0 x 4.1, 14.8 x 5.8, 15.9 x 5.8, 12.8 x 4.7, 14.1 x 5.4, 11.8 x 4.9, 11.2 x 4.4, 14.2 x 5.2, 13.1 x 5.1, 10.7 x 4.5, 13.7 x 5.1, 10.3 x 4.1, 14.9 x 5.6, 12.4 x 4.9, 12.2 x 4.7 & 10.0 x 4.0 mm (H.G. Lee coll.), 16.5 x 5.6 & 13.7 x 5.5 mm (author’s coll.), crabbed in 0.9 m, Buck I., Tortola, Br. Virgin Is.; 1 spec., 15.4 x 5.8 mm, in 5–10 m, SE Tortola, B. Crystal! July 1988 (P. Stahlschmidt coll.); 1 spec., 11.7 x 4.7 mm, Marine Cay, Beef I., D. Kirsh! 17 Feb 1968 (UF 470344). Saint Martin: 1 spec., 12.8 x 5.6 mm, in 12- 15 m, Chicot, windward side of Tintamarre I., 18.102°N - 62.983°W, 23 Apr 2012 (UF 451076). Guadeloupe: 1 spec., 4.3 x 2.5 mm, in 15 m, Sta. GS34, Petite-Terre, 16°09.7'N, 61°07.7'W, KARUBENTHOS 2012, 26 May 2012 (MNHN IM-2012-28018); 1 spec., 9.5 x 4.1 mm, in 50 m, KARUBENTHOS 2012 Sta. GS13, Ilet Pigeon, Basse-Terre, 16°02.4'N, 61°45.6'W, 11 May 2012 (MNHN IM-2012-28016); 5 spec., 3.2 x 1.9, 3.8 x 2.0, 4.2 x 2.2, 4.9 x 2.6 & 7.6 x 3.6 mm, in 50 m, KARUBENTHOS 2012 Sta. GS36, Petite-Terre, 16°07.9'N, 61°12.5'W, 27 May 2012 (MNHN IM-2012-28013); 1 spec., 4.6 mm, in 130 m, KARUBENTHOS 2012 Sta. GD33, Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin, 16°24'N, 61°33'W, 16 May 2012 (MNHN IM-2012-28012); 2 spec., 4.5 x 2.4, & 5.0 x 2.6 mm, in 27 m, KARUBENTHOS 2012 Sta. GS15, Sec Ferry, Basse-Terre, 16°17.5'N, 61°49.0'W, 12 May 2012 (MNHN IM- 2012-28017); 3 spec., 4.5 x 2.5, 6.5 x 3.3 & 9.3 x 4.0 mm, in 16 m, KARUBENTHOS 2012 Sta. GS39, Petite- Terre, 16°09.5'N, 61°10.5'W, 28 May 2012 (MNHN IM-2012-28019); 1 spec., 4.6 x 2.4 mm, in 27 m, KARUBENTHOS 2012 Sta. GR21, Sec Ferry, Basse-Terre, 16°17.5'N, 61°49.0'W, 12 May 2012 (MNHN IM- 2012-28014). Martinique: 1 spec., 9.4 x 4.0 mm (MNHN, ex J. Colomb coll). Mexico: 1 spec., 9.0 x 3.6 mm, in 4.2 m, Banco Chinchorro, Quintana Roo, Mexico, G. Mackintosh! 15 Jul 1992 (author’s coll.). “Central America ” 3 spec., 14.9 x 5.7, 13.2 x 5.4 & 14.7 x 5.8 mm (ANSP 15475).
Range and habitat. SW coast of Cuba (Pinar del Rio Province); Dominican Republic; Puerto Rico (Mayaguez); U.S. Virgin Is. (St. Thomas); Br. Virgin Is. (Tortola); Guadeloupe; Martinique; Mexico (Banco Chinchorro, Quintana Roo). This is a shallow water species, reported most frequently in 1–12 m, but as deep as 120 m.
Description. Shell small, fusiform, truncated anteriorly, glossy and somewhat translucent; medium sized for the family (to 16.5 mm), body whorl proportionately large, approximately 60% of shell length; concave sulcus and nodulose ribs give the shell a turreted outline. The syntype in best condition is 14.1 x 5.1 mm, and has 8.5 whorls (Pl. 153, Fig. 1). Protoconch paucispiral, of 1½–2 smooth whorls, first whorl partially submerged in second, second larger than and slightly greater in diameter than the first teleoconch whorl. Axial sculpture of broad, slightly oblique arcuate ribs with low round crests anteriorly that become ridged posteriorly; ribs terminate abruptly at sulcus forming an angular shoulder, obsolete in sulcus; rapidly evanesce on shell base. Ribs number 9– 11 on penultimate, 6–8 on body whorl to varix, about as broad as their interspaces. Shell surface covered with microscopic growth striae. Spiral sculpture of threads and ridges on shell base, heaviest on anterior fasciole where they number 5–7. Shell surface microsculpture as seen with the dissecting microscope consists very fine spiral lines, most visible in sulcus, sometimes partially obscured by growth striae elsewhere. As seen in SEM images, the spiral lines resolve into rows of joined punctae (see Pl. 140, Figs. 1–2), in-between which are more or less random punctae, not aligned in rows as seen the images of Splendrillia coccinata (Reeve, 1845) in the same plate, Figs. 3– 4. Sulcus concave, ⅓ height of the spire whorls; devoid of sculptural detail except spiral lines on some specimens. Varix prominent, hump-like, and positioned about ⅓-turn from the edge of the outer lip. Outer lip smooth, somewhat flattened from the varix to lip’s edge; thickened and slightly flexed inward along edge from anterior side of anal sinus to stromboid notch; stromboid notch only a slight indentation of the lip. Anal sinus deep, apex adjoins suture at rear, behind parietal callus. Inner lip very thin, not margined except at anterior end of canal, weak parietal callus present at its junction with the outer lip. Anterior canal short but distinct, open, slightly notched; anterior fasciole slightly swollen. Color variable; light to dark rose, or golden yellow, with or without a spot (carmine or golden brown) between the ribs just below sulcus, and dark color patch on crest of varix (carmine or golden brown); spire apex, rib crests, outer lip, narrow band below whorl periphery, and anterior fasciole white.
Remarks. Taxonomy. Splendrillia interpunctata has the general characteristics of Splendrillia: a glossy smooth shell, a girdle-like sulcus absent of axial ribs, an anal sinus adjoining the suture behind the parietal lobe, and a hump-like varis positioned about ⅓-turn from the edge of the outer lip. The trivial epithet, interpunctata, probably derives from the presence of a red spot at about shoulder height between the ribs visible on at least one of the specimens in the type series. The red spot is common among fresh specimens, too. Variability. The average length of 59 specimens is 10.24 mm (3.2–16.5 mm); their average W/ L ratio is 0.429. Certain shell characters of S. interpunctata were found to be variable, including the penultimate and body whorl axial counts, and characters not easily quantified: color and axial rib strength (low in some, more prominent in others). The relatively small size of the Cuban specimens shown in Plate 154, Figs. 8–14 is due to the younger age (fewer whorls) of the sampled population than that of Buck I., Br. Virgin Is. Identification. Splendrillia interpunctata is readily distinguished from most of its congeners by its large size, fewer and larger axial ribs, whorls that are more angular than most, and by the shell’s light rose color with a row of carmine spots (in some specimens) at the shoulder between the axials. It is larger than S. coccinata (average total length =11.73 versus 7.88 mm), has fewer, shorter and more swollen ribs that are not quite as oblique. The whorl shoulders are less angular, and the sulcus wider. From S. bahamasensis, new species it differs in having more angular whorls, and a glossier shell surface. From S. cruzensis, new species it differs in being larger, more robust, and in having more angular whorls.
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 300-301, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4090.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/263299