Pustulatirus watermanorum Snyder, 2013, new species
Creators: name: Lyons And Martin Avery Snyder, William G.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2013
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Mollusca
Gastropoda
Neogastropoda
Fasciolariidae
Pustulatirus
Pustulatirus watermanorum

description: Pustulatirus watermanorum new species
(Figures 38–42)
Description: Shell small for genus (largest 32.2 x 10.5 mm), fusiform, with rounded whorls, prominent axial ribs and obscure spiral cords, surface generally appearing smooth, waxy. Protoconch of 2 whorls, first whorl broadly globose, nearly flat on top, with rounded sides; second whorl no wider than first, with straight sides and two or three faint axial riblets just before terminus. Teleoconch of 6 to 7 rapidly expanding whorls, each with 8 or 9 broad, evenly rounded axial ribs that extend from suture to suture; about 7 spiral cords on first whorl, including 3 faint ones on sutural ramp; cords increasing in number abapically, penultimate whorl with 4 cords on ramp and 8 more crossing axial ribs, sometimes with single lesser threads between cords crossing ribs; central area of body whorl nearly smooth, but with about 13 very low cords, followed by 2 stronger cords adjacent to junction with base; dorsal surface of siphonal process with 9 or 10 oblique cords of varying strength, sometimes with single faint threads between. Aperture ovate, constricted adapically by parietal node at anal sinus and abapically by tooth-like node opposite entrance fold at junction of columella and siphonal canal; outer lip arcuate, edge crenulated by extensions of interspaces between spiral cords on body whorl, inner surface with about 10 beaded lirae, some incomplete; inner lip adherent, columella with 3 or 4 oblique plicae near base, sometimes with smaller plica adapically; siphonal canal typical for genus, straight, outer edge crenulated, inner edge simple, straight, slightly raised, sometimes forming shallow pseudoumbilicus near tip. Outer surface of shell uniformly orange, interior white.
Operculum corneous, brown, drop-shaped, with terminal nucleus at pointed anterior end, outer surface with many concentric, arcuate growth increments; prominent posterior muscle scar occupying about 70% of inner surface, bounded by thick, raised ridge. Radula unknown.
Type Material: Holotype 27.4 x 10.5 mm (Figures 38–40), lv, off Roatán, Honduras, depth 80 m, in baited shell trap, ANSP 449721. Paratypes: Honduras —1, 27.7 mm, dd, same data as holotype, LC; 2, 26.4 and 23.6 mm, dd, off Roatán, 30–40 m, in lobster traps, 1996, ANSP 449722; 3, 26.6 and 24.8 mm, lv and 26.7 mm, dd, off Roatán, 200–300 ft (60.7–91.5 m), ANSP 449723; 20, 29.1, 27.0, 25.1, 20.6, 15.6 and 9.5 mm, lv and 27.6, 27.4, 25.6, 25.5, 24.4, 24.2, 22.1, 19.2, 17.9, 17.6, 15.4, 15.2, 13.5 and 12.1 mm, dd, off Roatán, 200–300 ft (60.7–91.5 m), shell traps, SC; 2, 25.4 and 25.3 mm, lv, off Roatán, 80 m, traps, 1999, ANSP 449724; 2, 25.7 mm, lv and 25.0 mm, dd, off Roatán, 100 m, UF 455469; 1, 25.1 mm, lv, off Roatán, 480 ft (146.4 m), BMSM 17942; 2, 26.1 (Figures 41–42) and 24.6 mm, lv, off Roatán, 160 m, traps set on undersea slope, 1995, ANSP 449725; 2, 28.2 and 25.9 mm, dd, Cabo Faisa, Mosquitia, diver, 10-15 m, 1996; ANSP 449726; 1, 29.2 mm, lv, Gorda Bank, 30-35 m, coral reef, on sand, MNHN 25669; 1, 27.7 mm, dd, Gorda Bank, 30-45 m, near coral reef, USNM 1192972; 2, 32.2 and 30.0 mm, lv, Rosalind Bank, 90 ft (27.4 m), from lobster boat, SC. Colombian Islands —4, 27.9, 27.4, 27.1 and 24.5 mm (last with chipped apex), dd, Banco Quitasueño, 15–18 m, under coral slabs, diver, 2004, ANSP 449727; 1, 27.3 mm, dd, Banco Quitasueño, 15–18 m, under coral slab, NHMUK 20120250; 3, 25.9, 25.1 and 20.9 mm, dd, Banco Quitasueño, 15–18 m, LC; 1, 26.2 mm, dd, Banco Quitasueño, 15-18 mm, LC; 1, 16.6 mm, San Andres Island, rubble, 15 m, diver, 2007, ANSP 422779.
Other Material: Honduras — 11 specimens, 21.1 to 16.6 mm, all immature with thin lips, dd, off Roatán, 300 ft (91.2 m), in baited shell traps, LC; 4 specimens, 27.6 to 12.0 mm, all with severe break repairs, etc., dd, off Roatán, 200–300 ft (60.7–91.2 m), shell traps, SC.
Type Locality:Off Roatán, Honduras, depth 80 m.
Etymology: The species name honors the James Waterman family, whose interest and acts of kindness encouraged the Sunderlands in assembling their important collection of western Atlantic gastropods.
Distribution:Continental shelf of Honduras, including Gorda Bank and Rosalind Bank, and at Banco Quitasueno and Cayos San Andres, Colombia, western Caribbean Sea; depth range: 10– 160 m.
Remarks: The uniformly bright orange color is helpful in distinguishing P. watermanorum from the partially sympatric P. utilaensis. Pustulatirus watermanorum also differs from P. utilaensis by its proportionally shorter spire and longer body whorl and siphon. Axial ribs of P. watermanorum extend from suture to suture whereas those of P. utilaensis (and P. attenuatus) are separated from the suture adapically by a narrow ramp. Sutures of P. utilaensis are more impressed, whorls are more convex, and spiral cords are stronger.
The two largest specimens (32.2 and 30.0 mm sl) constitute a single paratype lot (SC) from Rosalind Bank. Features of the smaller shell are consistent with those of other P. watermanorum, but the larger shell is attenuated, with a relatively taller and more slender spire than its conspecifics.
The range of depths we report for this species (10–160 m) is the greatest known for any species of Pustulatirus. We offer no explanation for this but note that all specimens were obtained from commercial dealers, who in turn obtained some of them from fishermen. More reliable locational and bathymetric data may reveal a narrower depth range.
description: Published as part of Lyons And Martin Avery Snyder, William G., 2013, The Genus Pustulatirus Vermeij and Snyder, 2006 (Gastropoda: Fasciolariidae: Peristerniinae) in the Western Atlantic, with Descriptions of Three New Species, pp. 35-58 in Zootaxa 3636 (1) on pages 45-46, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.283572