Bellaspira hannyae Jong & Coomans 1988, new combination
Creators: name: Fallon, Phillip J.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Mollusca
Gastropoda
Neogastropoda
Drilliidae
Bellaspira
Bellaspira hannyae

description: Bellaspira hannyae (Jong & Coomans, 1988), new combination
(Plate 7)
Cerodrillia hannyae Jong & Coomans, 1988: 112, pl. 5, fig. 595. Williams (2005; 2009: 1535).
Type material. Holotype 6.5 x 2.4 mm (ZMA 3.87.098) was not examined. Instead, photographs of the holotype provided through the courtesy M. Faber were examined and used to represent the species (Pl. 7, Figs. 1–2).
Type locality. South coast of Curaçao I., Netherlands Antilles.
Material examined. A total of 16 specimens were examined. 11 spec., 7.5 x 3.0 mm (author’s coll.), 7.3 x 3.7, 7.0 x 2.7, 6.7 x 2.6, 6.0 x 2.3, 6.7 x 2.5 & 6.8 x 2.6 mm (P. Williams coll.), 6.1 x 2.4, 5.8 x 2.3, 5.4 x 2.2, 6.2 x 2.1 mm (ANSP 464956), in 8 m, La Blanquilla I., Venezuela, G. Mackintosh!, 4 Jan 2000; 1 spec. 5.7 x 2.4 mm, in 8 m, La Blanquilla I., Venezuela, G. Mackintosh!, 4 Jan 2000 (UF 470265); 1 spec., 5.7 x 2.7 mm, in 25–30 m, off Tortuga I., near Margarita I., Venezuela (UF 470263); 1 spec., 5.3 x 2.3 mm, in 25–30 m, off Tortuga I., near Margarita I., Venezuela, T. McCleery! Sep 2004 (P. Stahlschmidt coll.); 1 spec., 5.0 x 2.2 mm, in 25–30 m, Las Aves archipelago, Venezuela, G. Mactintosh! Sep 1999 (author’s coll.); 1 spec., 7.8 x 3.1 mm, in beach drift, Karpa, Bonaire, Neth. Antilles (UF 470264).
Range and habitat. Neth. Antilles (Curaçao I.; Bonaire); Venezuela (Las Aves archipelago; La Blanquilla I.; off Tortuga I.). This is the first published record of B. hannyae outside of Curaçao. Reported depths are 8– 30 m.
Description. Shell very small (to 7.8 mm in total length), fusiform, truncated anteriorly; glossy, of approximately 6–6¾ slightly convex glossy whorls sculpted with numerous axial ribs. Last whorl approximately 65% of total shell length. Protoconch of 1¾–2 smooth glossy whorls, rapidly expanding; the second quite round, relatively large. Axial sculpture of ribs about as wide as their interspaces, extending from whorl to whorl on spire and evanesce on shell base; 9–13 on penultimate, 6–9 on last whorls to varix. Varix is higher and wider than preceding ribs, ¼-turn from the edge of the outer lip. Axial ribs absent after varix. Spiral sculpture of fine, microscopic spiral lines throughout, becoming ridge-like and heavier on shell base toward and on anterior fasciole. Sulcus margin shallowly impressed on ribs, which are lower and narrower within sulcus; about ⅓-whorl height. Outer lip thin, flattened from varix to edge of lip, edge flows in a smooth, low arc from anal sinus to tip of anterior canal with only a very slight indent for a stromboid notch anteriorly. Anal sinus is a slight indentation near the suture when viewed ventrally; an inverted V-shaped with inner callus on both parietal wall and outer lip of mature specimens, when viewed ventrally. Inner lip unemarginate, with a weak parietal callus posteriorly. Anterior canal short, open, very slightly notched; anterior fasciole not swollen, with up to 7 indistinct spiral ridges. Color white with colored bands, a broad golden-brown one on the body whorl, half visible on earlier whorls and another, narrower one adjoining the suture, which may be barely visible in some specimens. Bands may be pink, orange, or light to dark brown. Williams (2005) states that colors can be brilliant oranges or pink in fresh specimens.
Remarks. Taxonomy. Bellaspira hannyae has a slight indentation of the outer lip marking the anal sinus and spiral lines over the entire shell surface, characteristics of Bellaspira. This species was originally combined in Cerodrillia. That genus is characterized by a deep, U-shaped sinus, spiral lines or ridges restricted to the shell base, and a cup-handle-like varix positioned just behind the anal sinus. While the ribs of B. hannyae are more numerous than in its congeners, its other characters are distinctly unique to Bellaspira. Axial rib form and number appears to be variable in Bellaspira. Eastern Pacific species include those with few broad ribs and others with more numerous shorter, narrow ribs (McLean & Poorman, 1970). Variability. The 16 examined specimens have an average length of 6.32 mm (5.0– 7.8 mm) and their average W/ L ratio is 0.397. Axial rib number may vary among populations. The single specimen from off Tortuga I. had nearly twice the number of ribs than the La Blanquilla I. specimens (18 on penultimate and 14 on the body whorl), which may indicate divergence as a consequence of the isolation of their respective populations. Jong & Coomans reported 13 ribs for their specimen. This is more than observed for the La Blanquilla I. and less than the Tortuga I. specimens. Identification. Although similar in size and also possessing strong axial ribs, Lissodrillia simpsoni (Dall, 1887) lacks spiral lines and possess a deeply notched anal sinus. Bellaspira minutissima, new species, is also similar in size (to 5.4 mm) but differs in possessing a more tapered last whorl, a less impressed anterior sulcal margin, and is also completely white, not banded.
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 page 30, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4090.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/263299