Cerithium torresi E. A. Smith 1884

Cerithium torresi E.A. Smith, 1884

Cerithium torresi E.A. Smith, 1884:65. pl. 5: fig. O [holotype: BMNH 188212698; type locality: Torres Strait; 14.2 mm × 5.4 mm].—Tryon, 1887:136, pl. 23: fig. 14.—Kobelt, 1898:244, pl. 42: fig. 14.

Clypeomorus sordidula (Gould).—Habe, 1964:41, pl. 12: fig. 22 [not Cerithium sordidula Gould, 1849; is Cerithium torresi E.A. Smith, 1884].

Proclava pfefferi (Dunker).—Habe, 1964:41, pl. 12: fig. 19 [not Cerithium pfefferi Dunker, 1882; is Cerithium torresi E.A. Smith, 1884].

Cerithium tenellum Sowerby.—Cernohorsky, 1972:65, pl. 14: fig. 4 [not Cerithium lenellum Sowerby, 1855; is Cerithium torresi E.A. Smith, 1884].

DESCRIPTION.—Shell (Figure 135A–H,J): Shell elongate, turreted, moderately slender, comprising about 14 moderately inflated cancellate, beaded whorls and reaching 25 mm length and 9.5 mm width. Protoconch (Figure 135H) 2.5 whorls with deep sinusigeral notch; sculpture unknown. Early teleoconch whorls (Figure 135J) impressed presuturally, sculptured with dominant axial ribs crossed over by 2 or 3 spiral cords. Adult teleoconch whorls impressed presuturally and with overall cancellate sculpture comprising 3 or 4 main spiral cords, fine spiral lirae, and subsutural cincture of 1 or 2 finely beaded spiral threads; spiral sculpture crossing over 11–17 very weak to strong axial ribs; nodules or beads occur at cross-over points. Suture impressed. Prominent, wide varices randomly distributed. Body whorl narrow, sculptured with subsutural cincture and 5 main, spiral, beaded cords and numerous spiral, finely beaded threads. Large varix opposite outer lip of aperture. Body whorl with moderately excavated base and strong siphonal constriction. Aperture ovate, a little less than one-fourth the shell length. Anterior siphonal canal moderately long, well defined, constricted, reflected dorsally and to left of shell axis. Anal canal defined by parietal columellar tooth extending into aperture. Columella concave, with strong callus and moderate columellar lip. Outer lip thick, crenulate, and with spiral denticles on inside. Shell color dirty white overlain by broad brown or grayish blue bands; varices, beads, aperture lip, columella, and apex white. Interior of aperture lip with gray or brown spiral bands. Measurements (Table 43). Periostracum thin, tan. Operculum (Figure 135I) corneous, ovate, tan, and paucispiral with eccentric nucleus.

Radula (Figure 136): Type-1 radular ribbon (Figure 3A) short, about one-tenth the shell length. Rachidian tooth (Figure 136B–D) triangular shaped having basal plate with pair of basal ridges and long, triangular, median-posterior extension; anterior front concave and cutting edge with large, pointed main cusp flanked on each side by two pointed denticles. Lateral tooth (Figure 136C,D) with wide central buttress bearing weak pustule, and having long, lateral, posterior extension on broad basal plate; cutting edge with broad, spoon-shaped, main cusp flanked by one sharp, inner denticle and 2 or 3 sharp, outer denticles. Marginal teeth (Figure 136B–D) with long shafts having sharply hooked, spoon-like tips. Inner marginal tooth with long, spatulate main cusp, two inner-flanking denticles, and one outer flanking denticle. Outer marginals same, but lacking outer-flanking denticles.

Anatomy: Head-foot yellowish white with gray stripes and white and black blotches on snout, tentacles, and sides of foot. Mantle dark brown with axial, yellow flammules. Snout long, extensible with bilobed tip. Cephalic tentacles very long and slender. Foot narrow, long, and crescent-shaped anteriorly. Sole of foot white. Mantle edge with moderate to small papillae.

SYNONYMIC

Cerithium torresi is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cerithiidae.