Cerithium flemischi K. Martin 1933

Cerithium flemischi Martin, 1933

Cerithium flemischi Martin, 1933:29–30, pl. 4: figs. 30, 31 [holotypc: RMGM, not numbered; type locality: Ktolemando strata, asphalt beds of Buton Id, Indonesia (Lower Miocene); 35.5 mm].

DESCRIPTION.—Shell (Figure 58): Shell elongate, turreted, slender, with apical angle of 20 degrees comprising 16–19 straight-sided whorls, and reaching 52.2 mm length and 13.9 mm width. Protoconch (Figure 58E) about two and a half whorls, brown. Protoconch 1 one smooth whorl; protoconch 2 sculptured with subsutural row of pustules, two median smooth spiral cords, and covered with tiny raised dots, and with deep sinusigeral notch. Early teleoconch whorls (Figure 58D,I) with strong, colabral axial ribs. Adult teleoconch whorls slightly constricted subsuturally and sculptured with 2 or 3 dominant spiral beaded cords, several tiny, smooth lirae, and fine spiral striae. Beads point toward shell apex and aligned forming 10–12 slightly slanting, colabral axial ribs (Figure 58H). Smaller, more weakly defined spiral beaded cord sometimes present subsuturally. Varices randomly distributed as broad axial ribs. Suture distinct, impressed, straight, with thin, smooth, suprasutural spiral cord. Body whorl (Figure 58F) thin-shelled, slightly inflated and sculptured with two main, beaded spiral cords and weak subsutural cord with slight axial plications. Base of body whorl moderately constricted with broad, shallow, short, anterior siphonal canal that is pointed to left of shell axis. Weak anal canal present. Large varix present opposite outer lip of aperture. Aperture circular-ovate, a little more than one-fifth the shell length. Columella concave with thin parietal callus and lip. Outer lip of aperture smooth, thin, slightly sinuous, flaring at suture (Figure 58F). Shell color dull whitish brown; aperture, beads, and spiral cords white. Weak, tan, spiral bands sometimes present. Measurements (Table 21). Periostracum thin, dark brown, sometimes colorless. Operculum thin, brown, corneous, paucispiral, ovate with subcentral to central, slightly sunken nucleus. Attachment scar on obverse elongate, ovate, occupying about one third of operculum.

Radula (Figure 59): Type-3 radular ribbon (Figure 3C) short, robust, about one-tenth the shell length. Rachidian tooth (Figure 59D) squarish, rounded anteriorly, with long ridge and short, central extension at posterior of basal plate; cutting edge with short, central main cusp flanked on both sides with 1 or 2 small denticles. Lateral tooth (Figure 59B,C) with short, lateral, posterior extension, and thick, central buttress having transverse ridge on broad basal plate; cutting edge of lateral tooth with large, pointed main cusp, one inner flanking denticle and 3 or 4 outer flanking denticles. Marginal teeth (Figure 59B,C) with narrow shafts and curved, serrated tips. Inner marginal tooth with sharp tip, 3 inner flanking, sharp denticles and 3 or 4 outer flanking denticles. Outer marginal tooth same, but lacking outer flanking denticles.

Anatomy (preserved animal): Animal cream-white with narrow foot having well-developed, deeply cleft, crescent-shaped, anterior pedal, mucus gland. Snout thick, long; cephalic tentacles long, each having large black eye at broad peduncular base. Columellar muscle, long, about three whorls. Visceral mass with very large stomach, occupying 2.5 whorls. Mantle edge with small papillae and well-developed inhalant siphon.

Mantle cavity deep. Osphradium dark brown, arranged in tight, sinuous folds; ctenidium narrow, long.

Buccal mass elongated, situated well behind snout. Paired salivary glands comprised of thick, convoluted tubes passing through nerve ring. Wide esophageal gland with thick glandular transverse folds. Large stomach relatively simple interiorly with weak sorting ridges and folds, a long, thin central ridge nearly dividing stomach chamber in half, and with large, broad style sac. Fecal pellets ovoid, well compacted.

Palliai oviduct (?) Type-B (Figure 4B), very long and having medial lamina with long, deep bursa posteriorly divided by longitudinal ridge. No seminal receptacle seen in lateral lamina.

SYNONYMIC

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