Cerithium scobiniforme Houbrick 1992

Cerithium scobiniforme

DESCRIPTION.—Shell (Figure 129): Shell fusiform, slender, comprising 10–14 straight-sided to weakly inflated whorls, and reaching 27.6 mm length and 10.4 mm width. Protoconch unknown. Early teleoconch whorls highly inflated, sculptured with 2 weak spiral bands. Adult teleoconch whorls with overall coarse, cancellate, rasp-like sculpture of 3 or 4 spiral cords crossed by 13–19 weak, colabral axial ribs; crossover points spinose and interspaces with many fine spiral lines. Acute subsutural ramp present. Penultimate whorl sometimes with fourth spiral cord partially overlapped by body whorl. Suture distinct. Body whorl elongate, sculptured with 5 main spinose, spiral cords. Base of body whorl sharply excavated and sculptured with one spiral, spinose, or beaded spiral cord. Aperture strongly fusiform, nearly one-fourth the shell length. Anterior siphonal canal relatively long, tightly constricted, and strongly reflected dorsally and to left of shell axis. Columella concave, thick, with strong columellar lip. Anal canal distinct, bordered with parietal columellar tooth. Outer lip of aperture convex, strongly crenulate. Shell color white with occasional small, black, spiral spots and bluish black anterior canal. Outer lip of aperture frequently bluish black. Occasional black spiral spots. Measurements (Table 41). Periostracum thin, transparent.

Radula: Type-2 radular ribbon (Figure 3B) very small, delicate. Rachidian tooth triangular in outline with slightly concave front and with long central posterior projection and pair of basal ridges on basal plate; cutting edge with large, pointed, central main cusp flanked on each side by 2 small denticles. Lateral tooth having broad basal plate with long, lateral, posterior projection, and posteriorly projecting median buttress with small pustule. Marginal teeth with long thin shafts, curved, serrated tips, and narrow bases. Inner marginal tooth with long main cusp, 3 inner flanking, pointed denticles, and 2 outer flanking denticles. Outer marginal tooth same, but without outer flanking denticles.

Anatomy: Operculum and animal are unknown.

HOLOTYPE.—USNM 859930, 24.9 mm × 8.8mm (Figure 129E).

PARATYPES.—LACM 76702, 6 specimens; USNM 859931, 2 specimens.

TYPE LOCALITY.—1.5 mi S of Estango Id, Port Dimalosan, Cagayan Prov, NE Luzon, Philippines.

ETYMOLOGY.—From the Latin scobina (a wood file), and forma (form), in reference to the rasp-like sculpture.

ECOLOGY.—Museum records indicate that C. scobiniforme, new species, occurs subtidally, in shallow water, on sand and coral rubble. The ratchet sculpture and long reflected anterior canal suggest that it is a burrower. Eggs, larvae, and mode of development are unknown.

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