Arch. Molluskenkunde | 142 | (2) | 215–226 | 48 igures | Frankfurt am Main, 20.12.2013
© E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung (Nägele u. Obermiller), 2013, ISSN 1869–0963
DOI 10.1127/arch.moll/1869-0963/142/215-226
Revision of the genus Teralatirus Coomans 1965 in the Western Atlantic, with an
anatomical description of T. roboreus (Reeve 1845)
(Gastropoda: Neogastropoda: Fasciolariidae)
Luiz RicaRdo L. Simone, danieL c. cavaLLaRi & danieL abbate
Abstract
A supposed single species of the fasciolariid genus Teralatirus occurring in the Western Atlantic
is revised. Two species are recognized. One of them is T. roboreus (Reeve 1845), a revalidation and
new combination, being an older name for the previously known T. ernesti meLviLL 1910 (the type
species). Its distribution is expanded southward, from the Caribbean to Rio Grande do Norte state,
Brazil, and a detailed study of its anatomy is presented. It displays a regular fasciolariid fashion,
except for the plug-like head, the diminishment of the radular apparatus, the loss of the gland of
Leiblein and the presence of a wide esophageal gland. The remaining species is T. festivus HaaS
1941, a revalidation, differing from the other species mainly by having a colorful shell with vari-
able outline. Its distribution is restricted to the Caribbean.
Key words: Anatomy, morphology, taxonomy, Fasciolariidae, Western Atlantic, Teralatirus.
Introduction
The fasciolariid genus Teralatirus coomanS 1965
includes species of small size for the family – 10–20
mm. A typical Teralatirus shell is elongated, tur-
riform, with high spire, small aperture and a short
canal. The fasciolariid nature of the genus is sug-
gested by the 2–3 small folds on the right base of the
canal, but except for the radula (abbott, 1958), no
additional morphological data such as protoconch
and anatomical features have been discussed so far.
The familial placement of the genus bas been ques-
tioned by some authors (e.g., abbott, 1958; vokeS,
1977), referring to a possible attribution to Turbinel-
lidae because of the radular appearance. Even so, no
article has so far formally transferred the genus to
that family.
The genus appears to be restricted to the Caribbean
Sea, and is represented by Teralatirus ernesti (meLviLL
1910), and T. funebris (PReSton 1907). Moreover, a third
species, T. festivus (HaaS 1941), has been considered a
junior synonym of T. ernesti (coomanS, 1965; RoSen-
beRg, 2009; FabeR, 2010); as well as T. duffyi (PetucH
1992), which is considered a junior synonym of T. fu-
nebris (FabeR, 2010; types of T. duffyi are held at Car-
negie Museum, Pittsburgh, holotype CM 46361 and 2
paratypes CM 47341). A controversial species, Mitra
roborea Reeve 1845, was suggested to belong to this
genus, and even as an older name for T. ernesti (HaaS,
1941; coomanS, 1965; RoSenbeRg, 2009). As T. funebris
has been properly revised elsewhere (see FabeR, 2010),
it is not included in detail in this paper.
Authors’ address:
Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Cx. Postal 42494, 04299-970, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; E_mail: lrSimone@usp.
br; lrlSimone@gmail.com