Australocosmica pallida Criscione & Köhler, 2013, n. sp.

Australocosmica pallida n. sp.

Figs 3 E, 5C–D, 7A

Holotype. Australia, WA, Kimberley, Bonaparte Archipelago, Brunswick Bay: Sta. KC-100, small island SW of Lucas Island, -15.231, 124.494 (coll. V. Kessner, A. Longbottom, 24 July 1988) (WAM S 84056).

Paratypes. Australia, WA, Kimberley, Bonaparte Archipelago, Brunswick Bay: same data as for holotype, 14 wet (WAM S83006); 16 wet (FMNH 219401); Sta. KC-099, small island SW of Lucas Island, -15.231, 124.483(coll. V. Kessner, A. Longbottom, 24 July 1988), 38 dry (WAM S83004); 38 dry (FMNH 219396); Sta. KC099, small island SW of Lucas Island, -15.231, 124.483 (coll. V. Kessner, A. Longbottom, 24 July 1988), 6 wet (WAM S83005); 6 wet (FMNH 219397).

Etymology. In reference to the pale shell colour, derived from “ pallidus ” (Latin = pale); adjective of feminine gender.

Description. Shell (Fig. 3 E; 5C–D). Large, elevated and broadly conical. Whorls with slightly angulate periphery, moderately shouldered underneath suture. Axial ribs weak. Colour horn. Genitalia (Fig. 7 A). Penis almost half as long as anterior part of oviduct (= vagina and free oviduct). Inner penial wall supporting complex sculpture, posteriorly with three large pads bearing transverse folds and tubercles, anteriorly with longitudinal folds extending into atrium. Vagina almost half as long as penis and free oviduct. Spermoviduct twice as long as free oviduct and about 1.5 times longer than albumen gland.

Remarks. Shell colour lighter than other congeners. On average shell larger than other congeners except A. augustae, A. rotunda, A. sanctumpatriciusae; more elevated than other congeners except A. augustae; with the largest number of whorls. Sculpture finer than in A. augustae, A. crassicostata, A. nana, A. rotunda and A. sanctumpatriciusae. Inner penial wall sculpture similar to that of A. nana but with less developed transverse folds on lateral pads.This is Solem’s (1991) manuscript species ‘NSP 76’.