Jujubinus elenchoides (Issel, 1878)

SSH VII – Fig. 6V–X

Trochus striatus var. e lenchoides Issel, 1878: 436, fig. 6.

Jujubinus aegeensis Nordsieck, 1973: 6–7, 10–12, fig. 13.

Jujubinus elenchoides orientalis Nordsieck, 1973: 6–7, 10–12.

Diagnosis

Shell of large size for the genus, solid, several closely set spiral cords, not elevated, barely granulose, narrow interspaces with closely set and numerous prosocline lamellae and growth lines, peripheral cord not evident, high height/width ratio.

Type material

Lectotypes of Trochus striatus var. e lenchoides Issel, 1878 TURKEY • 2 dd; Cape Barbieri; 20 m depth; “Barbieri (m. 20)” “Isola Barbieri / 20 m / (Issel)!”; MCZR- M-11698-L (designated by Curini-Galletti 1982a).

Paralectotype of Trochus striatus var. e lenchoides Issel, 1878 TURKEY • 1 dd; same data as for lectotype; MCZR-M-11698-P.

Syntype of Jujubinus aegeensis Nordsieck, 1973 GREECE • 1 dd; Karpathos Is. (type locality); SMF 341823.

Syntype of Jujubinus elenchoides orientalis Nordsieck, 1973 GREECE • 1 dd; Karpathos Is. (type locality); SMF 341821.

Other material examined

CYPRUS • 1 lv; Cape Greco; 34.9860° N, 34.0786° N; 30 m depth; 7 May 2022; on Posidonia oceanica; used for DNA sequencing, CYP 082; SZN-MOL0054.

GREECE • 4 lv; Astypalea Is., Analipsi; 36.575946° N, 26.393070° E; 0–1 m depth; 28–30 Jun. 2017; on Posidonia oceanica; used for DNA sequencing; BAU 3040.1 to 3040.4 • 2 lv; same data as for prececeding; used for DNA sequencing; BAU 3041.1, 3041.2 • 4 lv; same data as for prececeding; used for DNA sequencing; BAU 3044.1 to 3044.4 • 1 lv; same data as for prececeding; used for DNA sequencing; BAU 3044.6 • 3 dd; Kythnos Is.; 6 m depth; CS-PM • 12 dd; Astypalea Is., Analipsi; 5 m depth; on Posidonia oceanica; LT.

MALTA • 1 dd; labelled “coste/Malta”; MCZR-M-11703.

TUNISIA • 2 dd; Gulf of Gabès; labelled “ Gabes Pallary”; MCZR-M-11712.

TURKEY • 10 dd; Bozcaada Island; 8 m depth; CS-PM • 9 dd; Datça; 36°42′16.6″ N, 27°40′52.3″ E; 15 m depth; on Posidonia oceanica; LT • 2 dd; Datça harbour; 36°43′20.9″ N, 27°41′22.1″ E; 8 m depth; LT.

UNPRECISED LOCALITIES • 15 dd and fragments; Mediterranean coasts of Northern Africa; labelled “C. d’Afr.” (Appolloni et al. 2018); MCZR-M-11682 • 10 dd; Mediterranean coasts of Northern Africa; labelled “ J. (Zizyphinus) sartorii, Aradas. C. di Barberia!” plus “ J. sartorii, Ar. Coste d’Africa ”; MCZR-M-11758 • 4 dd; Adriatic? [probably wrong]; “ Trochus striatus Gm. Adr. Stoss. ”; MCZR-M-11778 • 8 dd; Northern Africa; labelled “ J. sericeus nelle spugne”; MCZR-M-11683.

Description (in parentheses data of the lectotype)

SHELL. Shell of large size for the genus, height 7.4–13.0 (11.7) mm, width 5.3–7.5 (7.3) mm, height/width ratio 1.43–1.60, conical, shiny but opaque in type material. Protoconch, of ca 1.1 whorls, 0.23–0.24 mm in width, sculptured by sparse micropustules. Teleoconch of 6.5–7.5 (7.5) slightly convex whorls. Sculpture of 12–16 (14) closely set abapical spiral cords of about the same strength, and a not evident peripheral cord, slightly shouldered, formed by 2–3 (2) merged cordlets. Suture incised. Teleoconch surface covered by barely visible prosocline growth striae and lamellae, irregularly set. Base convex and rounded, with 11–13 (12) regularly spaced, basal spiral flat cords, arranged in pairs; umbilicus closed also in juveniles, covered with a white callus. Aperture quadrangular, with the columellar callus thickened in the middle portion. Interior of the aperture whitish, nacreous.

COLOURATION. Colour of protoconch and initial teleoconch whorls bright whitish greyish; remaining whorls and base dark background colour, black, brownish, reddish, with alternating sagittal bands, whitish or reddish or pinkish, which are highlighted depending on the background colour.

SOFT PARTS. Epipodial tentacles whitish, densely covered by red speckles. Foot background whitish mottled with dark spots, sole white. Cephalic tentacles whitish densely covered by dark speckles, with a dorsal dark stripe. Eye stalks brownish dorsally, whitish ventrally; eyes black surrounded by a brown blotch, encircled by white. Snout light or dark brown with a creamy terminal band.

Distribution

Eastern Mediterranean Sea, from the Aegean Sea (Manousis 2012) to eastern Turkey (this work), and Cyprus (Tornaritis 1987, as “ Jujubinus striatus Linne ”), living specimens in very shallow waters (0–1 m) occasionally down to a depth of 30 m. Also reported in the northern African coasts, from Morocco to Libya, (Ghisotti & Melone 1975) and Malta (MCZR-M-11703 collection): while we are able to confirm its presence in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the records from Malta and North Africa are almost all based on labels of historical collections and need further checking.

Remarks

Described by Issel (1878) as Trochus striatus var. elenchoides, it may be argued whether it is to be considered as infrasubspecific or subspecific (ICZN 1999: art. 45.6.4); in any case, it was elevated to specific rank at first by Monterosato (1884: 47), which would make it available from its original introduction by Issel (ICZN 1999: art. 45.6.4.1). Issel (1878: 436) reported the locality “Barbieri (m. 20)” which is actually not an island (as suggested by Monterosato’s label, see also Curini-Galletti 1982a: 219) but rather the small promontory (Capo Barbieri) in correspondence with the ancient locality of Rhoiteion (Troades, northern Anatolia). Jujubinus elenchoides differs from J. ruscurianus in its narrower interspaces and more numerous spiral cords (4–5 in ruscurianus vs 12–15 finer in elenchoides), and from J. vulgaris, J. exasperatus and J. pseudogravinae in its smooth, non-tuberculated and more numerous spiral cords. It also differs from J. swinneni sp. nov., J. vexationis, and J. errinae in its colouration and the larger size and, from the latter two species, for the lack of tubercles on the peripheral cord in the first teleoconch whorls. See under J. striatus, J. depictus, J. fraterculus, J. superum sp. nov., J. inopinatus sp. nov., J. kyrnos sp. nov., J. sartorii, J. smaragdinus, J. angustibasis sp. nov., J. gofasi sp. nov., for comparative remarks.