Phos hirasei G.B. Sowerby III, 1913

Fig. 1 F–I

Phos hirasei G.B. Sowerby III, 1913: 558.

Antillophos cf. hirasei – Kilburn, Marais & Fraussen 2010: 26.

Type locality

Japan.

Material examined

MOZAMBIQUE • 1 dd; off Quissico, ex-pisces; 24°56′ S, 35°12′ E; depth 110–120 m; J. Rosado leg.; JR • 1 dd; Ponta Dobela, ex-pisces; 26°32′ S, 32°58′ E; depth 110–125 m; J. Rosado leg.; JR • 1 lv; NE Inhaca Island, among sponges; 25°50′ S, 33°07′ E; depth 92–96 m; J. Rosado leg.; dredge; JR • 1 dd; off Sofala Bank, ex-pisces; 20°07′ S, 36°09′ E; depth 120–130 m; J. Rosado leg.; JR (Fig. 1 F–G).

SOUTH AFRICA • 1 dd; off Transkei, Msikaba; depth 90–110 m; 2004; F. Lorenz leg.; dredge; KF 4692 (Fig. 1 H–I) • 2 lv; Natal, Umkomaas; depth 85–95 m; F. Lorenz leg.; dredge; KF 7982 • 2 lv; Mtwalume; 30°32′ S, 30°44′ E; depth 100–110 m; J. Rosado leg.; dredge; JR.

Distribution

Phos hirasei is well known in the West Pacific, where it is found from southern Japan in the north, along the Philippines and to New Caledonia in the south. The species was recorded from South Africa by Kilburn et al. (2010: 26) and we hereby confirm the records from East Africa and extend the range to Transkei (northeastern South Africa) and southern to central Mozambique.

Remarks

Phos hirasei is characterized by its irregular pattern, consisting of fine spiral lines alternating white (on top of the axial ribs) and brown (between the axials), often accentuated where the white spirals cross the large brown dots on the axial ribs, in combination with a dark purple protoconch.

Shell variability is suspiciously high in this species, but after studying hundreds of specimens from the entire Indo-West Pacific we are unable to conclude whether the many morphotypes reflect intraspecific variability or belong to distinct taxonomic units. Shells may differ considerably in density of sculpture, in thicknes, in size and in colour pattern. The species, however, seems to be monophyletic as far we can judge from molecular data collected up to now (Fraussen & Galindo in prep.).

The few specimens from South Africa and Mozambique we studied all have a thick shell, a characteristic that we also observed in some populations off New Caledonia.