Verticosta lanterna Huang & Lin 2020, n. sp.

Verticosta lanterna n. sp. 燈籠毛螺 (Plate 3, figs. 1-4) DESCRIPTION

Shell up to 6.9 mm, small for genus, high-conic and turbiniform, light and coarse in surface. The whorl edge is gently inflated on the first whorl and more inflated on the lower whorls. Suture is deep and distinct. Aperture length is 36% of shell length and body whorl length is 63% of shell length. Protoconch of 1.5 to 2 smooth and flat whorls while the lower whorl is wide than the upper whorl. Teleoconch of 3.25 to 4 whorls is ornamented with strongly elevated and evenly spaced axial ribs with 14 ribs on the 1 st teleoconch whorl, 16 ribs on the lower whorls and 13 ribs on the body whorl. The ribs on the 1 st teleoconch whorl are prosocline and the ribs on the lower whorls become more and more prosocline than those in the upper whorls. 4 primary cords develop on the 1 st teleoconch whorl. Pl develops its secondary cords on the 2 nd teleoconch whorl and develops 4 tertiary cords on the 3 rd teleoconch whorl. P2 to P4 develop no secondary cords. There are 12 spiral cords on the body whorl while P1 to P4 derived cords is stronger than the lower 4 cords. These spiral cords are of one half strength of the axial ribs and rounded nodules are noted at the transections of axial and spiral sculptures. The interspaces are horizontally elongated and concave and accommodate numerous microscopic axial threads. Shell base smooth and concave; aperture rounded and recessive on lateral and inferior margin. Columellar process is smooth and convex. The outer lip is circular, thin and crenulated on cord terminations. The medial lip is well defined and continuous with a short and narrow umbilical chink. Ground color is fawn and ivory over the columellar process and cord surface of axial ribs. Periostracum thin and transparent. Operculum unknown.

TYPE MATERIAL

Holotype: shell height 6.57 mm x 4.46 mm, Taiwan, Keelung, 200 to 300 m depth. NMNS-8152 -003.

ADDITIONAL TYPE MATERIAL

Paratype 1: shell height 5.50 mm x width 3.88 mm, China, Zhejiang, 200 to 300 m depth. Coll. Lin. Paratype 2: shell height 5.77 mm x width 4.05 mm, China, Zhejiang, 200 to 300 m depth. Coll. Lin. Paratype 3: shell height 5.37 mm x width 3.79 mm, China, Zhejiang, 200 to 300 m depth. Coll. Lin. Paratype 4: shell height 5.23 mm x width 3.65 mm, China, Zhejiang, 200 to 300 m depth. Coll. Lin. Paratype 5: shell height 5.59 mm x width 3.86 mm, China, Zhejiang, 200 to 300 m depth. Coll. Lin. Paratype 6: shell height 5.40 mm x width 3.57 mm, China, Zhejiang, 200 to 300 m depth. Coll. Lin. Paratype 7: shell height 5.49 mm x width 3.55 mm, China, Zhejiang, 200 to 300 m depth. Coll. Lin. Paratype 8: shell height 5.83 mm x width 3.66 mm, China, Zhejiang, 200 to 300 m depth. Coll. Lin. Paratype 9: shell height 5.39 mm x width 3.85 mm, China, Zhejiang, 200 to 300 m depth. Coll. Lin. Paratype 10: shell height 5.35 mm x width 3.78 mm, Taiwan, Keelung, 400 m depth. Coll. Huang. Paratype 11: shell height 5.03 mm x width 3.75 mm, Taiwan, Keelung, 200 m depth. Coll. Huang. Paratype 1 2: shell height 6.93 mm x width 4.24 mm, Philippines, Mactan Island, Cebu, 200 m depth. Coll. Huang.

TYPE LOCALITY

Taiwan, Keelung, 200 to 300 m depth.

RANGE AND HABITAT

East China Sea, Taiwan, Keelung; China, Zhejiang; the Philippines, Mactan Island, Cebu; 200 to 400 m depth; muddy and fine gravel bottom.

COMPARISON AND REMARKS

This new species shares similar size and shell profile with Verticosta campanella n. sp.. V. lanterna n. sp. is distinct by a narrow axial rib with less prosocline inclination, a thick spiral cord and less numerous cords on the lower whorls to the comparable parts in the V. campanella n. sp..

ETYMOLOGY

This species name simulates a flower light and the clear rays can pass throughout the thin and transparent windows between the cords.