Redescription of Retilaskeya horrida (di Monterosato, 1874) comb. nov. and a re-evaluation of the taxonomic affinity of the genus Retilaskeya (Caenogastropoda: Triphoroidea)

ABSTRACT

The family Cerithiopsidae H. Adams and A. Adams, 1853 is distributed worldwide, and comprises around 800 extant species divided into ~40 genera. The most speciose genus within the family is Cerithiopsis Forbes and Hanley, 1850, a taxon currently used as a general receptacle rather than as a proper phylogenetic lineage. We hereby redescribe the rare species Cerithiopsis horrida di Monterosato, 1874, review its nomenclature, known material, and distribution as well as figure the entire protoconch, operculum, and radula for the first time. Our results highlight extreme differences between ‘Cerithiopsis’ horrida and the Cerithiopsis type species Cerithiopsis tubercularis (Montagu, 1803) and strong morphological and radular similarities with species belonging to the genus Retilaskeya Marshall, 1978. A wide discussion lists several taxa that might be ascribed to the same group of species, which presumably constitute a different worldwide lineage. Pending relevant molecular phylogenetic studies of the Triphoroidea Gray, 1847, for morphological conformity we suggest transferring ‘Cerithiopsis’ horrida to the genus Retilaskeya, and the same action is presumably appropriate for its possible sister species ‘Cerithiopsis’ leopardus Rolán and Gori, 2013. Finally, Retilaskeya better conforms to Newtoniellidae Korobkov, 1955 than Cerithiopsidae.

KEYWORDS:

• Marine Mollusca
• north-eastern Atlantic/Mediterranean
• alpha-taxonomy
• Newtoniellidae
• Cerithiopsidae

Acknowledgements

Stefano Bartolini (Italy), Cesare Bogi (Italy), John J. Borg (Malta), Sergio Calascibetta (Italy), Alberto Cecalupo (Italy), Emilio F. García (USA), Sandro Gori (Italy), David Kirsh (USA), Marlo Krisberg (USA), Alessandro Margelli (Italy), Mauro Pietro Negri (Italy), Panayotis Ovalis (Greece), Attilio Pagli (Italy), Carlo Sbrana (Italy), Maria Scaperrotta (Italy), Franco Siragusa (Italy), and Cesare Tabanelli (Italy) offered support in field research, loan of material, and sharing of literature and data. Massimo Appolloni (MCZR, Italy) and Andreia Salvador (NHM) provided access to type materials. Inés Pazos (CACTI) and Harry Taylor (NHM) provided photographs. Bruce Marshall (New Zealand) provided useful exchange of views and advices. Maurício R. Fernandes (Brazil) and an anonymous referee provided helpful insights. Harry Lee (USA) assisted with the English revision and gave useful advice. We are grateful to all of them.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.