Fax grandior

BUCCINIDAE

Fax grandior (Verco, 1908)

Description: Shell with shouldered whorls, more acutely so on the spire. Axial sculpture of strong ribs, 14-16 on the body whorl. Spiral sculpture of 4 or 5 fine ribs between suture and shoulder, and below the shoulder, 8-11 broad, flat primary ribs with one or two secondary riblets between each primary; secondaries variable in strength from nearly as distinct as the primaries to nearly obsolete. Columella smooth, outer lip sharp, smooth internally. Anterior fasciole strong. Colour uniformly fawn externally, white internally. Operculum corneous.

Size: Up to 36 mm in length, commonly about 25 mm.

Distribution: Endemic to Australia; Sydney, NSW, to SA, in 200-500 m. Uncommon.

Comparison: This species it is very similar to another, as yet unnamed, deep water Fax of about the same size, which has much finer sculpture of about 40 uniformly sized ribs on the body whorl. This latter species is known from Clarence R. to Batemans Bay, NSW.

Synonym: Scaeofax molleri Iredale, 1931 is based on an unusually stout and coarsely sculptured specimen.

Figs. 1,2: SE of Gabo Island, Victoria, in 494 m (C.389675)

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