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Sirius cupiens (Iredale, 1931) Description: Shell with whorls broadly rounded and shouldered, suture very deeply impressed. Spire whorls with 4 strong, weakly beaded cords below shoulder and 3 weaker cords above. Base of last whorl with 5 cords with single intervening threads. Axial sculpture of slanting riblets, most prominent on shoulder and between spirals on base. Umbilicus a narrow slit. Aperture almost circular; inner lip reflected onto columella, outer lip thin (broken). Colour fawn with spiral band of reddish-brown patches at the shoulder. Size: Holotype 9.3 mm in length (not 11 mm as in original description). Distribution: Known only from type; Sydney Harbour. Habitat: From harbour dredging Remarks: This was picked out of dredge spoil from Sydney Harbour, when the dredge Triton was forming shipping channels. The well preserved colour suggests that, unlike other Triton material, it is not a fossil. Its placement in the genus Sirius and in the family Trichotropidae or Capulidae is questionable. Fig. 1: Holotype of Dolichosirius cupiens. Sydney Harbour, Triton dredge. (C.057753) |
