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CERITHIOPSIDAE |
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Tubercliopsis georgensis (Laseron, 1951) Description: Shell large for family, narrowly conical, spire straight or slightly convex in outline. Protoconch of 3¾ whorls, smooth, with distinct junction with teleoconch. Teleoconch whorls weakly convex with suture clearly defined; 3 spiral cords per whorl with 4th spiral partly exposed above suture on all whorls; interspaces equal to width of cords, wider on last few whorls; last whorl with 4th spiral fully exposed. Spirals crossed by weaker axial ribs, forming beads at intersections; about 22 ribs on last whorl. Base concave, smooth. Outer lip thin, expanded in two mature specimens. Anterior canal a deep U-shaped notch. Shell reddish brown with protoconch same colour. Size: Largest syntype 6.6 mm in length; other specimens up to 8 mm. Distribution: Syntypes from Western Channel, off Sow and Pigs Reef, Sydney Harbour, 6-9 fathoms (11-16 m). Laseron (1951) also reported it as abundant in 6 fathoms off Dolls Point, Georges River, NSW. Additional material available (8 lots): Fingal Bay, Port Stephens; Pittwater, Broken Bay; Middle Harbour; Balmoral, Middle Harbour; Bottle & Glass Rocks, Port Jackson; Western Channel, Port Jackson, 27 m; Botany Bay reclamations; Brighton-le-Sands, Botany Bay. Habitat: Beach washup and shallow subtidal. Comparison: This species appears to have a characteristic form of grown in which the last whorl is abnormally expanded after several whorls of constant width, although not in all specimens. Some specimens are regularly sculptured but some larger specimens show coarse and irregular sculpture. Fig. 1: Western Channel, off Sow and Pigs Reef, Sydney Harbour, 6-9 fathoms (11-16 m) (SYNTYPE 1 C.102754) Fig. 2: Western Channel, off Sow and Pigs Reef, Sydney Harbour, 6-9 fathoms (11-16 m) (SYNTYPE 2 C.102754) |
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