|
|
|
|
|
Terebra amanda Hinds, 1844 Description: Whorls with well-defined subsutural band and strong subsutural groove. Subsutural band sculptured with slightly oblique, axially elongate nodules; first spiral rib below subsutural band similarly but more weakly sculptured. Remainder of whorl below subsutural band with 3-5 punctate spiral grooves. Axial sculpture of curved growth lines, in some specimens approaching spirals in strength to produce a cancellate surface. Columella with weak anterior plait. Fasciolar band well defined, with weak ridge at upper edge; siphonal notch broad and shallow. Outer lip thin and simple. Subsutural band white, remainder of whorls orange-fawn. Size: Up to 80 mm in length. Distribution: Indo-West Pacific; in eastern Australia, to northern NSW, and as far south as Sydney as a sub-fossil. Habitat: Subtidal, 27-80 m. Uncommon trawled, rarely found as a beach shell. Comparison: This species is very similar to the tropical species Terebra cingulifera Lamarck, 1822 (not found in NSW), but that species lacks the second band of elongate nodules, and axial sculpture is restricted to growth lines. Synonymy: Perirhoe melamans Iredale, 1929; Terebra albomarginata Deshayes, 1859 Remarks: Most of the specimens from NSW considered to be this species are sub-fossil shells dredged from Sydney Harbour when shipping channels were being created by the dredge Triton in the 1920's. Modern specimens, as shown in Fig 1a, are only known from far northern NSW. The name Perirhoe melamans Iredale, 1929 was assigned to the Sydney Harbour dredged specimens (Fig. 1b). T. amanda may not be the correct name for this species. Earlier authors (eg Wilson, 1994) have used this name for this shell and for consistency it is maintained here. However, Bratcher & Cernohorsky (1987) describe and illustrate T. amanda with two rows of nodules on the subsutural band, as shown on the specimen from Hawaii in Fig. 1c. The NSW shells match the type illustrations of T. amanda given by Bratcher & Cernohorsky moderately well, but they could just as well be a variant of Terebra cingulifera Lamarck, 1822. Fig. 1:. a. Off Tweed Heads, NSW (C.114125) b. Holotype of Perirhoe melamans Sydney Harbour dredgings (C.057863) c. Hawaii (C.048756) |
