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Pterynotus duffusi (Iredale, 1936)

Description: Three varices per whorl, with high, thin, pleated wings, incorporating a long open spine at the shoulder. Whorls sculptured with 3-5 spiral ribs with many finer threads between, and a prominent shoulder nodule between varices. Aperture extending into open shoulder spine; anterior canal moderately long. Colour uniformly white, pink, brown or orange.

Size: Up to 60 mm in length.

Distribution: Endemic to Australia; Moreton Bay, Qld, to Gabo Is, Vic.

Habitat: Subtidal, at depths of 5-200 metres. Uncommon. Coleman (1975) notes that specimens are taken by scuba divers on offshore reefs at 20-40 metres.

Comparison: This species is readily distinguished from Chicoreus denudatus and C. damicornis by its high, thin, winged varices.

Remarks: Wilson & Gillett (1971) suggested this species may be a form of either the north-west Australian species P. acanthopterus (Lamarck, 1816) or the southern species P. triformis (Reeve, 1845), but Vokes (1993), in a revision of the genus, shows that each of these species is distinct, not overlapping in range.

Fig. 1, 2: Off Boat Harbour, Cronulla, NSW, in 12 m (C.114187)