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TOFANELLIDAE |
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Graphis pellucida (Gatliff & Gabriel, 1911) Description: Shell minute, elongate, very narrow, spire straight-sided, up to 11 whorls. Protoconch smooth, about 2 whorls, with sudden transition to teleoconch sculpture. Teleoconch whorls strongly rounded, suture distinct. Whorls sculptured with fine, low axial ribs, about 30 on last whorl, with fine spiral threads in interspaces. Aperture teardrop shaped, extended anteriorly, outer lip thin, with shallow sinus at top. Shell colourless transparent becoming opaque white with age. Size: Up to 4 mm in length. Distribution: Endemic to Australia: southern Qld southwards and around southern Australia to SA, including Tas. Habitat: Known only from empty shells from beach washup. Uncommon. Comparison: Graphis infans (Laseron, 1951) (Fig. 2) is similar to this species, but has less whorls for the same shell length and more widely spaced axial ribs. There are 3 lots in the Australian Museum collection. Synonymy: Turbonilla thornleyana Laseron, 1951 is a previously recognised synonym. Fig. 1: Queenscliffe, Port Phillip, Vic (C.398943) Fig. 2: Gunnamatta Bay, Port Hacking, NSW (C.105389 HOLOTYPE of Pyrgiscus infans) Photo Australian Museum. |
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