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Epidirona carinata Laseron, 1954 Description: Spire straight sided, anterior canal moderately long. Protoconch of two whorls, the first dome shaped and smooth, the second with axial ribs. Spire whorls sculptured with two strong, smooth, glossy ribs, and about 15 finer riblets. Major ribs weakly nodulose, about 8 nodules per whorl on upper rib and twice that number on lower; nodules white on a brown rib. Body whorl with 3-5 major ribs, with finer riblets between and continuing to base of canal. Columella smooth, outer lip with rounded U shaped sinus with apex at upper rib. Background colour uniformly fawn, ribs brown with white nodules. Size: Up to 19 mm in length. Distribution: Endemic to Australia; Manning R. to Twofold Bay, NSW. Habitat: Taken in 15-150 m. Rare. Comparison: The two strong, glossy spiral ribs on each whorl, coloured brown with weak white nodules, identify this species. Synonymy: Epidirona molleri Laseron, 1954 is a form of this species with the upper rib slightly stronger than the lower. Laseron differentiated E. molleri on the grounds that the second whorl of the protoconch was smooth, but microscopic examination of the holotype shows the protoconch to be worn, with remnant axials visible (NEW SYNONYM). Fig. 1: HOLOTYPE Off Manning River, NSW, in 73-91 m (C.103550) Fig. 2: HOLOTYPE of Epidirona molleri. Off Crowdy Head, NSW, in 91 m. Outer lip is broken (C.103547).
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