Cerithium ophioderma (Habe 1968)

Cerithium ophioderma (Habe, 1968)

Proclava ophioderma Habe. 1968:27(3); 87(88). fig. 1 [holotype: NSMT 38666; paratype: USNM 766591; type locality: Okinoshima, near Cape Ashizuri, Shikoku, Japan].—Okutani, 1972:82, fig. 18; 1975:189, pl. 10: fig. 23.—Inaba and Oyama, 1977:90–91.

DESCRIPTION.—Shell (Figure 100): Shell elongate, turreted, reaching 51 mm length, comprising 16–20 straight-sided whorls, and having apical angle of 20 degrees. Protoconch unknown. Earliest teleoconch whorls inflated, sculptured with three spiral cords and broad axial ribs. Adult teleoconch whorls sculptured with three spiral cords, lower two wide, weakly nodulose or plicate; subsutural spiral cord thin and most plicate, separated from lower two cords by thin, spirally constricted thread. Thin spiral thread below suture. Plications with weak nodes closely adpressed and pointing toward shell apex, forming scaly, file-like appearance. Nodes aligned axially. Varices randomly distributed. Suture indistinct, slighdy wavy. Body whorl large, much inflated, with about 10 or 11 spiral cords. Subsutural spiral cord plicate. Very large, thick varix on body whorl opposite outer lip. Body whorl with sharp siphonal constriction. Aperture round-ovate, about one-fifth shell length. Anterior siphonal canal moderately long, thin, directed anteriorly, but turned slight to left of shell axis and reflected dorsally. Anal canal distinct with parietal columellar plication extending into shell aperture. Columella concave with narrow parietal callus and thickened parietal lip. Outer lip semicircular, thin, flaring, slighdy crenulate. Shell color white with tan blotches and numerous, tan, axial lines broken by spiral ridges, presenting overall spotted appearance. Measurements (Table 32). Operculum thin, light tan.

Radula (Figure 101): Type-3 radular ribbon, short, small. Rachidian tooth (Figure 101B) rectangular, with small, central, posterior projection, and pair of lateral posterior ridges and projections on basal plate; anterior front concave having cutting edge of central, long-pointed cusp, grooved on each side, and flanked on each side by two denticles. Basal plate of lateral tooth (Figure 101B) broad, flat, with wide central buttress projecting downward, ending in ridge, and with short lateral projection; cutting edge with large main cusp, one inner denticle, and 2 or 3 outer denticles. Marginal teeth (Figure 101) with broad spatulate bases and hooked serrated tips; inner marginal tooth tip with long main cusp, three inner cusps, and one outer cusp; outer marginal same, but lacking outer cusps.

Anatomy: Eyes present in dried specimen.

SYNONYMIC

Cerithium ophioderma is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cerithiidae.