Gyroscala coronata
(Lamarck, 1816)
Description:
Dimensions range from 27.5 mm - 36.5 mm high and 13.3 mm - 14.5 mm wide.
Width to height ratio: 0.48:1 ~ 0.4:1
Shell: ventricose, inflated, pyramidal; moderately small. Exterior colour white, with three rows of brown spots between the varices. About 10 whorls, last whorl spirally single ribbed below the middle, closely connected. Imperforate. Approximately 15 - 20 costae on the body whorl. Costae are lamellar, numerous, broad. Costae united at the suture, oblique, continued on the spire. Aperture ovate.
This species has been listed occasionally as coming from the West Indies. Most, modern authors, however, believe this to be a species from South Africa. The Western Atlantic references probably apply to H. lamellosum Lamarck. [Clench & Turner, 1952]
Distribution:
The locality of Gyroscala coronata (Lamarck, 1816) has long been confused. Lamarck did not record a provenance for the original specimen, leaving the type locality unknown. Early authors variously attributed the species to the West Indies [Sowerby 1844; Clessin 1897; Mörch 1875], but these records are now considered erroneous and probably refer to Gyroscala lamellosa or related taxa [Clench & Turner, 1952: 355]. Kilburn [1985: 261] attempted to stabilise usage by designating False Bay, South Africa, as the type locality; however, this action is invalid because a lectotype had already been designated by Mermod & Binder [1963], and under ICZN (1999: Art. 76.2) the type locality is fixed as the place of collection of the lectotype. As the provenance of the lectotype is unknown, the type locality remains unknown, and any subsequent designation is without standing. Modern records consistently restrict the species to southern Mozambique and South Africa, with a bathymetric range from the intertidal to about 49 m [Barnard, 1963a; Kilburn, 1985; Brown & Neville, 2015].
Habitat:
intertidal to 49 m per Barnard (1963a: 98)
Etymology:
[latin] from coronatus = crowned or wreathed, adorned with a crown.
Type Material:
MHNG (lectotype, designated by Mermod & Binder 1963: fig. 227). [as Epitonium (Gyroscala) coronatum; Kilburn, 1972:407 (references and synonymy).
Epitonium coronatum; Kilburn & Rippey, 1982:78, pi. 11, fig. 13, text fig. 37.] - Type Locality: Lamarck did not know the provenance of his specimen; Kilburn (1985: 261) designated False Bay, South Africa, as the type locality; since Mermod & Binder had earlier designated a lectotype, the type locality becomes the place of collection of the lectotype (ICZN 1999: Art. 76.2), which is unknown, and any subsequent designation is invalid.. [Kilburn, R.N, 1985]
Type: Cat. No. 186837, U.S.N.M. [as Epitonium africanum Bartsch, 1915] - Type Locality: Port Alfred (Coll. No. 204). [Bartsch, P., 1915]
arsint.com (2023).
35.2 mm, Madagascar, Tulear. From local fishermen, 2006.
Distribution
as listed in source literature
Lamarck, J. B. P. A. de M. de (1816).
Plate 451. Fig. 5a-b.
Sowerby, G. B. II. (1844).
Shown in text as Scalaria coronata
Plate xxxv. Fig. 133.
pp: 101.
"Similar to T. lamellosa, but with more numerous varices: white in colour, with three rows of brown spots between the varices."
Sowerby, G. B. II. (1873).
Plate v. Fig. 34a.
Plate v. Fig. 34b.
Species 34. (Fig. a, b, Mus. Brit.)
THE CROWNED SCALARIA.
Shell ventricose, ornamented with regular spots disposed in three rows between the varices, imperforate; whorls numerous, contiguous; last whorl spirally single ribbed below the middle; varices laminated, numerous, broad, united at the suture, oblique, continued on the spire.
LAMARCK. Animaux sans Vertebres.
Hab. West Indies.
More ventricose than Scalaria clathrus, and beautifully ornamented by series of spots between the varices.
Clessin, S. (1897).
Plate 15. Fig. 8.
pp: 58-59.
Shell inflated, pyramidal, ornamented between the varices with three regular rows of reddish-brown spots, imperforate; whorls numerous, closely connected; the last whorl bears a single spiral rib below the middle; varices lamellar, numerous, broad, Joined at the suturej, obliquely continuous over the spire.
Shell inflated, pyramidal, with three rows of reddish-brown spots between the longitudinal ribs, not perforated; whorls numerous, connected, the last whorl with a spiral rib below; longitudinal folds numerous, leaf-like, broad, connected across the suture with those of the preceding whorls, oblique; aperture egg-shaped.
Habitat: West Indies.
Plate 17. Fig. 7.
Bartsch, P. (1915).
Shown in text as Epitonium africanum Bartsch, 1915
Plate 9. Fig. 2.
2. Epitonium africanum, new species, type, length 31 mm., p. 62.
pp: 62.
Clench, W. J. & Turner, R. D. (1952b).
Shown in text as Epitonium coronatum Lamarck
pp: 355.
Mermod, G. (1963).
pp: 162.
Scalaria coronata Lamarck, Animaux sans vertèbres, vol. 6, part 2, p. 227, no. 3;
Habitat: unknown; in my collection; length 16 lines (= 36.5 mm), manuscript: 1 specimen.
Lamarck Collection, Geneva: 1 specimen measuring: length 36 mm, width 14.5 mm, spire height 27.5 mm, aperture height 11 mm, aperture width 7.5 mm;
10 whorls, apex missing; 17 axial lamellae (ridges) on the last whorl as well as on the penultimate one (figure 227).
The appearance of the shell is quite different from the previous species due to the large number of lamellae.
The figure from the Encyclopédie, plate 451, fig. 5 a-b, is a fairly faithful reproduction of our specimen, but the swelling of the last whorl is exaggerated.
The lamellae often have a somewhat serrated appearance caused by fine and multiple chipping.
The early whorls have a pale yellowish background color; further down a brown suprasutural band appears, then, below the suture at about 2 mm, a second narrow and continuous brown band.
The periphery of the last two whorls is decorated between the lamellae with oblique brown spots; around the umbilicus, before the spiral lamella, there is another continuous brown band.
The peristome (shell opening edge) is wide, reflected at a right angle and continuous; on the parietal wall it overlaps the axial lamellae at their base.
pp: 161. Fig. 227.
arsint.com (2023).