Vexillum (Pusia) cf. cavea
Left:
Second from Left: Under coral rubble, approximately 5 ft, Gabgab Beach, Apra Harbor. Collected by Bob Abela on 04 March 2004. Two Right: Under coral rubble, approximately 5 ft, Gabgab Beach, Apra Harbor. Collected by Bob Abela on 28 March 2003.
Distribution: Uncertain.
Habitat: Under coral rubble.
Availability: Uncommon for Guam. Live specimens have turned up in Apra Harbor, dead specimens in Agat Bay & Agana Bay.
Size: The two Gabgab Beach specimens measure 15mm and 16mm in length.
Comments: Richard Salisbury kindly informed me this is not V. (P.) cavea. Additionally, he states it may be more closely related to V. (P.) luculentum.
References:
Turner, Hans. 1989. Uncommon and New Mitriform Gastropods from the Indo-Pacific. Part 1.. pl. 8, fig. 19. (from Viti Levu, Fiji.)
References which figured this species as V. (P.) cavea:
Cernohorsky, Walter O. 1971. Marine Shells of the Pacific. Revised ed. p. 174. pl. 42, fig. 301. (as Vexillum porphyreticum Reeve, 1844, a synonym of V. (P.) cavea.)
Pechar, Prior & Parkinson. Mitre Shells from the Pacific and Indian Ocean. pl. 51, fig 3-4.
Wilson, Barry. 1994. Australian Marine Shells, Part Two. p. 168. pl. 36, fig. 2
References with correct identification of V. (P.) cavea:
Cernohorsky, Walter O. 1978. Tropical Pacific Marine Shells. p 116. pl. 39, fig. 5.
Robin, Alain & Jean-Claude Martin. 2004. Mitridae-Costellariidae. p. 26. pl. C-21.
Salisbury, Richard. 1999. Costellariidae of the World. Part 1. (Species A-D). Of Sea and Shore (22)3:132-133. fig. 47.
Links:
- Hardy's Internet Guide to Marine Gastropods: The first specimen illustrated appears to be this species
- Emmanuel Guillot de Suduiraut's Mitroidea - appears to be the same species, some color variation.