362 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 85 



CHONDROPOMA (CHONDROPOMODES) ERNESTI Pfeiffer 



Shell of medium size, flesh-color, with weak interrupted spiral 

 bands of brown, which are present on spire and base. The spiral 

 bands show as brown zones on the outer peristome; the plug at the 

 decollated apex also shows through the substance of the shell as a 

 dark-brown zone. Nuclear whorls a little more than 2, strongly 

 rounded, smooth. Postnuclear whorls weU rounded, narrowly shoul- 

 dered at the summit, marked by very narrow, retractively curved 

 axial riblets, which are rather closely spaced on the early whorls and 

 much more so on the later. These riblets extend prominently to the 

 summit, where they may fuse into tufts, which they render con- 

 spicuously crenulate. In addition to the axial riblets, the whorls are 

 marked by spiral threads of about the same strength as the axial 

 riblets; the junctions of these form slender nodules, while the spaces 

 enclosed by them are rectangular, having their long axis parallel with 

 the axial sculpture. Suture almost channeled. Periphery of the last 

 whorl strongly rounded. Base inflated, strongly rounded, narrowly 

 openly umbilicated, marked by the continuations of the axial riblets 

 and the spiral threads, which are about as strong as those on the spire. 

 Umbilicus marked by the continuations of the axial riblets and 8 

 spiral threads which are of almost equal strength. Aperture broad- 

 ly oval ; peristome double, the inner thickened at the edge and slightly 

 reflected, the outer broadly expanded and reflected, not flatly but 

 in a wavy oblique manner; the outer peristome forms a conspicuous 

 auricle at the posterior angle; that of the parietal wall being ap- 

 pressed to the preceding turn, while that of the inner lip is reflected 

 over and covers about two-thirds of the umbilicus; operculum 

 paucispiral with subcentral nucleus. 



Of this species Gundlach ^^ states "Animal pale or whitish, only the 

 head and neck somewhat brownish on account of the thicker mass of 

 flesh. The head and neck are somewhat reddish within. Head and 

 snout with dark markings which form almost regular interrupted 

 lines. Tentacles gray, especially so at their tip. Eye ring whitish. 

 The first whorl of the shell lets the animal shine through greenish, 

 which is due to the color of the intestines. This species also suspends 

 itself with a mucous thread when at rest." 



We are recognizing two subspecies. 



KEY TO THE SUBSPECIES OF CHONDROPOMA (CHONDROPOMODES) ERNESTI 



Axial ribs distantly spaced clenchi 



Axial ribs not distantly spaced ernesti 



" Malakozool. Blatter, vol. 9, p. 6, 1862. 



