A New Genus and Two New Species in the Families Volutidae 
and Turbinellidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from the 
Western Pacific 
Harald A. Rehder 1 
ABSTRACT : Sigaluta pratasensis, new genus, new species, in the family Volutidae 
is described from the South China Sea, off Hong Kong. Phenacoptygma Dali, 1918 
is removed from the Volutidae and placed in the synonymy of Surculina Dali, 1908, 
which in turn is removed from the Turridae and assigned to the Turbinellidae 
near Benthovoluta Kuroda and Habe, 1950, on the basis of its radula. It is pro- 
posed that the families Turbinellidae ( olim Xancidae) and Vasidae be of co- 
ordinate rank. A new species of Benthovoluta , B. gracilior, is described from the 
Sulu Sea, Philippines. 
In the process of arranging the specimens of 
the family Volutidae in the Division of Mol- 
lusks, U. S. National Museum, two new species 
of deepwater mollusks from the western Pacific 
were found. These were dredged by the U. S. 
Bureau of Fisheries steamer "Albatross I” in 
the South China and Sulu Seas during her 
1907-09 cruise in the Philippine Islands. 
One of these species turns out to belong to 
the genus Benthovoluta, recently placed by 
Kuroda (1965:50-51) in the family Turbinel- 
lidae. For the other a new genus in the family 
Volutidae must be erected. 
VOLUTIDAE 
Sigaluta, 2 new genus 
Shell moderately large, ovate with only few 
whorls (about 4) ; nuclear whorls large; shiny 
with glazelike surface. Aperture ovate; outer 
lip slightly flaring and somewhat thickened, 
with shallow rounded sinus at junction with 
body whorl ; columella straight, bearing 2 
strongly ascending spiral folds. 
type species: Sigaluta pratasensis, new 
species 
This interesting new genus is represented in 
our collection by only two shells, and as the 
1 Division of Mollusks, U. S. National Museum, 
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. Manu- 
script received March 9, 1966. 
2 From the Greek sigaleios (glossy) + Voluta. 
soft parts unfortunately were not retained, the 
exact allocation of the genus must await the 
discovery of fresh living material. On the basis 
of the general appearance of the shell, nucleus, 
and columella plaits, I am placing this genus 
temporarily in the subfamily Cymbiinae, tribe 
Meloides, as defined by Pilsbry and Olsson 
(1954:16-17). 
Sigaluta pratasensis, new species 
Figs. 1-4 
description: Shell of moderate size (54- 
61 mm, 2 ^-2 1/2 inches long) and solidity, 
narrowly ovate; nuclear whorls 2%, large, bul- 
bous, smooth, shining; transition between 
nuclear and postnuclear whorls marked by faint 
line of demarcation and slight increase in diam- 
eter of first postnuclear whorl ; postnuclear 
whorls l%-2, smooth and shining as if glazed; 
body whorl rather strongly descending on 
penultimate whorl; suture glazed over; outer 
lip slightly thickened with a whitish callus 
and marked with a shallow sigmoid sinus 
below suture and a broad, very shallow sinus 
at obliquely truncate base. Aperture narrowly 
ovate, acuminate at top, broadly truncate at 
base ; columella straight, bearing 2 strongly 
ascending spiral plaits. Color from light yellow- 
brown (#76) (with a slightly grayish cast) 
to light-gray olive-brown (#94) (iscc-nbs 
Color Names, Kelly and Judd, 1965). 
locality: West of Pratas Reef, South China 
Sea, in 208 fathoms (380 m) ; U.S.B.F. "Alba- 
182 
