EmilioRolân, R. Fernândez-Garcés, C. Redfern 
New records and new species of Agathotoma 
overlap the interspaces; in the interspaces there are 
numerous irregular minute microtubercles. Aperture 
elongate-oval, extended by a wide and short siphonal 
canal; on the upper part a relalively deep sinus, with a 
tubercle on its lower edge. Microsculpture of the shell 
extends onto a wide thickened peristome. 
Dimensions: The lectotype is 6.5 mm in length. The 
material studied from Cuba and Bahamas is smaller. 
Distribution. This species lias been recorded from the 
Caribbean (Rosenberg, 2009) and from Cuba in the 
présent work. It was also recorded (as A. 
candi dis sim a) from the Bahamas (Redfern, 2001: fig. 
537A) and Brazil (Leal, 1991: pl. 24, fig. A), with the 
latter figure reproduced by Rios (1994: 175, fig. 806) 
and Garcia (2008: fig. 23). 
Remarks. It is évident that this species is rather 
variable: 
1- The axial ribs of the lectotype of A. castellata are 
very narrow (interspaces 4-5 times wider) while in 
most of our shells the interspaces are only 2-3 times 
wider. 
2- Usually the ribs extend above the level of the 
suture, a feature which is more évident in juvénile 
shells. 
3- The lectotype oï A. castellata measures 6.5 mm in 
length for a shell with 4 teleoconch whorls, while we 
hâve shells with the same number of whorls and a 
length of only 4-5 mm. 
4- The siphonal canal of A. castellata is relatively 
shorter in larger shells. 
With regard to the confusion of the présent species 
with A. candidissima , we must point out that the latter 
is narrower, more elongate, the rounded upper part of 
the axial ribs is less pronounced , the axial ribs never 
extend above the suturai level and the colour is 
whitish with narrow brown bands. 
Both species are présent in Cuba and we hâve never 
tound any intergradations between them, and so we 
consider them to be different species. 
Agathotoma kirshi spec. nov. 
Figs 5A-H, 11F, Table 1 
Type material. Holotype (Figs. 5A-D) deposited in 
BMSM (17948) (Ex-CCR 10498). Paratypes: CDK (1 
s) (Fig. 5E), Pélican Point, North Caicos, intertidal; 
MNHN (24829, 1 s) (Fig. 5F), from Sandy Cay, 
Abaco, Bahamas, 7 m. 
Type locality. Chub Rocks, Abaco, Bahamas, under a 
rock, 12 m. 
Other material examined. Nicaragua: 1 s, 1 f Cavo 
Witties, 20 m (MHNS). 
Description. Shell with ovoid elongate profile, 
slightly turreted, rather solid, pointed, white in colour 
with 2 spiral bands formed by isolated brown 
blotches, mainly évident on the ribs. Protoconch with 
only a little more than 1 whorl, with a diameter of 
about 480 pm, being totally covered by very small 
rounded tubercles spiral ly aligned. Teleoconch of 
about 5-5.5 whorls, with a rounded shoulder close to 
the upper suture. Each whorl has about 7 almost 
orthocline or slightly opisthocline ribs, more 
prominent on the shoulder and narrower than their 
interspaces. On the last A whorl, the axial ribs may be 
absent. Spiral sculpture of very numerous and variable 
cordlets (between 15-20 on the first whorl), with 
additional intervening ones developing, numbering 
about 24 on the second, 27 on the third and more than 
70 on the body whorl. Under high magnification the 
cordlets can be seen to be rugose, bearing numerous 
rounded rough nodules that are axial ly elongate and 
overlap the interspaces; in the interspaces there are 
numerous irregular minute microtubercles. Aperture 
oval elongate, extended by a wide and short siphonal 
canal; on the upper part a shallow sinus. Peristome 
wide, with the same microsculpture as the shell. 
Dimensions: The holotype is 8 mm in length. 
The soft parts examined in a specimen from Abaco 
(Bahamas) (Figs. 5 B-D) are whitish and slightly 
translucent, with a few milk-white spots at the end of 
the siphon and with the eyes very close to the end of 
the tentacles. 
Distribution. Known from the Bahama Islands and 
Turks and Caicos Islands. A shell from Nicaragua is 
probably this species, but is not in good enough 
condition tor a definitive comparison. 
Remarks. Agathotoma kirshi spec. nov. is the largest 
of the species studied in the présent work. Axial ribs 
may be obsolète on the last whorl. The persistence of 
a previous apertural thickening seems to be frequent. 
Agathotoma candidissima is smaller, shorter, without 
former varices, the protoconch has more whorls, the 
colour is whitish. 
Agathotoma ecthymata is more robust, the shoulder is 
more prominent, the axial ribs wider, the last whorl 
straighter towards the base, the protoconch is narrower 
and less elevated. 
Agathotoma apocrypha is smaller, the axial ribs more 
numerous and wider, the microsculpture has cords 
altemating with cordlets, the protoconch has zigzag 
fines. 
Agathotoma castellata is smaller, relatively wider, 
with the axial ribs prominent and surpassing the level 
of the suture; the protoconch has 2.5 whorls. 
Etymology. Named after David Kirsh, who collected 
the shell from North Caicos and loaned it to us for 
study. 
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