R. Houart 
A new Murïcopsis from Sâo Tomé 
Spire high with 1.5 protoconch whorls and teleoconch 
up to 4 or 5 broad, convex, strongly shouldered, 
nodose whorls. Suture adpressed. Protoconch small, 
whorls smooth with a narrow, strong, single keel 
adapically. Protoconch of holotype with a second 
weak shallow keel abapically, width 600-650 pm. 
terminal lip narrow, weakly raised, curved. 
Axial sculpture of teleoconch whorls consisting of 
moderately high, strong, broad, nodose ribs and 
varices. First and second whorl with 7 or 8 ribs, third 
and fourth with 6 or 7 ribs, last whorls with 4 or 5 
broad, moderately high varices, each with 5 small, 
broad, short open spines at intersection of P1-P5 spiral 
cords with axial varices. Spiral sculpture of 
moderately high, narrow primary cords: first 
teleoconch whorl with visible SP, PI and P2, second 
with SP, PI, P2 and P3 partially covered by 
succeeding whorl, and several threads between 
primary cords. Last whorl with SP, P1-P6, ADP and 
occasional MP. Presence of several narrow threads 
between each pair of cords. P1-P4 of approximately 
similar size and strength, P5 and P6 narrower. 
Aperture small, ovate. Columellar lip broad, lip 
strongly flaring abapically, adhèrent at adapical 
extremity, smooth. Anal notch deep, narrow. Outer lip 
erect, smooth, with 5 strong denticles within: ID, Dl- 
D2 fused, D3, D4 and D5. Siphonal canal short, 
narrow, straight, weakly tapered abapically, narrowly 
open. 
Operculum and radula unknown. 
Remarks. Muricopsis (M.) gorii n.sp. is closely 
related to Muricopsis (M.) matildeae which lives in 
Sao Tomé and Principe and which, together with its 
typical form (Figs 9-10), shows a variety of shell 
colours from light orange to dark brown, occasionally 
with a white siphonal canal (Figs 11-14). However, ail 
these forms are sympatric and the shell morphology is 
quite similar. Not any of these could be definitely 
separated from the typical shell. 
Muricopsis (M.) gorii , in addition to having a bright 
dark orange colour, differs from M. matildeae in 
having a more strongly shouldered and angulate shell; 
higher and comparatively broader axial ribs on the 3 
or 4 adapical teleoconch whorls and still higher and 
more conspicuous on the last teleoconch whorl but 
comparatively narrower than in M. matildeae ; in 
having a less sloping subsutural ramp from second to 
last teleoconch whorls, and in having blunt, broad, 
short spines at intersection of axial and spiral 
sculpture while absent or low in M. matildeae. 
Muricopsis (M.) testorii Houart & Gori, 2008 (Fig. 
15), another species described from Sao Tomé is also 
orange coloured but differs in many ways (size and 
shell morphology) and doesn't need to be compared 
here. 
The other Muricopsis s.s. species described from Sâo 
Tomé, Principe and Annobon are very different and 
don't need to be compared either. 
Figures 16-19. Protoconchs (scale bar: 0.5 mm) 
16-17. Muricopsis (Muricopsis) gorii n. sp. 16. Protoconch; 17. Protoconch and First teleoconch whorls. 
18-19. Muricopsis (Muricopsis) matildeae Rolân & Fernandes, 1991. 18. Protoconch; 19. Protoconch and first 
teleoconch whorls. 
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