K. Fraussen & J. Rosado 
NOVAPEX 12(3-4): 73-79, 10 octobre 2011 
The Cantharus group (Gastropoda: Buccinidae) 
on Almirante Leite Bank (Mozambique) 
with description of two new species and one new genus 
Koen FRAUSSEN 
Leuvensestraat 25, B-3200 Aarschot, Belgium 
koen.fraussen@skynet.be 
José ROSADO 
Av. Friedrich Engels, n. 373, le, 
Maputo, Moçambique 
joserosadoi@hotmail.com 
ABSTRACT. A new genus and two new species of deep water Buccinidae collected during 
MAINBAZA are described: Pollia imprimelata sp. nov. and Micrologus mochatinctus gen. & sp. 
nov., both front Almirante Leite Bank. Pollia sowerbyana (Melvill & Standen, 1903) is recorded 
from Madagascar and the variability of this species is discussed. 
KEYWORDS. Mollusca, Gastropoda, Buccinidae, Pisaniinae, Pollia, Mozambique, 
MAINBAZA, new taxa. 
INTRODUCTION. Ignored in the past, the 
Mozambique fauna has become the subject of 
intensive collecting and studies during the latest 
décades. It is obvious that Mozambique is blessed 
with a unique fauna, with components from the South 
African fauna as well as from the East African fauna, 
due to its geographical situation. Ridden up fragments 
from the deep water faunas are présent, from the Natal 
Bassin (in the south) and the Somalian Bassin (in the 
north). In addition, a large number of species which 
are most probably endemic for the regio are known. 
The second author participated in the recent 
MAINBAZA cruise in the Mozambique Channel. Part 
of the Admirante Leite Bank was investigated during 
this expédition, an area with strong currents resulting 
in difficult dredging and trawling conditions. Among 
rnany animais two particular species belonging to the 
Cantharus group attracted attention. One is 
recognized as belonging to an undescribed species of 
the genus Pollia Gray in Sowerby, 1834 and named 
Pollia imprimelata sp. nov. For the second species, 
which is distinct in spiral sculpture and columellar 
characteristics from ail known Cantharus group 
species, we had to décidé to describe a new genus 
because it seems out of place in any of the other 
known généra. This taxon is added to the East African 
fauna under the name Micrologus mochatinctus gen. 
& sp. nov. 
Material is, unless otherwise stated, deposited in 
MNHN. The material is, unless being a type (which 
are allocated to catalogue numbers), unambiguously 
designated and retrievable by the combination of 
expédition acronym and station number. 
ABBREVIATIONS 
KF: collection Koen Fraussen, Belgium. 
MHNM: Museu de Historia Natural de Maputo, 
Mozambique. 
MNHN: Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, 
France. 
JR: collection José Rosado, Portugal, 
dd: empty shell, dead collected. 
juv: juvénile or subadult shell. 
DW: (drague Warén) Warén dredge. 
SYSTEMATICS 
BUCCINIDAE Rafinesque, 1815 
Subfamily Pisaniinae Gray, 1857 
Genus Pollia Gray in Sowerby, 1834 
Pollia, Gray in Sowerby, 1834: pl. 237, fig. 12. Type 
species by monotypy: “ Triton undosus Lamk.” = 
Buccinum undosus Linnaeus, 1758 from the Indo- 
West Pacific, Recent. 
For a discussion on the taxonomie position of Pollia 
we refer to Vermeij & Bouchet (1998: 472-473) and 
Vermeij, (2006: 85-86, 89-91). 
Pollia imprimelata sp. nov. 
Figs 7-11 
Type material. Holotype, 19.9 mm, Mozambique 
Channel, Almirante Leite Bank, MAINBAZA stn. 
DW3167, 26°12’S, 35°02’E, 228-230 m deep, 
MNHN-23770. 
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