Moll. Res. 17: 21-25 (1996). 
Two new species of Amalda from the Saya de Malha Bank 
(Gastropoda: Olividae: Ancillinae) 
R.N. Kilburn 
Natal Museum, Private Bag 9070, Pietermaritzburg 3200, South Africa 
Amalda danilai and А. trippneri n. spp. are described from the Saya de Malha Bank, 
between Mauritius and the Seychelles. 
Key words: Taxonomy, Olividae, Ancillinae, Amalda, Mascarene Ridge. 
Introduction 
The Saya de Malha Bank forms part of the Mascarene Ridge, a narrow plateau that extends 
approximately from Mauritius to the Seychelles. Although little is known about its molluscan fauna, 
Its benthos was extensively sampled by a succession of Russian expeditions between 1962 and 1989 
(see Bondarev & Róckel (1992) for a general account). Prior to this, the only published report on the 
RUNS was that of Melvill (1909), based on a few samples taken in 1905 by the Percy Sladen Trust 
Se ET Since these expeditions, papers have appeared on species of Volutidae (Bouchet & Bail, 
1), Cassidae (Abbott, 1993) and Conidae (Bockel & Korn, 1990). 
SE the more conspicuous new species dredged by the Russian expeditions are several 
P d ЕҢ of the subfamily Ancillinae, specimens of which, from the collection of Mr Henrikas Danila 
ess uania, have been sent to me by Dr Axel Alf of Ludwigsburg, Germany. There are described 
Terminology in the description follows Kilburn (1977). 
Taxonomy 
Genus Amalda H. & A. Adams, 1853 
Amalda danilai n. sp. 
РІ. 1, figs 1-2 
Ancilla ѕр.; Bondarev & Röckel 1992: 30, colour fig. 1 (p. 31). 
Description: Shell oblong-ovate-fusiform with moderately broad base, breadth/length 0.43-0.45, 
E whorl more or less evenly convex on both sides, greatest width of shell more or less median, 
RE moderately large, aperture length/total length 0.48-0.52; spire cyrtoconoid with somewhat 
aan ate apex, spire angle about 44° , apical angle about 58° . Primary callus thick and enveloping 
DE Spite except for protoconch, deeply impressed at final suture, surface of callus glossy, not 
a m agreened, but with 6 strong spiral ridges; secondary callus forms a pad covering entire right 
blua 1 Spire, with a narrow anterior extension reaching the false umbilicus. Aperture lanceolate, very 
ies E posteriorly, widest at about middle; outer lip in side view straight, very slightly 
34 Sp ine, with a very blunt basal denticle; siphonal notch moderately deep, narrowly and 
E T REAL U-shaped. Columellar pillar strongly twisted, its termination acute, with a very deep, 
= е L-shaped basal notch; pleats 2-4, the innermost only slightly weaker than others, outermost 
EE by a slightly wider groove; microshagreen sculpture not visible. Anterior fasciolar groove 
Пу wide and deep for genus, continuing posteriorly to form a shallow false umbilicus posterior to 
