MITROMORPHA 69 
ranged from 3!4-4'4 whorls, which is approximately the same range as reported by 
Drivas & Jay (1986) from Reunion I. 
Drivas & Jay (1986) synoymised Mitrolumna iki Kay, 1979, from the Hawaiian 
Is, with Mitromorpha (Anarithma) metula (Hinds). Having compared the 2 paratypes 
of iki with smaller examples of metula, I was unable to find any constant 
differentiating characters between the two species and I agree with the conclusion 
reached by Drivas & Jay (1986) as to their synonymy. 
Thiele (1924) compared specimens of Columbella nana Dunker, from the Dunker 
collection in the Zoological Museum, Humboldt University, Berlin, and pronounced 
these to be very similar if not identical with Jachryma Reeve (= metula Hinds). Kilburn 
(1986, figs. 151,152) illustrates the holotype of Clavatula metula Hinds, and his 
illustration shows the protoconch to be partly missing. When I examined the holotype 
of Clavatula metula in 1980, it had a complete protoconch of 4 embryonic whorls 
(Figs. 3-5). 
M. (A.) metula is a very variable species with a much wider range of distribution 
than the one indicated by Kilburn (1986). It appears to be more common in French 
Polynesia than other parts of the Pacific. 
Mitromorpha (Anarithma) alphonsiana (Hervier, 1899) (Figs. 15-20) 
1899. Columbella alphonsiana Hervier, J. Conchyl, 47(4):387,pl.14,figs.2,2a. 
TYPE LOCALITY. Lifu, Loyalty Islands. 
DISTRIBUTION. From New Caledonia to the Tuamoto Archipelago (and the Hawaiian 
Is ?). 
Type specimens. The syntype illustrated by Hervier (1899), which is in the Museum 
National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris (no number), length 5.2 mm, width 2.2 mm, is 
here designated as the lectotype. The lectotype has 44 whorls of the teleoconch plus 
a partially preserved protoconch, 18 axial ribs on the body whorl and 17 ribs, 2 rows 
of nodules and 11 short spiral grooves plus 10 oblique cords on the body whorl, 
columella with a “V™-shaped groove, aperture long and narrow, outer lip slightly 
thickened posteriorly, siphonal notch prominent. The base colour is white, 2 sutural 
rows mauve in colour, body whorl with a broad mauve band which is bordered 
posteriorly by brown quadrate spots, base of shell with wavy axial brown lines (Figs. 
15-17). 
Kay (1979) reports the “holotype” of M. (A.) alphonsiana as being worn and 
smooth. Hervier (1899) examined 25 specimens from Lifu but he did not actually 
select a holotype for the species. The syntype described and illustrated by Hervier 
(1899) has been deposited in the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, and is 
carried on the register as a “paratype” (should be “syntype”) [see Fischer-Piette 1950]. 
This specimen, whichis here selected as the lectotype, is not worn smooth as stated by 
Kay (1979), but apart from a broken protoconch is in a good state of preservation with 
a good sculpture and colour. 
