A new species of the genus Ocenebra Gray, 1847 (Gastropoda Muricidae Ocenebrinae) from southern Spain (Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract

Based on morphological characters of the shell and animal, a small new species of gastropod of the genus Ocenebra Gray, 1847 (Gastropoda Muricidae Ocenebrinae), Ocenebra aparicioae n. sp., is here described from the infralittoral coast of Murcia, southern Spain, a poorly known area in the Mediterranean Sea, and it is compared with other close related species of the family Muricidae, such as O. nicolai (Monterosato, 1884), O. helleri (Brusina, 1865) and Ocinebrina reinai Bonomolo et Crocetta, 2012.

Full text

A new species of the genus Ocenebra Gray, 1847 (Gastropoda
Muricidae Ocenebrinae) from southern Spain (Mediter-
ranean Sea)
University of Murcia, Biology Faculty. Puerto de Mazarrón, Murcia, 30860, C/ Aconcagua 11, Spain; e-mail:
cabrian98@yahoo.es
ABSTRACT Based on morphological characters of the shell and animal, a small new species of gastropod
of the genus Ocenebra Gray, 1847 (Gastropoda Muricidae Ocenebrinae), Ocenebra aparicioae
n. sp., is here described from the infralittoral coast of Murcia, southern Spain, a poorly known
area in the Mediterranean Sea, and it is compared with other close related species of the family
Muricidae, such as O. nicolai (Monterosato, 1884), O. helleri (Brusina, 1865), O. vazzanai
Crocetta, Houart et Bonomolo, 2020 and Ocinebrina reinai Bonomolo et Crocetta, 2012.
INTRODUCTION
After a series of recently published studies fo-
cused on the Ocenebra edwardsii complex (Barco
et al., 2013a, 2013b, 2016) and on the Ocinebrina
aciculata complex (Barco et al., 2017; Crocetta et
al., 2012) and performed on the basis of molecular
and morphological features, the cluttered situation
of the subfamily Ocenebrinae Cossmann, 1903 in
the Mediterranean Sea was partially clarified. The
genus Ocinebrina Jousseaume, 1880 and Ocenebra
Gray, 1847, that where until then considered mo-
nophyletic, are now separated in different clades,
and the species attributed to the Ocinebrina
edwardsii complex were placed in Ocenebra (Barco
et al., 2016). These papers also led to some new
combinations: Ocinebrina carmelae Cecalupo,
Buzzurro et Mariani, 2008 as synonym of Ocene-
bra piantonii (Cecalupo, Buzzurro & Mariani,
2008) (Barco et al., (2013b), the validation of Oce-
nebra hispidula (Pallary, 1904) as a distinct species
(Barco et al., 2013a) and the description of Ocine-
brina reinai Bonomolo et Crocetta, 2012 in Cro-
cetta et al. (2012) and Ocinebrina aegeensis
Aissaoui, Barco et Oliverio, in Barco et al. (2017)
as new species. However, Ocenebra nicolai (Mon-
terosato, 1884), Ocenebra helleri (Brusina, 1865)
and Ocenebra paddeui (Bonomolo & Buzzurro,
2006) still need molecular analysis.
The study of the area of Isla del Fraile and
other enclaves in the Hornillo Bay (Murcia) by
scuba diving in precoralligenous and bioclastic
bottoms led to the finding of several shells and li-
ving specimens of small muricids that did not fit
with any known species and are here described as
a new species. Considering plesiomorphic simila-
rities with the Ocenebra edwardsii complex, like
the colour of the animal, the presence of a varicose
external lip, the shape, the sculpture of the shell
and the absence of labral tooth (Barco et al., 2016)
this newly described species is placed in the genus
Ocenebra.
KEY WORDS
Mollusca; Muricidae; Ocenebra aparicioae n. sp; Mediterranean.
Brian Cunningham Aparicio
Biodiversity Journal, 2020,11 (2): 565–571, https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2020.11.2.565.571
Received 16.05.2020; accepted 18.06.2020; published online 30.06.2020
http://zoobank.org/e463b374-c552-4725-90d9-415d13382c9f

ETYMOLOGY. The species is dedicated to the
author’s mother, Concepción Aparicio.
TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype H = 9.18 mm, W =
4.75 mm (MNHN-IM-2000-35617) (Figs. 1–5);
Paratype 1 H = 7.00 mm W = 3.85 mm (MNCN
15.05/XXXX) (Figs. 9, 10); Paratype 2 H = 9.29
mm W = 5.15 mm (APC) (Figs. 11, 12); Paratype
3 H = 8.92 mm W = 4.21 mm (APC) (Figs. 18-
19); Paratype 4 H = 8.72 mm W = 4.13 mm
(APC) (Figs. 13, 14); Paratype 5 H = 8.03 mm W
= 4.14 mm (APC) (Figs. 16, 17). All from type lo-
cality.
OTHER STUDIED MATERIAL. Other 13 living spe-
cimens and other 21 shells, including 3 juveniles.
DESCRIPTION OF THE HOLOTYPE. Shell of small
size for the genus, with 9.18 mm high and 4.75
wide. Solid and compact of romboidal/fusiform
shape with 4.5 convex teleoconch whorls, last
whorl consisting in 2/3 of the total shell length.
Protoconch paucispiral (Figs. 4, 5) with 1.25
whorls of 700 µm in height and 600 µm wide, with
a dark brown color, rounded, with the nucleus in-
clined to the center around 30º, smooth surface
with a very fine irregular granularity, observable
only under high magnifications. Teleoconch amber
yellow with a darker apex and dark brown spots on
the tubercles. Spiral sculpture is strong and regular,
consisting of adis-IP-abis-P1-s1-P2-s2-P3-s3-P4-
s4-P5-s5-P6-s6-ADP-MP-ABP (Fig. 15) in those
shells where all cords are clearly manifested. Pri-
mary cords are much thicker and evident than se-
condary cords. P1 is the most prominent of the
primary cords. Abis, s1, s4 and s6 are weaker and
hardly noticeable, as well as the siphonal spiral
cords, that are more diffuse, while adis, s2, s3 and
s5 are the most evident secondary cords, and are
always clearly present. There are 10 strong axial
ribs in the last whorl and strong, thick, smooth and
rounded nodes raise above the primary spiral cords
when they overlie the axial ribs, giving it a cancel-
lated/mamillated appearance, dark brown coloured,
fading in the intercostal space. These tubercles ap-
pear also in the secondary cords, especially in adis,
s2, s3 and s5. Suture is not deep, axial ribs gene-
rally touch between whorls. External lip with a
thick and jagged varicosity. Siphonal canal short,
strong, ventrally sealed in the adults by a sheet co-
ming out the columelar edge. Aperture oval and
narrow, white, with 5 internal denticles, equal in
MATERIAL AND METHODS
All the samples where handpicked during scuba
dives in Isla del Fraile, a small close-shore island
with coordinates 37°24’31”N, 1°32’48”O and other
similar enclaves in the Hornillo Bay (Águilas, Mur-
cia, Spain) at depths between -6 and -20 m on rocks
in precoralligenous and bioclastic bottoms between
October 2018 and November 2019.
The samples were studied and photographed
under a stereo microscope and some specimens
were maintained in aquarium for the study of the
animal.
Nomenclature and systematics are applied based
on MolluscaBase (2020).
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS. Fol-
lowing Merle (2001, 2005) to define spiral sculp-
ture: Abapical infrasutural secondary cord (abis);
adapical infrasutural secondary cord (adis); infra-
sutural primary cord (IP); primary cord (P); secon-
dary cord (s). Other abbreviations and acronyms:
Author’s personal collection (APC); maximum hei-
ght (H); Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales,
Madrid, España (MNCN); Muséum National d’Hi-
stoire Naturelle, París, France (MNHN); maximum
width of the last teleoconch whorl (W).
RESULTS
Systematics
Classis GASTROPODA Cuvier, 1795
Subclassis CAENOGRASTROPODA Cox, 1960
Superfamilia MURICOIDEA Rafinesque, 1815
Familia MURICIDAE Rafinesque, 1815
Subfamilia OCENEBRINAE Cossmann, 1903
Genus Ocenebra Gary, 1847
TYPE-SPECIES. Murex erinaceus Linnaeus, 1758 (by
monotypy)
Ocenebra aparicioae n. sp. (Figs. 1–29)
http://zoobank.org/f0e877c3-ac1a-4a6b-afa9-
9f1bdc15c97f
TYPE LOCALITY. Hornillo bay, Águilas, Murcia,
Spain, sciafilic-precoralligenous bottoms between
-6 and -20 meters deep.
BRIAN CUNNINGHAM A PARICIO
566

A new species of the genus Ocenebra Gray, 1847 (Gastropoda Muricidae Ocenebrinae) from southern Spain
size (D1–D5). Columellar lip narrow and adherent,
smooth and white. The soft parts (Figs. 6–8) pre-
sent a translucent cream to yellow pigmentation,
splashed with small shiny white-yellow spots con-
centrated in the foot and the tentacles, the latter
being long, translucent and densely spotted with
bright yellow especially from the eye to the end of
the tentacle. Operculum corneus and eccentric,
with a soft brown to orange colour.
VARIABILITY. As typical in the group, intraspe-
cific variability is observable, but less markedly
compared to other species of the genus.
The observed shell size range was between 7.52
to 10.30 mm high and 3.85 to 5.51 mm wide, with
4.5 to 5 teleoconch whorls. Axial ribs are between
9-11 in the last whorl, and rarely (only in 3 of the
specimens studied) an erratic varicosity in the last
whorl is observed. Abis, s1, s4 and s6 can someti-
mes be unnoticeable. The aperture in less mature
shells can occasionally be pale brown or purple.
In some specimens the shape can be more
rhomboidal-like or more fusiform. The colour of
the shell can include the presence of a cream to
white spiral line along P2 or in both P2 and P5,
where the brown colour of the tubercles on these
cords can fade with the white (Figs. 22, 23) or
either still be present over the white band (Fig. 28,
29). It has also been observed the almost complete
vanishing of all the brown spots on the tubercles,
leading to a uniform amber colour, but this condi-
tion as only been observed in one specimen which
could be considered old and sligthly eroded.
DISTRIBUTION AND BIOLOGY. The new species
seems to have preferences to well developed scapes,
with high bentic organism density (sciafilic/preco-
ralligenous community) at depths between 6 and 20
m with moderate hydrodinamism and a complex
geomorphology, where it appears on rocks highly
affected by biologic activity, piled in such way they
provide abundant wide shelters and space between
them.
COMPATIVE NOTES. The most similar related
species to O. apariciae n. sp. is O. nicolai (Mon-
terosato, 1884) whose sculpture tends to be less
marked, more irregular and does not develop no-
dules, has a lower number of axial ribs and being
the suture deeper, leading to more convex whorls.
Ocenebra nicolai seems to be distributed in the Io-
nian, Thyrrhenian and Ligurian seas (Russo,
2018), however its presence should not be dis-
carded in the Adriatic Sea, and in the Alborán Sea
with an interesting red coral bottoms population
in the Gibraltar strait, along the Morocco’s side,
which need further studies. Despite this, O. nicolai
is not signaled in the coasts of Andalucía (Gofas
et al., 2011) but it is considered as a possible deep
water ecophenotype of O. edwardsii (Payraudeau,
1826). This could be explained by the fact that
only a deep water or intermediate form of O. ed-
wardsii was actually studied and not the actual O.
nicolai, as could be argued by the specimen fig-
ured, which does not match well with the classical
interpretation of this taxon.
Another similar species is O. helleri (Brusina,
1865), whose taxonomy is confusing and still under
discussion (Russo, 2018). It is present in the Tyrrhe-
nian and Adriatic seas, and recently cited in Helle-
nic waters (Mbazios et al., 2020) with a shell which
tends to have a more elongated shape, also a deeper
suture and more convex whorls, with a more pro-
minent siphonal canal, presenting also a higher
number of spiral cords and 6 up to 7 internal denti-
cles, unlike O. aparicioae n. sp. that shows only 5.
It is interesting to note that this species seems to
share a homoplasic feature with Ocinebrina reinai
Bonomolo et Crocetta, 2012 (Figs. 30, 31) in the
presence of dark spotting on the nodes of the spiral
cords, making the shells look similar at first sight,
but easily distinguishable by the strong and jagged
varix in the outer lip of O. aparicioae n. sp., being
much weaker or absent and barely crenulated in Oc.
reinai. The difference between primary and secon-
dary cords of the spiral sculpture is more obvious
in O. aparicioae n. sp., resulting in a more cramped
appearance on the sculpture of Oc. reinai. Ocine-
brina reinai shows 6 to 7 internal denticles, while
O. aparicioae n. sp. always shows 5. Other confir-
ming aspect is the colouration of the animal that ap-
pears reddish in Oc. reinai and all the components
of the Oc. aciculata complex, while it is translucent
yellow in O. aparicioae n. sp.
During the printing phase of this article, the re-
port of a new species of the genus Ocenebra was
received: O. vazzanai Crocetta, Houart et Bono-
molo, 2020. This new species seems to be endemic
of a submarine cave of the Messina Strait area and
shows a similar aspect with O. aparicioae n. sp.
However, O. aparicioae n. sp. differs from O. vaz-
zanai in size, being much smaller, since O. vazzanai
567

Figures 1-15. Ocenebra aparicioae n. sp., all from the type locality: Hornillo bay, Águilas, Murcia, Spain. Figs. 1-5: holotype,
H = 9.18 mm. W = 4.75 mm. (MNHN). Figs. 4, 5: detail of the protoconch. Figs. 6, 8: detail of the animal. Figs. 9, 10: pa-
ratype 1, H = 7.00 mm. W = 3.85 mm. (MNCN). Figs. 11, 12: paratype 2, H = 9.29 mm. W = 5.15 mm. Figs. 13, 14: paratype
4, H = 8.72 mm. W = 4.13 mm. Fig. 15: Outline naming the spiral sculpture of the last whorl.
BRIAN CUNNINGHAM A PARICIO
568

Figures 16-29. Ocenebra aparicioae n. sp., all from type locality. Figs. 16, 17. paratype 5, H = 8.03 mm. W = 4.14 mm. .
Figs. 18, 19: paratype 3, H = 8.92 mm. W = 4.21 mm. Figs. 20, 21: juvenile H = 6.50 mm. W = 3.31 mm. Figs. 22, 23: H =
8.38 mm. W = 4.36 mm. Figs. 24, 25: H = 8.19 mm. W = 4.32 mm. Figs. 26, 27: H = 7.64 mm. W = 4.18 mm. Figs. 28.29:
H = 7.88 mm. W = 4.34 mm. Figs. 30, 31: Ocinebrina reinai Bonomolo et Crocetta, 2012, topotype H = 9.77 mm. W = 4.88
mm. Secche di Tor Paterno, -35 m.
A new species of the genus Ocenebra Gray, 1847 (Gastropoda Muricidae Ocenebrinae) from southern Spain 569

is in average twice as big and developes one more
whorl, the colour, being the apex dark brown, is in
contrast with the lighter teleoconch, while it is more
uniform in O. vazzanai. The shape and sculpture are
also different, as O. vazzanai shows a deeper suture,
spiny appearance, specially in the last whorls, with
a taller and more expanded labral varix and a wider
apperture with a spiny edge. O. aparicioae also
shows more spiral sculpture, with a prominent and
always present adis. Habitat depth range seems to
be also different, living O. vazzanai at around 50 m
while O. aparicioae n. sp. has not been found under
20 meters.
As the shell of O. aparicioae n. sp. is so parti-
cular and does not resemble like any other not men-
tioned Mediterranean or northeastern Atlantic
species, a comparision with other species is consi-
dered not required, excluding also the possibility of
being an alien species.
DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
Evident morphological divergences have been
observed between specimens studied and their con-
generes and allowed to unequivocally distinguish
and describe this taxon as new, being the most no-
table characters its small size, the marked regular
axial and spiral sculpture leading to prominent and
smooth nodes, the strong difference between pri-
mary and secondary cords and the constant ten-
dency of this secondary cords to appear more or less
marked depending on the sector, the shape and the
striking colouration of the shell and soft parts. It is
likely to complement with molecular analysis all
these morphological characters above outlined in
further studies.
Size is a remarkable factor, being this new
species much smaller in average compared to its
mentioned congeners. Considering only complete
and adult specimens, the height average of the 34
shells measured is 8.78 mm, with only 2 shells
reaching one centimeter (max. height observed was
10.30 mm) making it the smallest species of the
genus.
In the studied area, at the lowest depth sampling
ranges, few dead shells with hermit crabs of O. ed-
wardsii were found, coming from shallower levels.
These shells showed a thicker shell, with a much
wider and purple aperture, clearly smaller proto-
conch, lower spiral sculpture with a slight differ-
ence between primary and secondary cords, and a
less numerous (7–8 axial ribs in the last whorl) but
higher and broader axial sculpture. Despite the fact
that O. edwardsii is a highly variable species, O.
aparicioae n. sp. does not fit to the characteristics
of any of its forms.
Moreover, the shape and number of whorls of
the protoconch of O. aparicioae seem to imply that
a non planktotrophic larva is involved, which sug-
gests a low dispersal capability of this species.
The new species seems to be rare, notwithstand-
ing that the sampling was complicated by the envi-
ronmental difficulties of the studied area especially
in Isla del Fraile, where sciafilic algae and preco-
raligenous community dominate the bottom, and the
abrupt geomorphism and the abundant calcareous
organisms compound a complex seascape with
many cracks and hiding places. The most abundant
organisms in this community were represented by
rhodophytic and pheophytic algae, colonial stony
corals (Hoplangia durotrix Gosse, 1860), bry-
ozooans as Myriapora truncata (Pallas, 1766),
Reteporella grimaldii (Jullien, 1903) and Bugula sp.,
ascidians as Ascidia sp., Brotryllus sp., Clavelina
sp., Didemnum sp., Halocynthia papillosa (Lin-
naeus, 1767)…), sponges as Clathrina sp., Cliona
sp., Chondrosia sp., Crambe crambe (Schmidh,
1862), Dysidea sp., and Phorbas sp., Sycon sp.,
polychaetes and abundant bivalves attached to the
rocks, like Barbatia barbata (Linnaeus, 1758), Arca
noae Linnaeus, 1758, Cardita calyculata (Linnaeus,
1758), Striarca lactea (Linnaeus, 1758), Lima lima
(Linnaeus, 1758), Mimachlamys varia (Linnaeus,
1758), Talochlamys multistriata (Poli, 1795) of
which O. aparicioae n. sp. may feed upon. There are
also gastropods such as Calliostoma sp., Gibbula
sp., Jujubinus sp., Raphitoma sp., Alvania sp., Tritia
sp., Naria spurca (Linnaeus, 1758), Luria lurida
(Linnaeus, 1758), Fusinus cretellai Buzzurro et
Russo, 2008, Muricopsis cristata (Brocchi, 1814),
among others, compounding a very complex habitat
ideal for many other species.
It is suitable to say that this specific habitat
tastes, in addition to the lack of study of the area in
this ambit and the probable limited range distribu-
tion due to a non planktotrophic development, may
be the reason why this species was not noticed be-
fore. This reminds us that restricted and specific en-
claves can be potential reservoirs for unknown
BRIAN CUNNINGHAM A PARICIO
570

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am grateful to Alfredo Sánchez Hernández (San-
tander, Spain) from the International Prehistoric In-
vestigation Institute of Cantabria (IIIPC) for the
photo edition and to Lorena Gomariz Martínez
(University of Murcia, Spain) for recommending
me a photo editor, Dr. Ivan Mulero Mendez (Mur-
cia, Spain) for participating in the sampling, Diego
Moreno (Cabo de Gata, Almería, Spain) and Walter
Renda (Amantea, Cosenza, Italy) for reading the
manuscript and giving their valuable suggestions.
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