Gori, S.

Houart, R.

Ryall, P.

Open Marine Archive

R. HOUART, S. GORI & P. RYALL NOVAPEX 12(3-4): 91-97, 10 octobre 2011 
New record of Typhinellus labiatus (Cristofori & Jan, 1832) (Gastropoda: 
Muricidae) from Sao Tome and Principe and discussion about its 
classification and geographical distribution 
Roland HOUART 
Research Associate 
Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique 
Rue Vautier, 29, B-1000 Bruxelles, Belgium 
roland.houart@skynet. be 
Sandro GORI 
Via Semesi, 7 
57123 Livomo, Italy 
sandrogori@fastwebnet.it 
PeterRYALL 
St Ulrich 16 
A -9161 M aria Rain, Austria 
peterryall1 @hotmail.com 
KEY WORDS. Gulf of Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, biogeography, Muricidae, Typhinae. 
ABSTRACT. The natural history of the islands ofSao Tome and Principe is briefly discussed and a 
new record of a large typhine from Sao Tome and Principe is commented. The examined specimens 
belongs to Typhinellus and are compared with the type species T labiatus (Cristofori & Jan, 1832), 
occasionally better known as T sowerbii (Sowerby, 1833), a junior synonym. A list of the Muricidae 
collected in these islands is given in the appendix. 
INTRODUCTION 
Sao Tome and Principe Islands are a group of small 
islands, relict of an ancient volcanic mountain range 
situated off the west African coast. They consists of two 
principal islands, Sao Tome and Principe. They lie 
along a magmatic geological feature known as the 
Guinea line which is a flaw in the African tectonic 
plate more or less 1500 kms long that has served as a 
channel for magmas for million of years. The Guinea 
line extends across the ocean continent and magmatic 
extrusions up through it have given rise to major 
oceanic and continental relief extending from 
southwest to northeast, including the islands of 
Annobon, Sao Tome, Principe and Bioko and the 
mainland features of Mount Cameroon, the Cameroon 
highlands and the Jos plateau of Nigeria (Drewes & 
Wilkinson, 2004). 
The islands of Annobon, Sao Tome and Principe 
are long known for the high level of endemism in their 
biota and some taxa are shared in the latter two. The 
three islands are separated from each other and from 
the West African coast by ocean depth up to 3000 m. 
Principe islands is geologically the oldest. Sao Tome 
being the largest with 850 square kilometers is situated 
on the equator line, south of Principe island and with 
other small islets (Ilheu das Cabras, Ilheu Santana, 
Sete Pedras, Ilheu das Rotas, Ilheus Gabado/San 
Miguel and Ilheu Coca near Sao Tome; Ilheu Tinhosa 
grande, Ilheu Tinhosa pequena, Ilheu Bone de Joquei, 
Pedra Gale and Ilheu dos Mosteiros near Principe). 
Sao Tome, Principe and the small islets form the 
Republic of Sao Tome and Principe. 
One of the junior authors (SG) has travelled several 
times to both Islands, collecting eight times in Sao 
Tome and twice in Principe. Collecting has been in 
various habitats and with different methods (scuba 
diving, using tangle nets or washing dead corals and 
small stones) both by day and night producing a 
sampling from 5 to 40 m depth. 
Previous research has been conducted by a number 
of earlier collectors as summarized by Femandes & 
Rohin (1993) who themselves collected extensively in 
the islands primarily by snorkelling. Other recent 
works concerning muricids from the islands include 
Femandes & Rolan (1990), Rolan & Fernandes (1991), 
Houart & Rolan (2001). Thanks to the introduction of 
scuba facilities in the area it was also possible more 
recently to explore the rocky coastlines more 
intimately and other new species of Muricidae have 
been described : Houart (2005), Rolan & Gori (2007), 
Houart & Gori (2008). 
Among the various muricids collected in both 
Islands (see appendix), a large typhine has led to a 
careful and refined examination. 
Typhinae species have a small size, rarely exceeding 
40 mm in height, and have the particularity to grow 
hollow tubes (Fig. I) situated between each pair of 
varices. These anal tubes are gradually closed and 
broken during the growth of the shell , only the last tube 
91 
R. HOUART, S. GORl & P. RYALL 
remains open and can be long to very long when intact 
(Fig. 17 ). 
The situation of these tubes compared to the axial 
varices is used among other things as a tool for their 
generic classification. These tubes may be either 
situated half way between the varices or nearest to 
preceeding or succeeding varix, or even originate from 
the varix itself. The shell of Typhinae also has a sealed 
siphonal canal, four or very rarely five varices per 
whorl and, in some genera, a partition (Fig. 1 ), which is 
a lamellar outgrowth, or erect plate, joining the last 
varix of the whorl with the previous one. The edge of 
the aperture is erect and forms an entire peristome. 
The examined protoconchs of all the Recent species are 
paucispiral, consisting of 1.5 to 2 whorls. 
Abbreviations 
JLD: Col!. Jean-Louis Delemarre - P: Principe - PR: 
Col!. Peter Ryall - RH: Col!. Roland Houart- SG: Col!. 
Sandro Gori - ST: Sao Tome - lv: live-taken specimen 
- dd: empty shell. 
Descriptions of spiral sculpture use the terminology 
introduced by Mer le (1999, 2001 ): 
P- Primary cord; P1 - Shoulder cord; P2-P6- Primary 
cords of the convex part of the teleoconch whorl. 
SYSTEMATICS 
Family TYPHINAE Cossmann, 1903 
Genus Typhinellus Jousseaume, 1880 
Type species by original designation: Typhis sowerbii 
Broderip, 1833 = Murex labiatus Cristofori & Jan, 
1832, Mediterranean, East Atlantic 
The shells belonging to Typhinellus are characterized in 
having a partition. There are four flange-like, frilled 
varices, constricted above the aperture and flaring at its 
abapical end; the varical flange of the last teleoconch 
whorl extends to almost the tip of the siphonal canal. 
The anal tube does not originate from the varix but is 
situated near the preceeding varix, and adpressed to the 
preceeding partition. 
Typhinellus labiatus (Cristofori & Jan, 1832) 
Figs 1-29 
Murex fistulatus Risso, 1826 (not Muricites fistulatus 
Schlotheim, 1820). 
Murex labiatus Cristofori & Jan, 1832 
Typhis sowerbii Broderip, 1833 
Murex tetrapterus Bronn, 1838 
Murex syphonellus Bonelli in Bellardi & Michelloti, 
1841 
Typhis (Typhinellus) tetrapterus var. protetrapterus 
Sacco, 1890 
Typhis sowerbyi var.julva Pallary, 1906 
Typhis sowerbyi var. minor Pallary, 1906 
Typhis (Cephonochelus) recens Nordsieck, 1972 
Typhis sowerbyi elongatus Settepassi, 1977 
92 
New record of Typhinellus labiatus 
Material examined from Slio Tome and Principe 
Slio Tome. In fine sand and silt, 6 m, 1 lv (PR) (Figs 
11-14); Ubabudu Reef, NE Sao Tome, 00°15'804" N, 
06°45'569" E, 20 m, 1 dd (PR); Lagoa Azul, NW Sao 
Tome, 1 lv (SG) (Figs 6-7); Lagoa Azul, NW Sao 
Tome, 10-14 m, 1 lv (SG); Lagoa Azul, NW Sao Tome, 
15 m, 1 lv (SG) 
Principe. Bahia das Agulhas, 01 °36'06" N, 07°20'55" 
E, 15 m, 1 lv (SG) (Figs 9-1 0); Praia Evora, San 
Antonio, 01 °38'24" N, 07°26'34" E, 7 m, on muddy 
sand, 1 dd (SG). 
DISCUSSION 
Keen (1944: 56) regarded Murex labiatus as a 
possible species dubium (sic) because Bellardi (1873) 
had earlier placed Murex labiatus in the synonymy of 
M fistulosus Brocchi, 1814. Her decision was tentative 
because she had not seen a copy of their work and later 
Gertman (1969: 156) considered it was best to follow 
Keen's suggestion and consider Murex labiatus as a 
nomen dubium. However, the lectotype of Murex 
labiatus was figured afterwards by Pinna (1971: pl. 76, 
fig. 12) and by Pinna & Spezia (1978: pi. 35, fig. 1). 
Typhis labiatus was described from the Pliocene of 
Castell'Arquato and is undoubtedly conspecific with the 
Recent Typhinellus sowerbii. A Pliocene specimen 
from Castell'Arquato is here illustrated for comparison 
(Figs 23-24). Typhinellus labiatus was also commented 
and illustrated by Houart (2001). 
There are no stable differences observed between 
the Mediterranean shells and the specimens collected in 
Sao Tome and Principe. The specimens from West 
Africa are larger, occasionally almost twice as big as the 
Mediterranean shell but also with at least one additional 
teleoconch whorl. The spire looks also to be lower but 
we could not yet examine a specimen from Sao Tome 
or Principe with an intact apex, all of them having the 
first whorls eroded, so that : 
1. The spire could be as high than in T labiatus from 
the Mediterranean if we add the protoconch and 
teleoconch whorls 1 and 2. 
2. We don't know exactly the number of teleoconch 
whorls in the specimens from Sao Tome and Principe, 
although the larger ones probably has 6 or 6.5 
teleoconch whorls vs 4.5 or 5.5 in the examined 
Mediterranean specimens; as a reminder also, one of 
the syntypes of Typhis sowerbii is a large specimen of 
24.5 mm (Fig. 2). 
The axial sculpture consists of 4 rounded varices 
with a sharp lamellae, ending with a short, strongly 
recurved spine at shoulder. The anal tube is strongly 
backward recurved, forming an angle of approximately 
65-85° with the axis of the shell. The last anal tube 
(when intact) is long and hollow, the others are 
gradually shorter and closed. They are strongly 
adpressed to the preceding partition. The spiral 
sculpture consists of low cords, more apparent on the 
R. HOUART, S. GORI & P. RYALL 
. -Analtube~ 
P1--
P2 
P3 
P4 
1 
3 
NOVAPEX 12(3-4): 91-97, 10 octobre 2011 
2 
4 
Figures 1-4- Typhinellus labiatus (Cristofori & Jan, 1832) 
1. Nomenclature. Livorno, Italy, 13.6 mm, (RH). 
2. Syntype of Typhis sowerbiiBroderip, 1833, Mediterranean, 24.5 mm, BMNH 197461. 
3-4. Protoconch. SEM J. Cillis, IRSNB, scale bars 1000 J.Lm. 
varices, ending as more or less recurved, short spines on 
varices. There are 6 primary cords (Fig. 1), Pl-P6, 
occasionally shallow or almost obsolete in some 
specimens, sometimes with one to three secondary 
cords between P2 and P3 and/or P3 and P4, or P5 and 
P6. 
The protoconch has not yet been examined. The 
protoconch of Mediterranean specimens consists of 1.5-
1.75 whorls (Figs 3-4). 
Other specimens of T labiatus were reported from 
the western Atlantic. Gertman (1969: pi. 1, fig 5a-5c) 
illustrated a typical specimen of 17 mm from the 
Leeward Islands, near Nevis and reported the species 
also from Portobelo, Panama, from off Texas and from 
Egmont Key, Florida. Other specimens from the 
western Atlantic are occasionally larger and broader 
(Figs 25-29) but like Gertman (1969: 156), we also feel 
that these differences are within the range of variation 
ofT labiatus. 
A specimen collected in Principe by SG was eating 
a small bivalve. 
Fernandes & Rolan (1993: 38) reported they had 
collected in Sao Tome a species they recorded as 
Typhis cf clarki Keen & Campbell, 1964. We suspect 
these authors were referring to the species which is the 
basis of this paper as one of the current authors (PR) 
93 
R. HOUART, S. GORJ & P. RYALL 
has material from the late Francisco Femandes herein 
illustrated (fig. !1-14). 
Houart (1997: 84-85, figs. 234, 235 ) illustrates a 
specimen of Typhina expansa (Sowerby, 1873) as 
Typhis (Talityphis) expansus from the geographically 
close area of Ile Banie, Gabon. However this species 
lives in a different substrata of very fine and thick 
sediment washed down the nearby rivers. The animal 
lives submerged in detritus and only the tip of the canal 
exits the surface (PR personal observation). In the 
islands, however, T labiatus live on silty or muddy 
Figure 5. Distribution map of Typhinellus labiatus 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
We are grateful to Emilio Rohin (Museo de Historia 
Natural, Santiago de Compostela, Spain) and Jean-
Louis Delemarre (St. Nazaire, France) for checking the 
list of species collected in Sao Tome and Principe and 
for their comments. 
Sandro Gori also thanks Jean-Louis Testori, owner 
of Club Maxel diving Center of Sao Tome and all his 
team, composed by Edmilson Augusto, Lucas Tabares, 
Helder Brito, Apolo Pires, Esmael Cristovao, Eslander 
New record of Typhinellus labiatus 
sand (SG). Typhina and T expansa can be distinguished 
from Typhinellus by having a varical flange broadly 
expanded adapically, extending to midway of the 
siphonal canal; by having a broader last teleoconch 
whorl relative to the shell height, and by having the 
anal tube near the preceeding varix, but not adpressed 
as in Typhinellus. 
The examination of the syntypes of T belcheri proved 
Typhina to be congeneric with Talityphis (Houart, 
2002). 
.. 
· . 
.. : 
Campos and Armando Pires, that with patience and skill 
help him during the researches 
REFERENCES 
Bellardi , L. 1873. I Molluschi dei terreni terziarii del 
Piemonte e delle Liguria. Part 1: Cephalopoda, 
Pteropoda, Heteropoda, Gasteropoda (Muricidae e 
Tritonidae). Memorie della Reale Accademia delle 
Scienze di Torino, ser. 2, vol. 27: 33-324. 
Figures 6-29- Typhinellus labiatus (Cristofori & Jan, 1832) 
6-8. Sao Tome, Lagoa Azu1, 31.2 mm, (SG); 9-10. Bahia das Agulhas, Principe, 15 m, 24.1 mm, (SG); 
11-14. OffSao Tome, 6 m, in fine sand/silt, 21.9 mm, (PR); 15-17. Kerkennah, Tunisia, 20.1 mm, (RH); 
18-20. Kerkennah, Tunisia, 15.2 mm, (RH); 21-22. Mallorca, 16.6 mm, (RH); 23-24. Castell'Arquato, Piacenza, 
Italie, Pliocene, 16.8 mm, (RH); 25-26. Portobelo, East Panama, 60 m, 28.7 mm, (RH); 27-29. Portobelo, East 
Panama, 60 m, 26.5 mm, (RH). 
94 
R . HOUART, S. GORI & P. RYALL NOVAPEX 12(3-4): 91-97, 10 octobre 2011 
95 
R . HOUART, S. GORI & P. RYALL 
Drewes, R.C. & Wilkinson, J. A. 2004. The California 
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(Gastropoda: Muricidae) from New Caledonia 
with comments on some generic classifications 
within the subfamily. Venus 61(3-4): 147-159. 
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Muricopsinae) from Sao Tome, West Africa. 
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New record of Typhinellus labiatus 
from Northwest Sao Tome. Novapex 9(4): 149-
153 . 
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(Gastroposa, Muricidae) from Annob6n Island, 
Eastern Atlantic. Novapex 2(2) : 61-66. 
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gastropod subfamily Typhinae. Journal of 
Paleontology 18 (1 ): 50-72. 
Merle D. 1999. La radiation des Muricidae 
(Gastropoda: Neogastropoda) au Paleogene: 
approche phylogenetique et evolutive. Paris. 
Unpublished thesis, Museum national d'Histoire 
naturelle : i-vi, 499 pp. 
Merle D. 2001. The spiral cords and the internal 
denticles of the outer lip in the Muricidae: 
terminology and methodological comments. 
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Pinna, G. 1971. I Tipi delle specie di Gasteropodi 
terziari istituite de Giuseppe De Cristofori e Giorgio 
Jan ne! 1832 conservati nelle collezioni del Museo 
Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano. Atti Societa 
ltaliana Scienza Naturale et Museo Civico di Storia 
Naturale di Milano 112: 421-440. 
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dei gasteropodi fossili. Atti Societa Italiana Scienza 
Naturale et Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di 
Milano 119(2): 125-180. 
Rolan, E. & Fernandes, F. 1991. Muricopsis 
(Risomurex) (Gastropoda, Muricidae) de !as is1as de 
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R. HOUART, S. GORI & P. RYALL NOVAPEX 12(3-4): 91-97, 10 octobre 2011 
Appendix 
List of Muricidae (excluding Coralliophilinae) collected in Siio Tome (ST) and Principe (P) 
(*) = endemic 
Bolinus cornutus (Linnaeus, 1758) (ST) 
Hexaplex rosarium (Roding, 1798) (ST & P) 
Favartia (Favartia) emersoni (Radwin & D'Attilio, 1976 (ST) 
Favartia (Murexiella) bojadorensis (Locard, 1897) (ST) 
Homalocantha melanamathos (Gmelin, 1791) (ST & P) 
Muricopsis delemarrei Houart, 2005 (ST & P) (*) 
Femandes & Rolan, 1993 
JLD, PR, SG, Femandes & Rolan, 1993 
SG, new record 
SG, new record 
SG, new record 
JLD, PR, RH, SG 
PR, RH, SG Muricopsis hernandezi Rollin & Gori, 2007 (ST) (*) 
Muricopsis matildeae Rolan & Femandes, 1991 (ST) (*) 
Muricopsis principensis Rolan & Femandes, 1991 (P) (*) 
JLD, PR, RH, SG, Femandes & Rolan, 1993 
PR 
Muricopsis rutilus mariangelae Rolan & Femandes, 1991 (ST & P) (*) 
Muricopsis testorii Houart & Gori, 2008 (ST) (*) 
JLD, PR, RH, SG, Femandes & Rolan, 1993 
PR, RH, SG 
Pradoxa confirmata Femandes & Rolan, 1989 (ST & P) (*) 
Pradoxa thomensis Femandes & Rolan, 1989 (ST & P) (*) 
Inermicosta inermicosta (Vokes, 1871) (ST & P) 
JLD, PR, RH, SG, Femandes & Rolan, 1993 
PR, RH, SG, Fernandes & Rolan, 1993 
JLD, Femandes & Rolan, 1993 
JLD, PR, SG, Femandes & Rolan, 1993 Morula nodulosa (C.B. Adams, 1845) (ST & P) 
Trachypolia turricula (Maltzan, 1884) (ST & P) PR (maybe reported in Femandes & Rolan, 
1993 as Ocinebrina suga ) 
Stramonita haemastoma (Linnaeus, 1767) (ST & P) 
Thais nodosa (Linnaeus, 1767) (ST & P) 
JLD, Femandes & Rolan, 1993 
JLD, Femandes & Rolan, 1993 
Typhinellus labiatus (Cristofori & Jan, 1832) (ST & P) PR, SG (maybe reported in Fernandes & Rolan, 
1993 as Typhis cf clarcki) 
A few species mentioned by Femandes & Rolan ( 1993) are questionable or/and actually junior synonyms. They 
were mostly quoted from older records: 
Murex turbinatus Lamarck, 1822. Is a synonym of Hexaplex duplex (Roding, 1798) 
Murex hoplites Fischer, 1876. Is a synonym of Hexaplex duplex (R6ding, 1798) 
Murex tumulosus Sowerby, 1841. Is a synonym of Bolinus cornutus (Linnaeus, 1758) (see above) 
Muricopsis blainvillei Payraudeau, 1826. Is a synonym of Muricopsis cristatus (Brocchi, 1814) 
As mentioned by Fernandes & Rolan (1993: 45 [C9]): "we have not found this species and the record is 
probably due to the confusion with some of the recently described species and mentioned in the list" , this makes 
reference to Muricopsis mariangelae and M matildae (E. Rolan in litt.). 
Ocinebrina suga (Fischer-Piette, 1942). See above under Trachypollia turricula 
Typhis cf. clarki Keen & Campbell, 1964. See above under Typhinellus labiatus 
Thais ascensionis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832). Is a synonym of Thais nodosa (see above) 
Thais neritoidea (Linne, 1767). Is a synonym of Thais nodosa (see above) 
97 


New record of <i>Typhinellus labiatus</i> (Cristofori & Jan, 1832) (Gastropoda: Muricidae) from São Tomé and Principe and discussion about its classification and geographical distribution

New record of <i>Typhinellus labiatus</i> (Cristofori & Jan, 1832) (Gastropoda: Muricidae) from São Tomé and Principe and discussion about its classification and geographical distribution

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