Baryspira contusa (Reeve, 1864)

Distribution: Temperate Southern Africa realm. Agulhas province. Algoa Bay to Zululand, South Africa (Kensley, 1973: 170). Western Indo-Pacific realm. Western Indian Ocean province (Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa and Madagascar).

A species which is listed and illustrated in most works on the South African malacofauna. It is, however, quite poorly understood and many misidentifications have occured over time.

According to Kilburn & Rippey (1982: 112) three colour forms occur (cited verbatim):

1. yellowish-cream, sometimes with brown spiral lines, spire enamel white, with an orange-brown edge, columella flesh-tinged, basal callus dark orange-brown;

2. reddish- or purplish-brown, spire enamel buff with dark brown edge, basal callus chocolate-brown; [appears to be an undescribed species, please refer to Amalda cf. contusa Gratecap, 2012].

3. pinkish-brown with reddish-purple spire enamel and columella, basal callus purplish-brown. [is a distinct species, please refer to Ancilla decipiens Sowerby, 1897].