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Taxon Pages
Baryspira lactea (Kuroda, 1960)
Nomenclature
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Subfamily: DipsaccinaeGenus: Baryspira
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Synonyms: 1
SUMMARY
Distribution: Central Indo-Pacific realm. South Kuroshio province (Japan, Okinawa Island to Miyako Island (Okutani, 2000).
Kilburn & Jenner (1978) stated: "Ancilla lactea Kuroda, 1960 was based on a single specimen collected on Miyako Island in the Ryukyu group. Southwestern Japan. It has not been reported subsequently and, indeed, would be unrecognizable from the brief original description, which was unaccompanied by a figure. Through the courtesy of Dr. Masuoki Horikoshi we are able to present photographs of the holotype. Our grateful thanks are also due to Dr. Tokubei Kuroda, custodian of the holotype, and to Kuraji Nagura, who took the photographs. According to the latest classification of the Ancillinae, lactea must be referred to genus Amalda, subgenus Baryspira. It appears to be very close to the Japanese Amalda hinomotoensis (Yokoyama, 1922), but differs in its pure white color and slightly greater breadth, and in the spire callus forming a gently rounded cord where it overlaps the body whorl. There is also some resemblance to the small form (okawai Yokoyama, 1922) of the Japanese A. albocallosa (Lischke, 1873). It should be noted that pure white forms occur in several normally brown ancillids, (e.g., Amalda similis, Ancilla albisulcata, Anolacia tumida). and some variation in proportions within a species is normal. The validity of Amalda lactea must certainly be questioned, but actual specimens will be the deciding factor.".
Holotype NC - H322. Miyako Island, Ryukyo Group, Japan. Figure copied from Kilburn & Jenner, 1978.
Okutani (2000) figured a very different shell under this name, which clearly is not con-specific. For the moment, the taxon is here considered to be valid, although it will possibly fall into synonymy after revision the albocallosa-group of species.