Oliva chrysoplecta Tursch & Greifeneder, 1989 [Invalid]

"General aspect. This subovate to biconic Oliva shell is of small size (17 to 26 mm) with an average breadth to length ratio of 0.45 (0.40 to 0.48). The exserted spire has a conical profile and an average height of 27% of the total shell length. The protoconch is small and pointed. The suture is narrow. The aperture is narrow. The inner lip has about 11 distinct callus plaits. The upper margin of the fasciolar band meets the inner lip at an average 36% of the total shell length (50% of the lip length). The outer lip is rounded and solid but not very thick. In contrast to Oliva esiodina Duclos, the outer lip is not parallel to the shell axis but rather parallel to the inner lip. Colour pattern. The ground colour of the shell is whitish to cream, as seen in the aperture. In some specimens, the aperture has an axial brown band, in some others two or more grey-brown blotches are present on the inner margin of the outer lip. The colour pattern of all shells of the species has a rather light overall aspect. Most specimens of the new species can be assigned to one of the two main colour forms "ePS" or "IPS". It is important to remember that intergrading specimens "xPS" are not unfrequent and prove the conspecificity of both colour forms. For easier reference, the "ePS" colour form (Oliva esiodina Petuch and Sargent, 1986 (non Duclos, 1844)) could called the "reticulate colour form" and the "IPS" colour form (Oliva lentiginosa Petuch and Sargent, 1986 (non Reeve, 1850)) the "spotted colour form". In both colour forms the smallest pattern units are minute V-shaped brown spots ("micro-chevrons") of about 0.2 mm, opening in the shell growth direction. In the reticulate colour form ("ePS") these "micro-chevrons" coalesce into longer strokes of several millimeters. Under magnification these strokes often show a "hairy" or "thorny" appearance, due to the unjoined legs of the "micro-chevrons". These larger strokes build the usual larger V-shaped chevrons of some millimeters, also opening in the shell growth direction and with the "hairs" or "thorns" of the"micro-chevrons" always directed to the inside of the V. The larger chevrons join to form axial ziczac lines. These can either run more or less parallel to each other (forming a pattern reminiscent of that seen at the surface of glaciers) or they can contact each other (giving a mirror image impression) and build a meshwork of many rhombs. In every case, the pattern of the reticulate colour form ("ePS") of Oliva chrysoplecta is one of the finest, neatest and most distinct amongst all Oliva species. The last whorl of adult specimens generally has a 1 to 2 mm subsutural zone nearly devoid of any kind of pattern, whilst the earlier whorls of the spire show the subsutural markings found on the body whorl of the spotted colour form ("IPS"). The fasciolar band is nearly unmarked, except for some faint comma-like strokes. In the spotted colour form ("IPS") the "micro-chevrons" form a very faint and minute "tent pattern". Some of the "micro-chevrons" are much more pigmented, giving the pattem a puncticulate appearance. This small pattern is arranged into a larger ten-mark pattern with the tops of the white triangular "tents" of all sizes pointing in the shell growth direction. One can also translate this by saying that between two converging brown lines the shell surface is always white, whilst the surface between diverging brown lines can be filled with minute brown tent-marks or with diffuse axial brown zones. A subsutural pattern formed of purplish-brown blotches, (somewhat resembling that of Oliva panniculata Duclos) and sometimes shaped like a birdwing regularly occurs in this form, including on the body whorl, in contrast to the reticulate colour form ("ePS"). The pattern of the body whorl reaches up to the subsutural markings, leaving no empty spiral zone (as it is the case in the reticulate colour form ("ePS"). The fasciolar band contains more comma-like and wavy lines as in the other form. An abapical spiral zone in which the pattern is darker and more contrasted is always present, a similar shoulder band is occasional.". Recent. Subic Bay, Philippines.