Callianax baetica
Distribution: Temperate Northern Pacific realm. Cold Temperate Northeast Pacific province (Alaska to northern California). Warm Temperate Northeast Pacific province (Southern California Bight).
Distribution: Temperate Northern Pacific realm. Cold Temperate Northeast Pacific province (Alaska to northern California). Warm Temperate Northeast Pacific province (Southern California Bight).
"Quam O. alectona graciliusculior, coloribus magis nebulatis variegata; balteo castaneo, fasciato.". Recent. Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
"Narrow, dull, thin.". Recent. No locality given.
Considering Oliva baetica Carpenter, 1864, Palmer (1958: 217-218) stated: "Carpenter in the preliminary notes (1864b) to the above listed the species from Santa Barbara (p. 537), Monterey (p. 541), and in the final list (p. 661) from Santa Barbara, Oregon, California, Monterey, Puget Sound, Vancouver, and region between San Diego and San Pedro. One may, therefore, deduce that Carpenter was referring to a ubiquitous coastal Olivella north of the Gulf of California. Carpenter compared his O. baetica (p. 590) with Conrad's O. pedroana, and his procedure was followed by Gabb (1869). Carpenter did not later amplify the above brief and unidentifiable remarks and thereby indicate, as was his custom, particular specimens from a certain locality. This species was never adequately described by Carpenter. It lacked an illustration, a type, and a type locality. Either of the first two items would compensate for the useless descriptive remarks, but both are lacking. A review of the literature will reveal that the problem as to the identity of O. baetica as of Carpenter has not been satisfactorily settled. With lack of pertinent original data the problem will not be settled from a Carpenter source.".
We hereby follow Palmer (1958: 217-218) by accepting Oliva baetica Marrat, 1871, as the first valid description of the species otherwise known better as Olivella baetica (Carpenter, 1864).
"Shell ovate fusiform, rather inflated; spire considerably exserted, canaliculate; suture with large brown blotches; white, with broad wavy brown lines, which become darker about the belt; belt white; columella rounded, basal band white; a single deep-purple fold at the base; the pattern of the shell is seen through in the interior.". Recent. Locality unknown.
"Oblongo-lanceolata, obtusa, albido-subrosea, maculis latis angulatim undulatis medio pallidis supra et infra vividis magnis notata; balteo albo columella antice plicis duabus purpureis obliquis terminanti labio pellucido, tenui, antice infra columellam dilatato.". Recent. Vancouver's Island.
"This differs from var. pedroana in being smaller, more slender, spire not running quite as sharply to a point. Length, 10; breadth, 4 mm.". Recent. Scammon's Lagoon, Lower California, Mexico.
Holotype SU 6433.
"Shell of about the formand size of the east American O. jaspidea, with very variable coloration; whorls about seven, spire acute with a very deep and narrow channeled suture not obscured by callus; surface of the whorls brilliantly polished, smooth, except for microscopic spiral close striation which is present on all, but more uniform on particular individuals; color pale olive, yellow, or whitish, with sharp angular axial brown lines superposed between the suture and the basal fasciole, sometimes forming a tent-like pattern and sometimes reduced to fine, close, more or less cloudy zigzags; a pale band in front of the suture, usually with vivid brown zigzag pointed forward, but sometimes plain, the brown lines when present broader and stronger than elsewhere; basal fasciole short, with a marginal and an adjacent narrow fold or plait anteriorly, lighter than the body, yellow or rich bluish purple; aperture narrow, simple,with a deep sutural sinus and a moderate parietal callus when mature. Height of shell 15; of aperture 9; max. diam. 6 mm.". Recent. Entrance to San Diego Harbor, and at Scammon Lagoon, Lower California, USA.
Type material USNM 209677.