120 THE NAUTILUS
October 31, 1986
Vol. 100(4)
CANTHARUS MULTANGULUS NEW SUBSPECIES
GRANDANUS FROM NORTHWEST FLORIDA (BUCCINIDAE)
R. Tucker Abbott
American Malacologists, Inc.
Melbourne, Florida 32902-2255
During the last few years, members of the
Gulf Coast Shell Club in Panama City, north-
west Florida, have been very active in surveying
the marine mollusks of their area. In fact, they
have published several checklists and in 1983
issued their illustrated Seashells of Bay County
and the Gulf Coast. In 1982, Robert Granda, and
later other members, collected and sent me an
unusual form of Cantharus which I now take
pleasure in naming after its original discoverer.
Family Buccinidae Rafinesque, 1815
Genus Canthnrn.'^ Roding, 1798
Cantharus tnultangulus (Philippi, 1848)
new subspecies grandanus
Descrij)tiom.-?>\\Q\\ small, up to 28 mm in
length, fusiform, light-weight, finely but coarse-
ly sculptured, and with 6 or 7 whorls. Nuclear
whorls IV2, smooth, rounded, rapidly descend-
ing, translucent tan to clear. First 4 or 5
postnuclear whorls slightly shouldered, with 10
or 11 strong, rounded, axial ribs crossed by
FIG. 1. Canlhariix muUanifuiu.s subspecies ynmdanux
Abbott, holotype, UNNM no. 8.59096, 28.7 x 14.4 mm. FIG.
2. Cantharus multangulus multangulus (F^hilippi, 1848)
from off Shell Island, Panama City, N.W. Florida, 29.1 x
15.6 mm. Both collected by Robert Granda, 1982.
about 9 or 10 very small, irregularly-sized,
square-topped, spiral threads. On the penulti-
mate and last whorl, which is smoothly rounded,
the axial ribs are obsolete. Body whorl and short
siphonal canal with about 30 to 40 fine spiral
threads of uneven size. Columella with two
weak, oblique plicae at the base. Outer lip simple
and minutely jagged. Inside of last whorl glossy
tan and with about a dozen, smooth spiral
threads. Color of outer shell tannish brown, red-
dish or whitish yellow with numerous fine
flecks, occasional narrow spiral bands and
sparse axial flames of chocolate-brown. Oper-
culum chitinous, translucent tan, elongate-oval
and filling most of the aperture. Soft parts and
radulae not examined.
Type locality -2 to 4 feet of water, on sand
and weed bottom. Islet, V4 mi east of Black Isle,
Saint Joseph Bay, off Port St. Joe, Gulf County,
northwest Florida. Robert Granda, collector,
March 13, 1982.
Types -The holotype is deposited in U. S. Na-
tional Museum as no. 859096. Parat>']oes from
the type locality have been deposited in the
Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia,
the American Museum of Natural History, N.Y.,
the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Har-
vard, and the Florida State Museum, University
of Gainesville, Florida.
Records -This moderately rare subspecies has
been collected in several places in St. Joe Bay.
Linda Brunner has also collected this subspecies
in St. Andrews Bay in nearby Bay County.
Measurements (mm.)-
Remarks-The subspecies grandanus of the
northeast Gulf of Mexico differs from the
nominate Cantharus multangulus (Philippi,
BioStor
