THE NAUTILUS 101(3):111-116, 1987
Page 111
Cataegis, New Genus of Three New Species from the
Continental Slope (Trochidae: Cataeginae New Subfamily)
James H. McLean
Los Angeles Couiit\ Museum ot
Natural Histor\
900 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA
James F. Quinn. Jr.
Florida Department of Natural
Resources
Bureau of Marine Research
100 Eighth Ave., S,E.
St. Petersburg, FL 33701. USA
ABSTRACT
Cataegis new genus, type species C. toreida new species, is
proposed to include three new species from continental slope
depths (200-2,000 m): the t>pe species and C. meroghjpta from
the Gulf of Mexico to Colombia, and C. celebesensis from
Makassar Strait, Indonesia. Important shell characters are the
prominent spiral cords, non-umbilicate base, and oblique ap-
erture. The radula is unique among the Trochidae in lacking
the rachidian, having the Erst pair of laterals fused and un-
cusped, and the first marginals enlarged. The gill is the ad-
vanced trochid t\pe with well-developed afferent membrane.
These characters do not correspond to an available subfamily;
the new subfaniiK C^ataeginae is therefore proposed.
INTRODUCTION
The two hitherto unknown species of trochids described
here from continental slope depths in the Caribbean Sea
and Gulf of Mexico w ere first examined by Quinn, who
noted that shell characters of the two species are unlike
those of any known genus of Trochidae. Epipodial and
radular characters were later examined by McLean, who
found a unique combination of radular features in one
of the two species. A third member of the genus from
slope depths in Indonesian waters was subsequently rec-
ognized by McLean in unidentified material received on
loan from the Paris Museum. An unsuccessful search for
a genus for these species prompted the present descrip-
tion of a new genus.
Although higher classification of Trochidae has been
unsettled (Marshall, 1979), consideration of gill charac-
ters has led to new understanding (McLean, 1982), and
a full review of higher classification of Trochacea is Hear-
ing completion by Hickman and McLean (in prepara-
tion). Full discussion of trochacean classification is de-
ferred to that review. The new genus cannot be assigned
to an existing trochid subfamily, necessitating the pro-
posal of a new subfamily.
Institutional abbreviations used here are: ANSP (Acad-
emy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia); FSBC I (Florida
Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Marine Re-
search, St. Petersburg); FSM (Florida State Museum, Uni-
versity of Florida, Gainesville); LACM (Los Angeles
County Museum of Natural History, Los Angeles); MCZ
(Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University,
Cambridge); MNHN (Museum National d'Histoire Na-
turelle, Paris); TAMU (Invertebrate Collection, Texas
A&M University, College Station); UMML (Rosenstiel
School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University
of Miami, Coral Gables); USNM (U.S. National Museum
of Natural History, Washington).
SYSTEMATICS
Family Trochidae
Cataeginae new subfamily
Type genus: Cataegis new genus.
Diagnosis: Shell non-umbilicate, with strong spiral cords,
nacreous interior, oblique aperture, non-plicate colu-
mella, multispiral operculum.
Left gill bipectinate with long afferent membrane pos-
terior to free tip. Snout expanded at tip; cephalic ten-
tacles « ith broad bases, eyes on short peduncles; cephalic
lappets lacking; epipodial tentacles small; left and right
neck lobes well developed, finely fringed at edges; left
neck lobe folded over, evidently capable of rolling to
form incurrent siphon.
Radula lacking rachidian; lateral teeth 4 pairs, inner
laterals fused, uncusped; second, third, and fourth lat-
erals with simple, tapered, overhanging tips, shafts elon-
gate with narrow frontal elements and large, triangular
rear elements; inner edge of rear element interlocking
with corresponding depression on outer edge of adjacent
lateral tooth; latero-inarginal plate not evident; margin-
als numerous, first marginal enlarged, second and third
marginals decreasing in size, remaining marginals with
sickle-shaped tips and up to 6 blunt denticles on each
side of tip.
Discussion: .Although shell characters are of minor im-
portance in suprageneric classification of trochids, the
combination of shell characters (strong spiral cords, lack
BioStor
