Tomellana pfefferi: Protoconch with 1.5 smooth whorls, and a total of 11-12 whorls. Fusiform shell, rather glossy but to a lesser extent than T. hupferi. The outline of the last whorl is slightly different and sometimes constricted from the middle to the base, a characteristic particularly visible in more juvenile or semi-adult specimens. From the first whorls to the body whorl a subsutural cord continuously runs as a rather sharp ridge extending beyond the whorls outline. The whorls are provided with clearly visible tiny spiral striae in the subsutural zone becoming obsolete later on and finally ending in deeper grooves at the base of the body whorl. Moreover, axial folds are prominently present in the suprasutural zone of each whorl, starting as small nodules in the first whorls, becoming elongated later on and becoming prominent at shoulder height of the last whorl of juvenile and semi-adult shells. In adult shells the plicae disappear when reaching the last whorl. The parietal callus, nearly absent in juvenile specimens, is smaller and not as striking as in Tomellana species.
The shells are intensely brown flesh-coloured with a lighter subsutural ridge and siphonal canal.
Measurements: 26 mm.
Habitat: in soft mud, depth: 27-29 m; 11-15 m (Strebel).
Geographic range: Grand Popo, Benin (Strebel), off Lagos, Nigeria, 05°34' N/ 04°50' E and 06°06' N/ 04°29' E (ZMUC) Remarks: This is a controversial species, especially due to the obscure and confusing figure rendered by Strebel (1912). This is a species which is very hard to obtain because it is probably restricted to a very small area. The only known material is the six specimens from Grand Popo (Benin) (Strebel, 1912) and 17 other specimens collected by the "Atlantide" Expedition in Nigeria and Benin.
I have studied the latter material, kindly provided on loan by the ZMUC, and I am convinced this is not a Tomellana snce the shell has most characteristics of 'Fusiturris', showing a close affinity with F. amianta (Dautzenberg, 1912) and other related species: a very slender shell with a clear constriction from the middle of the body whorl to the base, distinct axial folds running all over the whorls and especially the lack of a parietal callus. See also the underlined fragments in the translation from Strebel's description. The remarks on this species will be elaborated on in a next paper, treating already known and new species of the controversial genus 'Fusiturris' in West Africa.