N. pumilio. Six syntypes in the B.M.N.H. No. 1870.1.12.34.; illustrated syntypes 3.5 X 2.1 mm and 3.3 x 2.0 mm. White, corneous and shining, faintly banded with brown, base of shell brownish. 11-12 axial ribs on the body whorl and 4-5 spiral threads on the penultimate whorl, columella with 2 basal folds, outer lip denticulate. Whydah, W. Africa [= Ouidah, Dahomey, W. Africa].
N. weyersi. (syn) Four syntypes in the B.M.N.H. No. 1891.3.7.53-6.; illustrated syntypes 3.8 X 1.9 mm, 3.7 x 1.8 mm and 3.4 x 1.7 mm.
This minute West African species is one of the smallest known species of Nassarius. The protoconch appears smooth in worn specimens but in well preserved individuals a faint keel close to the suture of the last nuclear whorl is visible under magnification. Although E. A. Smith (1872) described the species as three-banded, the bands are now very faint in the syntypes. The original type-figure of N. pumilio has not been very well executed and the nodules appear too prominent. In the 10 syntypes available for study, the spiral cords were either prominent, crossing the ribs and forming minute nodules, or weak and confined to the interspaces of the ribs. The brown banding is better preserved in N. weyersi than in N. pumilio. In the unique holotype of N. madseni (Knudsen), the spiral sculpture is weak and confined to the interspaces of the axial ribs. N. pumilio and N. weyersi appear to have been completely overlooked since they have received no mention in West African faunal lists.