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species

Modulus honkerorum Petuch, 2013

kingdom Animalia - animals »  phylum Mollusca - mollusks »  class Gastropoda - gastropods »  family Modulidae »  genus Modulus

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Modulus honkerorum

Author: Petuch, E.

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Description

Shell small for genus, very rounded, globose, shiny and polished, porcellaneous; spire slightly elevated, subpyramidal and stepped; shoulder at midbody of shell, angled, bordered by large rounded cord; subsutural area and shoulder smooth and shiny, ornamented with 10-12 low, rounded knobs; base of shell ornamented with 3 large rounded spiral cords; umbilicus small, deep, open, bordered by single large, thick spiral cord; parietal area at base of umbilicus with single large tooth that extends into aperture; aperture round; edge of lip faintly crenulated; shell color pure snow white, with pale tan early whorls and protoconch; parietal and columellar areas and parietal tooth colored pale lavender purple; interior of aperture pure white. Holotype: Width 9 mm, height 8 mm, FMNH 328404; Paratype: width 8 mm, same locality as holotype, in the research collection of the author.
Petuch, E. 2013. Biogeography and Biodiversity of Western Atlantic Mollusks.

Interchangeable taxa

This small, globose modulid is unlike any other known species from the western Atlantic. With its distinctive shell morphology, Modulus honkerorum could be confused only with the widespread Caribbean Modulus modulus (Linnaeus, 1758). The new Bahamian species differs from M. modulus in being a smaller, much more globose and rounded shell; in lacking large, sharply pointed shoulder knobs; in being pure white and lacking any dark color patches and stripes (as on modulus)', and in having a shiny, polished, porcellaneous shell texture.
Petuch, E. 2013. Biogeography and Biodiversity of Western Atlantic Mollusks.

Distribution

Type Locality: On coral rubble in 1 m depth, on small spoil island off Tarpum Bay, Exuma Sound, Eleuthera Island, Great Bahama Bank, Bahamas.
At present, Modulus honkerorum has been found only on Eleuthera but could be present around the entire Exuma Sound and larger islands to the south.
Petuch, E. 2013. Biogeography and Biodiversity of Western Atlantic Mollusks.
Author: Jan Delsing

Similar species

Modulus modulus Linnaeus, 1758

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