Nassarius agapetus (Watson, 1882) is also a minute and closely similar species, but is separable on features of more elongate, oviform shape, tighter, non-ledged whorls and a narrower, more regular callus. Nassarius (Niotha) agapetus (Watson, 1882) (Plate 17, figs. 5-7) 1880. Nassa agapeta Watson, Marrat, Var.shells gen.Nassa p.97 (nomen nudum). 1882. Nassa agapeta Watson, J.Linn. Soc. Lond. 16:367. 1900. ? Nassa stiphra Sturany, Anz.k.Akad. Wiss.math.-nat. Wien 17:200; 1903 Sturany, Denk.k.Akad. Wiss.math.-nat. Wien 74:224, pl.2,figs.3a,b. 1911. Nassa (Niotha) agapeta Watson, Schepman, Siboga-Exped. 49d:326. 1916. Nassa kempi Preston, Rec.Indian Mus.Calcutta 12:88, textfig.1,1a. Shell up to 6.5 mm in length, elongate-oviform, shining, teleoconch of 3½-4 whorls, protoconch of 3½ glassy, finely carinate embryonic whorls, sutures tight, not ledged; sculptured with slender axial ribs which are continuous to the back of the outer lip; spiral sculpture consists of very fine spiral grooves in interspaces, grooves becoming spiral threads basally, and a deeper presutural groove forms distinct but small sutural nodules. Aperture small, outer lip prominently variced and denticulate within, columellar callus slightly spreading onto body whorl but regular and bordered, columella minutely denticulate, siphonal notch deep, anal canal distinct. White to cream in colour, spire whorls with an orange-brown band across sutural nodules, body whorl with 1-3 orange-brown bands, columellar callus and aperture white. TYPE LOCALITY. Levuka, Fiji Is, 22 m (agapetus); Semiramis Bay, Andaman Is, 4-11 m (kempi). DISTRIBUTION. From Madagascar to the Andaman Is, the Philippines and Fiji Is. In mud, grey and clean coral sand, subtidal to a depth of 91 m. Type specimens. The holotype of N.agapetus (Watson), is in the British Museum (N.H.), London, No.1887.2.9.590, length 5.7 mm, width 3.3 mm, and the holotype of Nassa kempi Preston, is in the Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta, length 4.4 mm, width 2.7 mm. Material examined. MADAGASCAR: Tulear, 18-19 m (SMOM); ANDAMAN IS: (BMNH); INDONESIA: Madura Bay, 69-91 m; Bay of Bima, near South Fort, 55 m; Haingsii, Saman I, Timor reef (all ZMA); S.W. of Bali, 8°26'S & 114°29'E, 70 m (ZMC); PHILIPPINES: E. of Bantayan I, 55 m (coll. Norton); PAPUA NEW GUINEA: between Magulata and Kabulina Points, N.W. coast of Kiriwina 1, Trobriand group, c. 73 m (AMS); FIJI IS: Levuka, Ovalau I (BMNH).