Triphora species A Freak

Triphora species A Freak

Philippines (4 mm.). Image Courtesy of Simon Aiken.

    The distorted teleoconch of this specimen closely resembles that of the figured holotype of Distophora distorta Laseron, 1958 (613-614; figs. 134, 135), original monotype of Distophora Laseron, 1958. However, the Laseron taxon has a "single dome-like nucleus," quite unlike the elaborately-sculptured five-whorled structure seen above. The synonymy of Distophora with Teretriphora Finlay, 1927 by Marshall (1983: 36) may be incorrect in that the latter has cords rather than beads and possesses a strong medial groove on its later whorls, having the appearance of a "reversed "Seila."' The pattern of distorsion may not be a proper taxonomic character, but it seems to occur with some frequency in at least these two lineages.
Finlay, H.J., 1927. A further commentary on New Zealand molluscan systematics. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 57: 320-485.  < http://rsnz.natlib.govt.nz/volume/rsnz_57/rsnz_57_00_003550.html#n358>
Teretriphora Finlay, 1927: 384 TS Triphora huttoni Suter, 1908 OD.

Laseron, C., 1958. The family Triphoridae (Mollusca) from northern Australia, also Triphoridae from Christmas Island (Indian Ocean). Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 9(4): 569-658. [Lee reprint]
Distophora Laseron, 1958. TS D. distorta Laseron, 1958 OD p. 613
Distophora distorta Laseron, 1958: pp. 613-614; figs 134, 135.

Marshall, B.A., 1983. A revision of the Recent Triphoridae of southern Australia. Records of the Australian Museum. Supplement 2: 1-119. 15 Dec. <
http://australianmuseum.net.au/Uploads/Journals/17607/102_complete.pdf
>. [Lee reprint]
p. 36: Distophora Laseron, 1958 = Teretriphora Finlay, 1927.