Okutanius aikeni (Lussi, 2014) gen. et comb. nov.

Fig. 9 H–I

Pseudolatirus aikeni Lussi, 2014: 10–11, color images of holotype.

Pseudolatirus aikeni – Mallard & Robin 2017: 151.

Type material

Holotype

South Africa: off Park Rynie, southern KwaZulu – Natal, 110 m, SL 25.6 mm, SW 10.3 mm (NMSA W9698 /T3896).

Description

Shell strong, fusiform, up to 25.6 mm. Protoconch and uppermost teleoconch whorls eroded, protoconch conical, multispiral, of 3+ whorls (protoconch tip broken off). Teleoconch with regularly strongly convex whorls, with medium long siphonal canal. Aperture broad, oval, with nearly smooth columella with very weak ridges in the lower part, corresponding to spiral cords not completely overlaid by callus. Spiral sculpture of unevenly spaced distinct cords of varying strength; axial ribs strong, weakly opisthocline, and closely spaced, not aligned along the spire. Background colour creamy, with two darker brown spiral bands and more dark shell base. Primary spiral cords white.

Distribution

Only known from the type locality.

Remarks

The dead collected and partially distorted holotype is the only known specimen. In ventral view it is clearly seen that the shell axis is not straight, and the strongly recurved leftwards siphon is the result of abnormal shell growth. Pending knowledge on the body and radula, we tentatively allocate this species to Okutanius gen. nov., based on shell resemblance to sequenced species of the genus.