Table 1 Comparison of R. melitis n. sp. characteristcs of mature specimens against those of R. bicolor, R. cordieri (sensu Cossignani & Ardovini), R. echinata f. I, R. echinata f. II, R. echinata f. III, R. ephesina and R. sophiae n. sp.
Species/characteristics | R. melitis sp. n. | R. bicolor | R. cordieri | R. echinata f. I | R. echinata f. II | R. echinata f. III | R. ephesina | R. sophiae sp. n. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Length/width ratio | 2.1–2.4 | 2.4–2.7 | 2.4 | 2.1–2.5 | 2.2–2.4 | 2.2–2.4 | 2.2–2.3 | 2.4–2.5 |
Number of axial ribs on body whorl | 12–14 | 16–18 | 11–12 | 13–14 | 12–13 | 15–16 | 10–11 | 18 |
Axial ribs form | Convex | Convex | Convex | Very convex | Slightly convex | Very convex | Convex | Very convex |
Number of spiral cords on body whorl | 14–16 | 15–18 | 17–18 | 13–14 | 15 | 16–17 | 17–18 | 25 |
Number of spiral cords on the penultimate whorl | 5–6 | 9–7 | 4–5 | 4–5 | 4–5 | 6 | 5–6 | 10 |
Aperture teeth | 7–8 | 9–10 | 10–12 | 8–11 | 7–8 | 9 | 7–8 | 12 |
Tail | Moderately long | Short | Long | Short | Moderately long | Moderately long | Short | Moderately long |
Teleoconch microsculpture | Sandpaper appearance | Smooth | Smooth | Smooth | Sandpaper appearance | Sandpaper appearance | Smooth | Smooth |
Subsutural ramp | Moderately wide | Narrow | Very wide | Wide | Very wide | Very wide | Very narrow | Moderately wide |
Body whorl curvature | Inverted dome shaped | Rounded | Rounded | Rounded | Inverted dome shaped | Inverted dome shaped | Rounded | Inverted dome shaped |
Teleoconch color pattern | Randomly placed light brown patches on light beige background and 2 light beige cords over the suture of the last whorls | Randomly placed cream-white patches on honey-yellow to deep purple background and white rib pairs | Uniformly beige with a brown band as a prolongation of the suture | Randomly placed diffused light brown, light purple and white areas on a light beige background | Randomly placed light brown patches and white strokes on light beige background | Randomly placed light brown patches and white strokes on light beige background | Background color cherry-red except an over sutural cordlet and randomly placed areas which are cream-white | Randomly placed light brown patches on light beige background |
Subsutural ramp radial color brush strokes | Present | Absent | Present | Present | Absent | Present | Absent | Present |
Size (mm) | 4.85–10.35 | 10.30–12.50 | 12.30–15.00 | 10.60–13.00 | 8.10–10.90 | 19.10–21.10 | 8.90–11.00 | 9.30–15.55 |