Stromboidea

• Strombidae
  • Euprotomus
    • Euprotomus aurora Kronenberg, 2002

Original Description of Euprotomus aurora by Kronenberg, 2002:

• "Adult shell of normal size for the genus, varying from about 45.3 mm (paratype 5, smallest specimen) to about 71,5 mm (paratype 10, largest specimen). Protoconch of about three turbiniform whorls; initial whorl lowest and transition to teleoconch straight. Teleoconch with about 8 whorls; the first one evenly reticulated with about 12 spiral cords, secong teleoconch whorl with about 13 spiral cords. Axial cords gradually turning into ribs, overlayed by the spiral sculpture; on the third teleoconch whorls a subsutural cord develops, broader than the spiral cords. Subsutural cord getting more prominent on the fourth and fifth teleoconch whorl. Axial ribs getting distinct, angulated at shoulder, gradually turning into broader shoulder knobs, of which the adapical part is slightly concave, making the knobs more or less pointed, but with their gradual broadening this becomes less conspicuous. On the penultimate whorl there are three to five spiral cords between subsutural cord and angulation of shoulder knobs; abapical of angulation spiral cords are obsolete or persist as three distinct ones. Body whorl with 8-10 shoulder knobs, on apertural side less markedly developed, sometimes fused to a low carina, covered by callus. Abapertural part of body whorl with strong spiral sculpture, with cords of variable width with none to 3 (usually 2) of these cords with more of less developed secondary knobs. Total number of spiral cords on the body whorl varying between 25 and 33, depending mostly on the number of visible, developed cords around the shoulder area. Outer lip not broadly expanded, with a distinct, deep stromboid notch and with a projection at adapical part, pointing adapically parallel or almost parallelto the shell axis; projection reaching approximately the suture of the penultimate whorl or the penultimate whorl but one. At early adult stage the rim of the outer lip, abapically of the projection abd adapically of the stromboid notch, is slightly bent into adapertural direction, with occasionally distinct growth lines. When fully grown the cavity of this rim is filled with shell material resulting in a rather thick, solid, outer lip. Anterior canal rather long, bent addorsally (almost) perpendicular to the shell axis. Between the thickened outer lip and the projection, a small, hardly developed, secondary notch is present. Posterior canal groove like, running from within the aperture along the spire to the point of attachment of outer lip. Callus on abapical part of the body whorl well developed in adults, at shoulder and just abapically of shoulder rather thin, sculpture and colour pattern shining through, adapically of shoulder again well developed, covering the adapertural part of the the spire for usually about two or three whorls. In paratype 15 (GKEN 941) the callus covers the apex. Columella and adapertural side of the outer lip smooth. Protoconch and first teleoconch whorl white, subsequent whorls more or less densily maculated with brownish spots, blotches and patches, which ca be so dense as if the shell was brown with white spots. Abapertural rim of outer lip with 5-7 rectangular brownish blotches, rim of projection and stromboid notch and flange between stromboid notch and anterior canal on adapertural side sometimes with a golden brown glaze. Callus white, aperture white, deep within bright orange pink to reddish orange."

Locus typicus: SW of LaDigue Island, Seychelles Archipelago, Indian Ocean, 4°23'S 55° 49'E, depth 30 m

Etymology: named after Aurora, the ancient goddess of the dawn

History and Synonymy

Euprotomus aurora Kronenberg, 2002: 55, Pl. 1 figs 1-4, Pl. 2 figs 6a-6c

• Syn.: Note that this species has been confused with both E. aurisdianae and E. bulla. A chresonomy is listed by Kronenberg, 2002: 55-56. Main “synomyms” are:
• Syn.: Strombus cf. aurisdianae Yaron, 1982: 449
• Syn.: Strombus cf. bulla Mienis, 1983: 513
• Syn.: Strombus (Euprotomus) bulla n.ssp. Kronenberg & Berkhout, 1986: 364.
• Syn.: Strombus guttatus (Chemnitz) Kiener. E.A. Smith, 1903: 612
• Syn.: Strombus striatogranosus Mörch. Von Martens, 1880: 277. [non Mörch, nom. nud.]

1843

Strombus auris-dianae in Kiener, 1843, Strombus pl. 16, fig. 1

• Comment Kronenberg: "I think that the figure is a specimen of E. aurora; the comparatively bright red-orange colour as well as the absence of plicae in the adapical part of the outer lip, clearly visible in all other figures point into that direction."

Specimens from private collections

Euprotomus aurora Kronenberg, 2002; Toliara (formerly Tuléar), Atsimo-Andrefana Region, southern Madagascar; 89 mm; Coll. Christian Börnke

Euprotomus aurora Kronenberg, 2002; Mahé Island, Seychelles Archipelago, Indian Ocean; 1.r: 55 mm, 2.r: 54 mm, 3.r: 58 mm; 11/2013; Collected by & coll. Christian Börnke

Euprotomus aurora, subadult Kronenberg, 2002; Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu, India; 83 mm; Coll. Raveendhiran Ravinesh

Euprotomus aurora Kronenberg, 2002; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

1. Bazaruto Island, Republic of Mozambique, Indian Ocean; littoral sand and algae, at low tide; 3/1997; 72,8 mm; no. UW2426
2. Toliara (formerly Tuléar), Atsimo-Andrefana Region, southern Madagascar, Indian Ocean; by local collectors, on shallow sandy reefs; 67,2 mm; no. UW2427
3. Nungwi village, NE coast of Zanzibar Island, Tanzania, East Africa, Indian Ocean; on shallow reef amongst sea grass at low tide, by local collectors; 66,0 mm; no. UW2428

Euprotomus aurora Kronenberg, 2002; Racha Yai Island, southeastern coast of Phuket, Thailand, Andaman Sea; by Moken divers; 2002; Ex-coll. René Vanwalleghem; Coll. Ulrich Wieneke

1. 48,9 mm; no. UW2430
2. 51,7 mm; no. UW2431

References:

• Kronenberg, 2002