Original taxon: Buccinum unifasciatum.
4-5m deep, Málaga, Andalucia, S. Spain. 15mm.
Close to cuvierii Payraudeau but with a slightly taller protoconch (1,5 whorl in cuvierii, 1,75 in unifasciata).
Dredged at 5-6m deep, on fine gravel and shell debris, along the southeastern coast of Spinalonga, in a cove facing Kolokithia islet, Elounda, Lasithi, N. Crete. 10mm.
The protoconch is « more slender and pointed than in N. cuvierii, resulting in an important characteristic for the separation of both species, since it can be seen with the naked eye without difficulty. » – Moreno & Templado: “The species complex ‘Nassarius cuvierii - N. unifasciatus’ in the SE of Spain”, Iberus vol.12 (2), Oviedo 1994, p.42.
Original picture provided by J. Regàs (ES).
– (CC BY-NC-SA) –
Comparison between Kiener’s Buccinum unifasciatum plate XIV fig.50 (left), and Buccinum cuvieri plate XX fig.74 (right), in L. C. Kiener: Spécies général et iconographie des coquilles vivantes vol. II part 2, Paris 1834 (cf. dates of publication given by Davies Sherborn & Woodward, London 1901).