The genera Murexsul Iredale, 1915 and Muricopsis Bucquoy & Dautzenberg, 1882 in Maltese waters, with the description of a new species (Gastropoda : Muricidae)

Abstract

In this study, the muricid gastropod species belonging the genera Murexsul Iredale, 1915 and Muricopsis Bucquoy & Dautzenberg, 1882 that occur in Maltese waters are reviewed. The reviewed determinations exclude Muricopsis inermis (Philippi, 1836) from the Maltese faunal checklist, confirm the occurrence of Murexsul aradasii (Monterosato, 1883) and Muricopsis cristata (Brocchi, 1814), and recognise the presence of the newly recorded Muricopsis cevikeri Houart, 2000 and a new species, formally described as Muricopsis vilhenae n. sp. The new species differs from the sympatric M. cristata by bolder sculpture, a single prominent columellar knob, a consistently pale violet aperture, a non-projecting siphonal canal, and a distinct animal colouration.