Observations on Antisabia foliacea (Quoy and Gaimard, 1835) (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Prosobranchia, Hipponicidae) from off Rottnest Island, Western Australia

Abstract

A small collection of the sedentary prosobranch Antisabia foliacea Quoy and Gaimard, 1835 from Rottnest Island, Western Australia has been studied. The study includes the gross morphology, the mode of life, foraging and reproduction. The taxon is reported to have a wide distribution in the Indo-West Pacific region and southern Australian waters. The present findings are compared to the available information on the taxon from the Indo-West Pacific region. It is concluded that A. foliacea constitutes a species complex comprising several (? 3-4) taxa being distinguished particularly by the shape and sculpture of the protoconch. Owing to the scanty information available on A. foliacea from localities of the Indo-West Pacific region, it has not been possible to ascertain whether the southwestern Australian population is conspecific with any of the Indo-West Pacific taxa. Problems relating to the generic assignment within the family Hipponicidae are summarized.