A revision of the genus Diala (Gastropoda : Cerithioidea : Dialidae)

Abstract

The systematics and distributions of the Recent species of the cerithioidean genus Diala are described. These small marine gastropods are confined to the Indo-West Pacific. Most are very widespread and have protoconchs which suggest that they possess planktotrophic larvae. Of the 30 available names, seven [D. semistriata (Philippi), D. albugo (Watson), D. suturalis (Adams), D. sulctfera Adams, D. sulcifera scobina (Laseron), D. sulcifera martensi (Issel) and D. lirulata Thiele] are recognised as valid, and one species (D. megapicalis, sp. nov.), from southern and western Australia, is described as new. All taxa are variable in shell characters such as colour pattern and size. An annotated list of all taxa originally described as Diala is provided.