Hirtomurex sp. C

Oliverio, Marco, 2008, Coralliophilinae (Neogastropoda: Muricidae) from the southwest Pacific, Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle 196, pp. 481-586 : 553-554

Hirtomurex sp. C

Figs 112, 188

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — New Caledonia proper. MUSORSTOM 4: stn DW 226, 22°47’S, 167°22’E, 390 m, 1 dd juv (Figs 112, 188). Tonga. BORDAU 2: stn DW 1590, 19°12’S, 174°13’W, 353-386 m, 1 dd .

DISTRIBUTION. — New Caledonia and Tonga, empty shells in 386-390 m.

FIGS 112-114. Teleoconchs of Hirtomurex . 112, Hirtomurex sp. C , MUSORSTOM 4 stn DW 226, H 7.9 mm. 113, 114, Hirtomurex sp. D , CHALCAL 2 stn DW 76, H 8.7 mm (113) 6.5 mm (114).

REMARKS. — The juvenile shells have a protoconch of 1.5 whorls, 635 Μm high, 880 Μm wide at the base. Protoconch-I of about 0.5 whorls, sculptured with pustules over the entire surface. Protoconch-II of about 1 whorl, sculptured at first only with pustules, then with 2 spiral keels, a series of subsutural threads and a series of similar threads over each keel; the threads tend to fuse and give rise to sinuous collabral riblets. They closely resemble juveniles of either Hirtomurex cf. isshikiensis or Hirtomurex sp. B , yet both those species have a multispiral protoconch. I have been unable to connect these few juvenile shells to adults from this area. More material is needed.