Hemilienardia lynx, Fedosov & Stahlschmidt & Puillandre & Aznar-Cormano & Bouchet & Umr & Umr, 2017

Fedosov, Alexander E., Stahlschmidt, Peter, Puillandre, Nicolas, Aznar-Cormano, Laetitia & Bouchet, Philippe, 2017, Not all spotted cats are leopards: evidence for a Hemilienardia ocellata species complex (Gastropoda: Conoidea: Raphitomidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 268, pp. 1-20 : 13-15

Hemilienardia lynx sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9DCEA5F7-1759-4DDA-A37B-97558D2D7F12

Figs 2 G–H, 3F–G

Etymology

The epithet of this species refers to a smaller spotted cat, the lynx. Used as a noun in apposition.

Type material

Holotype

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: PAPUA NIUGINI 2012 stn PP 14, Bismarck Sea, Madang District, off Kranket Island , 5°12' S, 145°50' E, 100–120 m (lv, 2.75 mm - Figs 2 G–H, 3F–G) ( MNHN IM-2013-5489 ).

Other material examined ( Hemilienardia cf. lynx )

PHILIPPINES: PANGLAO 2004: stns L69–73, Balicasag Island, 9°30.7' N, 123°40.9' E, 90–98 m (1 dd); stn 76, off Momo Beach, 9°36.5' N, 123°45.3' E, ca 80 m (1 lv, 2 dd; 1 dd, PS- 020572).

Description

SHELL. Very small, ovate to fusiform (b/h 0.49; lw/h 0.67; a/h 0.5), pointed at its tip. Teleoconch of 3.2 whorls. Suture incised, undulating. Early 1–1.5 teleoconch whorls almost cylindrical, with distinct shoulder; later whorls strongly convex in outline, with narrower concave subsutural ramp, delineating adjacent whorls. Sculpture of strong, wide and rounded axial ribs (10 per whorl), well pronounced on periphery of whorls and vanishing adapically. Axial ribs overridden by evenly spaced, low and rounded spiral cords with shallow interspaces. Late spire whorls sculptured with three spiral cords, adapical one much weaker, than succeeding. Microsculpture of dense micro-tubercles covering entire teleoconch surface. Last adult whorl and shell base with 8 subequal spiral cords followed by 3 oblique rows of tubercles on fasciole. Siphonal canal stout, moderately long, notably notched at its tip. Aperture narrow, elongated, with four denticles, the adapicalmost strongest. Outer lip strong, with distinct varix. Anal sinus rounded, moderately deep and slightly constricted by callous subsutural tubercle.

PROTOCONCH. Conical, of slightly less than 3.0 whorls, PI white, evenly rounded with fine sculpture of spiral cords and weak axial riblets. Late ~1.5 PII whorls light brown, with slightly flattened subsutural area and convex periphery, sculptured with subsutural row of fine evenly spaced axial riblets and with diagonally cancellate sculpture on periphery. Protoconch-teleoconch transition distinct, with moderately deep subsutural notch.

COLOUR. Background colour white, spire whorls with one row of large, oval, dark-olive squarish blotches encircled by a fine and slightly darker line, situated in interspaces between axial ribs above whorl periphery. Shell base with another row of dark olive blotches reaching tip of siphonal canal. Periphery of last whorl with a yellow spiral line in interspace between third and fourth spiral cords; this line can also be seen on spire whorls, right above the suture.

RADULA. No data.

DIMENSIONS. 2.75 × 1.35 mm.

Distribution and habitat

Papua New Guinea, Bismarck Sea, off Madang, 100–120 m; possibly Central Philippines, Balicasag Island, 80 m.

Remarks

This small ocellate Hemilienardia species is closest to H. ocellata in dimensions and shell shape. However, H. lynx sp. nov. can be distinguished from H. ocellata by the smaller and slightly shorter protoconch, the less narrow aperture, the less convex teleoconch whorls and the larger and more squarish ocellae. The holotype of H. lynx sp. nov. has an adult apertural morphology and appears to be mature. At 2.75 mm, it seems to be the smallest ocellate Hemilienardia species, notably smaller, than the otherwise similar H. acinonyx sp. nov. Based on the preliminary records of H. lynx sp. nov. from the Philippines, it does co-occur there with H. acinonyx sp. nov., and the two species were sampled together from deep lumunlumun nets. The two species are identical regarding coloration; however, specimens of H. acinonyx sp. nov. of a shell size below 8 mm retain a thin and fragile juvenile outer lip, whereas specimens of H. lynx sp. nov. display an adult morphology of the aperture, although their size does not exceed 3 mm.The other character allowing separation of these two species is the shell shape, being rather fusiform in H. lynx sp. nov. and biconical with an orthoconoid spire in H. acinonyx sp. nov.

Figures

Fig. 2. Species of the Hemilienardia ocellata complex. The SEM image with no letter denoted shows standard measurements. A–D. Hemilienardia ocellata (Jousseaume, 1884). A–B. Syntype, MNHN IM-2000-3128, Mauritius, 4.0 mm. C. Loyalty Islands, Lifou, Baie du Santal, Atelier Lifou 2000, stn 1429, 20°47.5' S, 167°07.1' E, 8–18 m, 4.4 mm. D. New Caledonia, Secteur de Koumac, Expedition Montrouzier, stn 1319, 20°44.7' S, 164°15.5' E, 15–20 m, 3.6 mm. E–F. Hemilienardia acinonyx sp. nov. E. Holotype, MNHN IM-2013-33593, Philippines, 8.1 mm. F. Loyalty Islands, Lifou, Baie du Santal, Atelier Lifou 2000, stn 1441, 20°46.4' S, 167°02.0' E, 20 m, 5.4 mm. G–H. Hemilienardia lynx sp. nov., holotype, MNHN IM-2013-5489, Papua New Guinea, 2.75 mm. I–M. Hemilienardia pardus sp. nov. I. BMOO 17147, Society Islands, Moorea. K. Holotype, MNHN IM-2000-31661, 5.8 mm. L–M. Loyalty Islands, Lifou, Baie du Santal, Atelier Lifou 2000, stn 1454, 20°56.65' S, 167°02.0' E, 15–18 m, 5.2 mm.