Episiphon lacteum, Scarabino & Scarabino, 2010

Scarabino, Victor & Scarabino, Fabrizio, 2010, A new genus and thirteen new species of Scaphopoda (Mollusca) from the tropical Pacific Ocean, Zoosystema 32 (3), pp. 409-423 : 418

Episiphon lacteum n. sp.

( Fig. 3K, L )

TYPE MATERIAL. — Wallis and Futuna. MUSORSTOM 7, stn DW 538, Waterwitch Bank , 12°31’S, 176°40’W, 275-295 m, 1 dd holotype ( MNHN 22790 ) ; 1 dd paratype ( MNHN 22791 ). — Stn DW 569, Waterwitch Bank, 12°30’S, 176°51’W, 300-305 m, 1 dd paratype ( MNHN 22792 ). — Stn DW 610, Wallis Island, 13°21’S, 176°09’W, 286 m, 1 dd paratype ( MNHN 22793 ) .

TYPE LOCALITY. — Waterwitch Bank, 12°31’S, 176°40’W, 275-295 m (MUSORSTOM 7, stn DW 538).

ETYMOLOGY. — From the Latin lacteus meaning “milkwhite”.

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. — New Caledonia. EBI- SCO, stn DW 2570, north of Bellona, 20°27’S, 158°45’E, 235-263 m, 1 dd.

DISTRIBUTION. — NE of Fiji and and Coral Sea. Shells in 263- 300 m.

DESCRIPTION

Shell 16 mm long, well curved, arc located at posterior third, milk-white coloured, smooth, polished, slowly tapering. Apex oblique with protruding apical callus and an irregular short central plug. Section circular, anterior aperture straight.

Measurements of holotype: L 16, W 1.5, w 9.5, arc 0.64 at 5.2 from apex.

REMARKS

The main distinctive character of this species, which in this regard is similar to Episiphon joanae n. sp., described above, is the obliqueness of the apex and the degree of protuberance of the apical callus, distinguishing both species from all other species in the genus.

Order GADILIDA Starobogatov, 1974 Suborder ENTALIMORPHA Steiner, 1992 Family ENTALINIDAE Chistikov, 1979 Subfamily BATHOXIPHINAE Chistikov, 1983 Genus Bathoxiphus Pilsbry & Sharp, 1897

Figures

FIG. 3. — A-D, Episiphon wallisi n. sp. holotype (6.5 mm), Wallis Island, 13°21’S, 176°08’W, 415-420 m (MUSORSTOM 7 stn DW 604);A, lateral view of shell; B, dorsal view of shell; C, frontal view of apex; D, sculpture at the posterior third of shell; E-G, Episiphon indefensum n. sp. holotype (7.9 mm), Solomon Islands, 8°47’S, 157°38’E, 762-1060 m (SALOMON 2 stn CP 2182); E, lateral view of shell; F, dorso-frontal view of apical area; G, sculpture at the middle of shell; H, I, Episiphon joanae n. sp. holotype (7 mm), Fiji, Ride de Lau, 18°43’S, 178°23’W, 392-407 m (BORDAU 1 stn DW 1469); H, lateral view of shell; I, latero-dorsal view of apical area; J, Episiphon joanae n. sp., radula, rachidian and lateral teeth; K, L, Episiphon lacteum n. sp. holotype (16 mm), Waterwitch Bank, Wallis Island, 12°31’S, 176°40’W, 275-295 m (MUSORSTOM 7 stn DW 538); K, lateral-dorsal view of apical area; L, lateral view of shell. Scale bars: F, G, I, K, 100 μm; J, 10 μm.