Rhizochilus antipathum Steenstrup, 1850

Oliverio, Marco, 2009, Diversity of Coralliophilinae (Mollusca, Neogastropoda, Muricidae) at Austral Islands (South Pacific), Zoosystema 31 (4), pp. 759-789 : 774

Rhizochilus antipathum Steenstrup, 1850

( Fig. 7A, B )

Rhizochilus antipathum Steenstrup, 1850: 75 .

Rhizochilus teramachii Kuroda, 1953: 118 , 125, 126, text figs 1, 2.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Rhizochilus antipathum : 7 syntypes ( ZMUC; one figured by Kosuge & Suzuki [1985: pl. 50, fig. 6]) .

Rhizochilus teramachii : holotype (TA 1921; figured by Kosuge & Suzuki [1985: pl. 45, fig. 12] and Higo et al. [2001: 66, G2412s]).

TYPE LOCALITY. — Rhizochilus antipathum : no locality is given either with the type material (Ole Tendal, pers. comm.) or in the original description.

Rhizochilus teramachii : East of Ashizuri-Misaki, Japan, 80-90 fms [146-165 m].

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — The type material of Rhizochilus antipathum and R. teramachii , and:

BENTHAUS, stn DW 1985, Banc Arago, 23°26.3’S, 150°44.2’W, 100-107 m, 1 lv ( Fig. 7B ).

DISTRIBUTION

Indian Ocean ( Oliverio 2008b). Pacific Ocean, from Kii Peninsula, Japan, “sessile on branches of Antipatharians, in 100-200 m ” ( Tsuchiya 2000), “on Antipathes japonica Brook ” ( Higo et al. 1999: 217, G2412), throughout the West Pacific including Hawaii (on Antipathes grandis: Gage 1962 ; Kay 1979). New Caledonia, shells only in 25- 400 m. Austral Islands, living in 100- 107 m.

REMARKS The teleoconch of Rhizochilus is often strongly deformed due to the nearly sessile life habit (on anthipatarians).Variation in the shape and sculpture (strong to reduced spiral cords, smooth or with scaly sculpture over the cords) should be examined in a phylogeographic context to check the status of the different morphs.The multispiral protoconchs of 3.2- 3.3 whorls, indicate a planktotrophic development. Nomenclature is discussed by Oliverio (2008b). The indication of “Indian Ocean” as type locality, as reported by Higo et al. (1999: 217, G2412), seems unjustified.

Figures

FIG. 7. — A, B, Rhizochilus antipathum Steenstrup, 1850, Banc Arago, BENTHAUS,stn DW 1985,23°26.3’S, 150°44.2’W,100-107 m; C, D, Babelomurex sp. A aff. yamatoensis Kosuge, 1986, Banc Arago, BENTHAUS, stn DW 1969, 23°22’S, 150°43.2’W, 200-640 m; E, B. diadema (A. Adams, 1854), North coast of Rurutu, BENTHAUS, stn DW 1998, 22°24.8’S, 151°22.2’W, 250-302 m; F, G, B. santacruzensis Kosuge,1980,Banc NE of Rapa,BENTHAUS,stn DW 1904,27°26.5’S, 144°03.4’W,600-900 m; H, I, B. wormaldi (Powell, 1971), Banc Président Thiers, BENTHAUS, stn DW 1932,24°40.8’S, 146°01.5’W,500-800 m; J, K, B. sibogae (Shepman,1911),Banc Arago, BENTHAUS, stn DW 1973, 23°23.5’S, 150°43.9’W, 200-350 m. Scale bars: A, B, 5 mm; C-K, 10 mm.