Babelomurex depressispiratus, Oliverio, 2008

Oliverio, Marco, 2008, Coralliophilinae (Neogastropoda: Muricidae) from the southwest Pacific, Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle 196, pp. 481-586 : 528

Babelomurex depressispiratus n. sp.

Figs 65, 66, 171

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype (dd) MNHN 20210 and 23 paratypes (dd) MNHN 20211-20219 .

TYPE LOCALITY. — Southern New Caledonia, 23°00’S, 167°16’E, 350 m [BIOCAL: stn DW 37] .

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — New Caledonia proper. BIOCAL: 29, 22°47’S, 167°12’E, 405 m, 1 dd (paratype MNHN 20215 ). stn DW 37, 23°00’S, 167°16’E, 350 m, 2 dd (holotype MNHN — SMIB 8 : stn DW 197-199, 22°51- 22°52’S, 167°12’- 168°12’E, 20210, Fig. 66 and paratype MNHN 20211 ); stn DW 38, 23°00’S, 408-436 m, 12 dd (paratypes MNHN 20216 , Fig. 65) . — BATHUS 167°15’E, 360 m, 1 dd (paratype MNHN 20212 ); stn DW 44, 2: stn DW 719, Ile des Pins , 22°48’S, 167°16’E, 444-445 m, 1 dd 22°47’S, 167°14’E, 440-450 m, 1 dd (paratype MNHN 20213 ). (paratype MNHN 20217 ); stn DW 729, 22°52’S, 167°12’E, 400 — MUSORSTOM 4: stn DW 210, 22°44’S, 167°09’E, 340-345 m, 4 dd (paratypes MNHN 20218 ) . — NORFOLK 1: DW 1737, m, 1 dd (paratype MNHN 20214 , Fig. 171) . — SMIB 3: stn DW 22°52’S, 167°12’E, 343-400 m, 1 dd (paratype MNHN 20219 ) .

DISTRIBUTION. — Collected in a restricted area of southern New Caledonia, empty shells only in 343-444 m.

DESCRIPTION. — Shell small for the genus, holotype height 10 mm, width 13 mm, thin, sub-rhomboidal in shape.

Protoconch of 1.5 globose whorls, 480 µm high, 660 µm wide at base. Sculpture of pustules over the entire surface, with 2 weakly developed spiral keels, a series of subsutural threads and a series of similar threads over each keel.

Teleoconch of 3.1 whorls in holotype, last whorl about 90% of total height. Spire low, conical, sharply angulate at periphery. Suture incised. Last whorl constricted at base. Aperture moderately large (4 mm high and 3.5 mm wide in holotype), rounded posteriorly, tapering anteriorly. Outer lip partly broken in holotype, crenulated, angled at periphery, interrupted at peripheral spines; inner lip curved, thin, slightly callous. Siphonal canal open, moderately long, gently curved to right; umbilicus open. Teleoconch almost lacking major axial sculpture, or having only very weak undulations; incremental growth lines over entire teleoconch. A single row of peripheral spines (suprasutural on first whorls), consisting of short, narrow, folded laminae, with the open side towards the aperture, other side spinulose. Eight weak spines on first whorl, 11 stronger on second, and 13 on last whorl. Spiral sculpture starting with 1 peripheral keel, bearing at first folded incremental lines then spines, on first whorl. From second telecoconch whorl, spiral cords appear, minutely scabrous where they are crossed by finely imbricated incremental lines; 3 cords on shoulder above peripheral keel gradually become visible on second whorl, 5 on third, 7 on last portion of shell; 13 slightly larger cords below peripheral keel visible on last whorl (of which 5 are on siphonal canal). Fasciole bearing numerous imbricated projections. Microsculpture of irregular growth lines and of minute spiral threads. Ground colour white, aperture bright white within.

REMARKS. — Babelomurex depressispiratus has a teleoconch characterised by a very short spire, recalling that of the B. deburghiae group. From B. deburghiae and B. hirasei it differs in its much smaller size and finer sculpture. From B. yamatoensis it differs in its smaller size and paucispiral protoconch. From Latiaxis hayashii Shikama, 1966 , it differs in its smaller size, finer spiral sculpture, and paucispiral protoconch.

ETYMOLOGY. — The epithet depressispiratus refers to the depressed spire, which is diagnostic within the B. japonicus group.