Babelomurex cf. nakamigawai (Kuroda, 1959)

Oliverio, Marco, 2008, Coralliophilinae (Neogastropoda: Muricidae) from the southwest Pacific, Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle 196, pp. 481-586 : 527-528

Babelomurex cf. nakamigawai (Kuroda, 1959)

Figs 63, 64, 69

Latiaxis nakamigawai Kuroda, 1959: 321 , pl. 20, fig. 6.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Latiaxis nakamigawai : holotype TA 1968 , figured by Kosuge & Suzuki (1985: pl. 28, fig. 1) and Higo et al. (2001: G2433) .

TYPE LOCALITY. — Tosa Bay , off Kōchi Prefecture, southern Shikoku, Japan .

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — New Caledonia proper. BATHUS 2: Loyalty Islands. Lifou. LIFOU 2000: stn 1469, Baie du Santal, stn CP 728, 22°47’S, 167°28’E, 241-245 m, 1 dd . — BATHUS 3: 20°54.2’S, 167°01.1’E, 150-200 m, 1 dd.

stn DW 838, 23°01’S, 166°56’E, 400-402 m, 1 dd. Vanuatu. MUSORSTOM 8: stn DW 967, 20°19’S, 169°53’E, 295- Norfolk Ridge. BERYX 11: stn DW 11, 24°44’S, 168°10’E, 325- 334 m, 1 dd; stn CP 971, 20°19’S, 169°53’E, 250-315 m, 3 dd 350 m, 1 dd; stn CP 21, 24°44’S, 168°07’E, 430-450 m, 1 dd. (Figs 63, 64); stn DW 1016, 17°53’S, 168°28’E, 291-300 m, 1 dd.

DISTRIBUTION. — Southern and southwestern New Caledonia, Norfolk Ridge , Loyalty Islands and Vanuatu, empty shells in 200-430 m.

REMARKS. — Protoconch eroded in the available material, multispiral of c. 3 conical whorls, 840 µm high and 800 µm wide at the base. Protoconch-I of about 1 whorl. Protoconch-II of about 2 whorls, sculptured with nodulose vertical threads giving a keeled appearance to the whorls.

According to the original description and the type material, B. nakamigawai should be diagnosed by the lack of any scabrous ridges on the sutural ramp (see also a topotype in Fig. 69). This is the only reason I maintain the uncertainty in the attribution of the present material. However, I am convinced that this is not a good diagnostic character in this complex of species. From Babelomurex japonicus it differs in its lower spire and in its peripheral spines being directed laterally rather than upward. From B. fusiformis it differs in its coarser sculpture, its broader

spines at the periphery, directed more laterally, and its stronger scabrous ridge on the sutural ramp. From the B. kawamurai (Kira, 1959) group it differs in its more scabrous sculpture, including the ridges on the sutural ramp, and its straight siphonal canal.