Turridrupa virginiae Stahlschmidt, Puillandre, Olivera & Kantor sp. nov.

(Figs. 10 G–J)

Type material

HOLOTYPE: New Caledonia, CONCALIS, Stn DW 2974, Grand Passage, 18°15'S, 163°06'E, 283–326 m (MNHN- IM-2000-30416, Figs. 10 G–I).

PARATYPE 1: New Caledonia, MUSORTSOM 6, Stn. DW 398, 20°47'S, 167°06'E, 370 m, (MNHN-IM-2000- 30417, Fig. 10 J) .

PARATYPE 2: MUSORTSOM 6, Stn. DW 397, 20°47‘S, 167°06‘E, 340–380 m (PS-1067) .

Distribution

So far only known from New Caledonia.

Description

Shell rather medium-sized for genus, up to 19 mm in height; claviform, spire twice height of the aperture including canal; suture very shallow; siphonal canal fairly short, bent slightly to right; anal sinus moderately deep, linguiform, at the termination of the middle spiral cord of the spire-whorls; parietal callus-pad well developed; interior of lip with about 7–10 fine spiral threads; lip preceded by a low, broadly convex varix.

Sculpture of narrow spiral cords, with sloping sides, 3 on spire whorls, increasing to 4 on penultimate whorl, almost equal in strength (sinus cord sometimes slightly stronger); sinus cord densely gemmulated, about 32 almost squared gemmules on penultimate whorl, gemmules becoming slightly bifid in later whorls; other spiral cords may also show weak gemmules; base of last whorl with 5 cords, plus 6 fine, weak ridges on rostrum, intervals between cords with 1–9 fine spiral threads; no axial sculpture.

Protoconch eroded in all examined specimens, domed, of approx. 3 whorls, the latter 1.5 whorls with arcuate opisthocline axial riblets.

Colour buff to pale golden-brown, maculated with dark reddish-brown spots in the interspaces of the white coloured gemmules of the sinus spiral cords but irregularly disposed spots also on other spiral cords.

Remarks

Turridrupa virginiae sp. nov. is only remotely similar to Turridrupa consobrina Powell, 1967, and distinguished by the larger size, the broader spiral cords, the more numerous and much closer spaced gemmules on the sinus spiral cord that become bifid on later whorls, and by the different colouration.

Etymology

This species is dedicated to our friend Virginie Héros, assistant curator of molluscs at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle of Paris (MNHN), an experienced malacologist as well an important member of the numerous collecting expeditions carried out by this institution.