Conus (Phasmoconus) kuroharai (Habe, 1965)

Figs 2, 55F–L, N, 70

Asprella kuroharai Habe, 1965: 46, pl. 4 figs 3–4.

Conus kuroharai – R̂ckel et al. 1995b: no. 204, pl. 46 figs 16–19.

Graphiconus kuroharai – Tucker & Tenorio 2013: 245.

Phasmoconus (Phasmoconus) kuroharai – Monnier et al. 2018a: 773.

Material examined

19 lots (23 specimens). See Supp. file 1.

Type material

Holotype JAPAN • 59 mm; off Okinoshima, Kochi Prefecture, Shikoku; ca 100 m depth; NSMT 38679.

Figured material

NEW CALEDONIA • 55.4 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Banc Kaimon Maru, off New Caledonia, stn CP1677; 24º44′ S, 168º09′ E; 233‒259 m depth; 22 Jun. 2001; NORFOLK 1 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 55F) • 60.1 mm; Loyalty Ridge, off New Caledonia, stn DW40; 22º20′ S, 168º41′ E; 275‒295 m depth; 8 Jun. 1989; VOLSMAR expedition; MNHN (Fig. 55G) • 47 mm; Loyalty Ridge, off New Caledonia, stn DW422; 20º26′ S, 166º40′ E; 257 m depth; 16 Feb. 1989; MUSORSTOM 6 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 55H) • 36.7 mm; E Île des Pins, off New Caledonia, stn DW4733; 22°35′ S, 167°36′ E; 138‒146 m depth; 22 Aug. 2016; KANACONO expedition; MNHN-IM-2013-66069 (Fig. 55I, N) • 30.5 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Munida, off New Caledonia, stn DW3106; 23°02′ S, 168°21′ E; 180‒220 m depth; 27 Oct. 2008; TERRASSES expedition; MNHN (Fig. 55J) • 20.6 mm; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN (Fig. 55K–L) .

Geographical distribution and bathymetry

Japan to the Philippines. In New Caledonia: Norfolk Ridge and Loyalty Ridge, 100 to 500 m, but most often at depths between 200 and 300 m.

Remarks

Shell medium-sized to moderately large (maximum shell length 66 mm). Conical to ventricosely conical, with a low to moderate spire of deeply concave to sigmoid profile. Protoconch multispiral (Fig. 55L), of more than 3 whorls. Last whorl with a characteristic pattern of narrow wavy brown axial lines. Radular tooth (Fig. 55N) with the anterior section shorter than the posterior section. The tooth is serrated with 18–11 denticles arranged in one single row. Barely perceptible elongated terminating cusp. Barb well marked. Blade rounded, covering about 40–50% of the anterior section of the tooth. Basal spur pointing upwards on top of an axially elongated base. The specimens sequenced form a clade sister to Conus (Phasmoconus) richeri Richard & Moolenbeek, 1988 (Fig. 2).