Conasprella (Conasprella) baileyi (R̂ckel & da Motta, 1979)

Figs 2, 30–31

Conus baileyi R̂ckel & da Motta, 1979: 9 .

Conus baileyi – R̂ckel et al. 1995b: no. 248, pl. 53 figs 10–14.

Conasprella baileyi – Tucker & Tenorio 2013: 101. — Monnier et al. 2018a: 204.

Material examined

127 lots (246 specimens). See Supp. file 1.

Type material

Holotype SOLOMON ISLANDS • 29 mm; off Russell Island, Solomon Sea; 110 m depth; MHNG 981 /1071 (Fig. 30A).

Figured material

NEW CALEDONIA • 25 mm; Loyalty Ridge, off New Caledonia, stn DW451; 20º59′ S, 167º25′ E; 330 m depth; 20 Feb. 1989; MUSORSTOM 6 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 30B) • 25.7 mm; off S New Caledonia, stn DW130; 19º05′ S, 163º21′ E; 225‒230 m depth; 4 Mar. 1990; SMIB 6 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 30C) • 26.6 mm; Grand Passage, off New Caledonia, stn DW2932; 19º05′ S, 163º30′ E; 215‒225 m depth; 28 Apr. 2008; CONCALIS expedition; MNHN (Fig. 30D) • 23.5 mm; Grand Passage, off New Caledonia, stn DW126; 19°00′ S, 163°23′ E; 320‒330 m depth; 3 Mar. 1990; SMIB 6 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 30E) • 23.3 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Banc Munida, off New Caledonia, stn DW2133; 23º01′ S, 168º18′ E; 215– 270 m depth; 3 Nov. 2003; NORFOLK 2 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 30F) • 25.1 mm; Grand Passage, off New Caledonia, stn DW3017; 19°04′ S, 163°28′ E; 255‒267 m depth; 9 May 2008; CONCALIS expedition; MNHN (Fig. 30G) • 19.8 mm; Baie du Santal, sinking towards the SW of Récif Shelter, off New Caledonia, stn DW1650; 20°54′ S, 167°02′ E; 120‒250 m depth; Nov. 2000; LIFOU 2000 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 30H) • 18.7 mm; Grand Passage, off New Caledonia, stn DW2954; 19°02′ S, 163°17′ E; 250‒280 m depth; 1 May 2008; CONCALIS expedition; MNHN (Fig. 30I, L) • 24.4 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Munida, off New Caledonia, stn DW3100; 22°59′ S, 168°23′ E; 260‒320 m depth; 27 Oct. 2008; TERRASSES expedition; MNHN (Fig. 30J) • 15.5 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Banc Munida, off New Caledonia, stn DW2133; 23º01′ S, 168º18′ E; 215–270 m depth; 3 Nov. 2003; NORFOLK 2 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 30K) • 26.1 mm; S Île des Pins, off New Caledonia, stn CP4674; 22°48′ S, 167°29′ E; 302‒311 m; 13 Aug. 2016; KANACONO expedition (Fig. 30M) .

Geographical distribution and bathymetry

Solomon Islands, Australia (Queensland) and New Caledonia, typically between 100 and 400 m deep. Isolated specimens have been sampled at depths beyond 800 m. Also present in Fiji at depths between 292–311 m (Moolenbeek et al. 2008). It has been cited from Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia, at depths between 490 and 835 m (Rabiller & Richard 2014).

Remarks

Shell small to moderately small (maximum shell length 35 mm), conical with a moderate to high concave spire. Protoconch multispiral with 3 or more whorls (Fig. 30L). Radular tooth (Fig. 30M) with an indistinct barb and a pointed blade covering about one third of the anterior section, which is much shorter than the posterior section. Shaft fold present. Basal spur is present on top of the slanted base. This is an abundant species around New Caledonia, and it has been sampled in multiple locations. Although fairly constant in shell shape, it may be variably patterned, and pustulose specimens (Fig. 30J) ocassionally occur. The species has often been confused with Conasprella wakayamaensis (Kuroda, 1956) and C. eugrammata (Bartsch & Rehder, 1943), but these two species are not present in New Caledonia. In the phylogeny (Fig. 2), all specimens assigned to the taxon C. baileyi appear deeply nested within the Conasprella clade.