Aleutijapelion aleuticus (Dall, 1895)

Mclean, James H. & Clark, Roger N., 2023, Seven new genera and thirty-four new species of buccinoid gastropods (Neogastropoda: Buccinidae) from the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, Zootaxa 5351 (2), pp. 151-201 : 158-160

Aleutijapelion aleuticus (Dall, 1895)

Figures 6 B–E

Beringius aleuticus Dall, 1895:711 , pl. 29, fig. 2.

Type locality: Amutka Pass, Aleutian Is., Alaska (52°15.00 N, 171°40.00 W), 454 m (R/ V Albatross Station # 3481). Type material: Holotype, USNM 106999 , 66 mm.

Referred material: LACM 181446 , 1 sp. , 73.2 mm. S of Kodiak Island , 118 m ; RNC 4631 , 1 sp. , 72.16 mm. S of Kodiak Island (56°29.85 N, 152°30.06 W), 297 m ( NMFS 57-200101 - 146 ) ; LACM 181447 , 1 sp. , 50.5 mm. ESE of Chirikov Island, SW of Kodiak Id. , 122 m ; CASIZ 149898 , 67.4 mm. Samalga Pass, Islands of Four Mountains (52º55.8 N, 169º20.4 W), 401 m ( NMFS 23-200001 - 33 ) ; RNC 4611 , 1 sp. , 66.4 mm. Shumagin Is., SE of Alaska Peninsula (54°41.13 N, 158°00.15 W), 440 m ( NMFS 57-200101 - 92 ) ; RNC 4646 , 1 sp. , 59.5 mm. Shumagin Is., Shumagin Is., SE of Alaska Peninsula (54°30.70 N, 158°52.02 W), 361 m ( NMFS 159-200901 - 73 ) ; RNC 4705 , 1 sp. , 81.5 mm. S of Unalaska Island , Fox Ids. (53°06.2 N, 166°58.66 W), 294 m ( NMFS 57-200101 - 8 ) ; RNC 4772 , 1 sp. , 74.34 mm. S of Umnak Id. , Fox Ids. (53°27.12 N, 168°29.93 W), 86 m ( NMFS 143-200601 - 23 ) ; RNC 4880 , 1 sp. , 63.25 mm. W of Carlisle Island , Islands of Four Mountains (52°55.86 N, 170°24.58 W), 228 m ( NMFS 143- 200601 - 29 ) ; RNC 4881 , 1 sp. , 80.14 mm. S of Yunaska Island , Islands of Four Mountains (52°31.75 N, 170°33.55 W), 220 m ( NMFS 143-200601 - 40 ) ; RNC 4689 , 1 sp. , 78.9 mm. W of Tanaga Island , Andreanof Ids. (51°39.68 N, 178°25.57 W), 373 m ( NMFS 143-201201 - 125 ) .

Description: Relatively large shells (largest examined 81 mm, RNC 4705); whorls rounded; periostracum thin, adherent, olive green to brown, shiny, not flaking in dry shells; color pattern two-tone, lighter on sharply defined basal area. protoconch with 2.5 whorls extended (but not nearly as much as in Beringius ), scarcely if at all increasing in size; seven or eight teleconch whorls; axial lacking (except for growth lines), spiral sculpture absent, or if present, consisting of a few low, faint, irregular cords, or faint oblique ridges on upper part of whorl; siphonal canal short, base deeply notched near pillar; anterior lip extending below anterior tip of pillar. Lip of mature shell thickened and slightly flaring; lip continuous across anal sinus, connecting to narrow parietal shield in mature shells. Operculum (fig. 6 D) large, nearly filling aperture, narrowing anteriorly, concave on exterior surface.

Radula: (fig. 12 E) Typical of this subfamily. Rachidian tooth reduced to a simple, chevron shaped, acuspate plate. Lateral teeth rather narrow, tricuspid, the outer cusp long curved, inner two cusps much smaller.

Distribution: Western Gulf of Alaska, S of Kodiak Island (152°29 W) to central Aleutian Islands, west to Tanaga Pass, Andreanof Ids. (178°25 W), at depths of 86– 454 m.

Habitat: Black sand and gravel or muddy sand and gravel with pebbles. Water temperatures of 3.7–5.0°C.

Remarks: This species differs from Aleutijapelion mirandus n. sp. in having a broader profile, and in lacking the narrow, channeled shoulder Also resembles Boreancistrolepis excelsus (see remarks under that species).

Figures

FIGURE 6. A. Metajapelion adelphicus (Dall, 1907) RNC 4967, Off Okinoshima Island, Japan, 182 m, 97.4 mm; B–E. Aleutijapelion aleuticus (Dall, 1895); B. Holotype, USNM 106999, Amutka Pass, 454 m, 65.0 mm; C. RNC 4772, S of Umnak Island, 86 m, 74.3 mm; D. Operculum of RNC 4772, 28 mm; E. Radula, RNC 4880, W of Carlisle Island, 228 m, bar = 100 µm; F–H. Aleutijapelion mirandus; F. Holotype, LACM 3664, N of Amlia Island, 423 m, 74.4 mm; G. RNC 5019, E of Kiska Island, 268 m, 91.7 mm; H. Radula, RNC 4639, S of Atka Island, 207 m, bar = 200 µm.