Cryptodaphne adiaphora, Morassi & Bonfitto, 2010

Morassi, M. & Bonfitto, A., 2010, New raphitomine gastropods (Gastropoda: Conidae: Raphitominae) from the South-West Pacific, Zootaxa 2526, pp. 54-68 : 56

Cryptodaphne adiaphora new species

Figures 1. A–F

Type material: Holotype MHNH 22300.

Type Locality: Fiji SE Viti Levu , 18°00.0’ S 178°53.7’E, 1058–1091 m [MUSORSTOM 10 stn. CP 1361] .

Material examined: only known from the holotype.

Description: Shell narrowly biconic (b/l 0.41; a/l 0.45). Teleoconch consisting of 4.5 whorls separated by moderately deep, not channelled suture. Last whorl strongly excavated with short neck. Most whorl height occupied by a wide and nearly vertical sutural ramp. Subsutural fold moderately prominent, with its lower margin bordered by a narrow spiral cord. Spire whorls sculptured by a moderately prominent peripheral cord near lower suture of each whorl; a second weaker cord occurs on lower part of sutural ramp. Lower part of each whorl sculptured by two spiral cords, the lower much stronger, forming a peripheral keel; last whorl with two weak cords above peripheral keel and a second main cord just above lower suture. Last whorl with 13 widely spaced, narrow spiral cords on base and neck. Sutural ramp sculptured by sigmoid collabral threads producing minute plicules on subsutural fold. Under SEM, entire shell surface is seen covered by rows of spirally aligned granules. Aperture narrow, oblanceolate. Columella almost straight above, slightly curved to left below. Labial callus thin, sculptured by microscopic rows of prickly nodules in its interior part (fig. 1D). Siphonal canal relatively short, oblique, narrow. Outer lip thin; based on growth lines anal sinus moderately deep, reversed L-shaped anal sinus with its apex below middle of sutural ramp. Protoconch narrowly conical of 3.8 whorls; protoconch I partly missing, protoconch II sculptured by opisthocyrt axial riblets extending from suture to suture decussate by oblique threads on lower two-third of each whorl. Protoconch breadth: 0.52 mm. Teleoconch white, protoconch pale buff.

Dimensions: Holotype 5.6 x 2.3 mm, aperture height 2.5 mm.

Remarks: This is a typical representative of the genus Cryptodaphne . In its small size and shell outline, Cryptodaphne adiaphora resembles C. kilburni Morassi & Bonfitto, 2006 , from which it differs in numerous details of sculpture. In C. adiaphora the spire whorls are sculptured by a prominent peripheral cord and a weaker cord on lower part of sutural ramp (figs. 1B–C); a second main cord develops just above lower suture on last whorl (fig. 1A). In C. kilburni the peripheral cord is barely stronger than other spiral elements and 3–4 cords occur below it on last whorl. Furthermore, C. adiaphora has much fewer collabral threads. Finally, the protoconch of C. adiaphora (fig. 1E–F) consists of nearly 4 whorls compared to 3.25 of C. kilburni . C. adiaphora differs from the fossil C. pseudodrillia Powell, 1942 in lacking secondary cords between main spiral elements (fide Powell 1942) and in having fewer protoconch whorls (nearly 4 vs 5).

Etymology: Greek adiaphoros (not different, neutral), with reference to the morphological resemblance of this species to “typical” members of Cryptodaphne .