Beringius maristempestus, Mclean & Clark, 2023

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 : 170

Beringius maristempestus n. sp.

Figure 12 E–G urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:20A49029-512D-47D4-B5E0-3A2290FA5C17

Type locality: W of Cape Wrangell, Attu Island, Near Ids. , Aleutian Is. , Alaska (52°50.68 N, 172°23.74 E). 221 m ( NMFS 143-200601 - 118 ) .

Type material. Holotype LACM 3576 . (leg. 7 July, 2006, trawled, R/ V Sea Storm).

Referred Material: RNC 4156, 111 mm; SW of Cape Wrangel , Attu Island, Near Ids. (52º50.91 N, 172º20.3 E), 240 m. ( NMFS 143-200201 - 39 ) .

Description: Shell, moderately large (to 111 mm, RNC 4156) elongated-pyriform; whorls rounded, suture moderately impressed; white to pinkish, with thin, periostracum yellow-tan. Nucleus eroded, teleconch with 4–5 whorls. Axial sculpture of 13 broad, faint undulations on the upper half of the whorls, obsolete on lower half of body whorl, interspaces somewhat narrower than folds. Axial micro-sculpture of fine, raised, close-set growth lines. Spiral sculpture of numerous low, broad, flat-topped cords, with raised edges (often topped with one to four very fine threads) giving a fine lattice-like appearance where they cross the axial ridges; interspaces one to three times as wide as cords. Aperture less than half of shell height, outer lip slightly thickened, canal short, rather narrow.

Radula ( Fig. 11 G ): Rachidian tooth about one and one half as wide as long, lateral edges rounded, posterior edge slightly excavated. Lateral teeth large, tricuspid, outer cusp strongly curved, tapering, constricted near base; central and inner cusps conjoined for half their length, central cusp small, slender; inner cusp about three times as large as central cusp, curved, tapering, somewhat more than ¼ the length of the outer cusp.

Remarks: This species resembles Beringius stanchfieldi n. sp., but differs in the presence of axial undulations on the upper portion of the whorls, as well as the fine, raised axial micro-sculpture. It also resembles “ Neoberingius ” freilei Dall, 1895, but differs in 1) the pyriform as opposed to fusiform profile, 2) the presence of axial undalations, 3) lacking the regular bifurcated spiral ribs separated by interspaces of the same width and 4) possessing a lattice-like net-work of raised growth lines, and broad flattened spiral cords with raised edges.

Etymology: Named for the F/V Sea Storm, which collected the holotype.

Distribution: Known so far only from the vicinity of Cape Wrangell, Attu Island, at the western end on the Aleutians (172°23– 172º20 E), at depths of 220– 240 m.

Habitat: Volcanic sand, gravel and rocks, with a bottom temperature of 4.1°C.

Figures

FIGURE 11. A–D. Beringius stanchfieldi n. sp.; A. Holotype, LACM 3575, W of Carlisle Island, 222 m, 104.8 mm; B. Paratype 1, RNC 4921, Islands of Four Mountains, 200 m, 113.7 mm; C. RNC 4921, close-up of sculpture; D. Radula, Holotype, bar = 200 µm; E–I. Beringius frausseni n. sp.; E. Holotype, ZIN 62061, Sumushu Island, 120 m, 136.0 mm; F. Paratype 1, RBCM 979-01070, Kamchatka, 280 m, 124.2 mm; G. Paratype 2, RNC 4915, 109.7 mm. “Aleutian Islands” (Stalemate Bank?), 140 m; H. Paratype 2, close-up of sculpture; I. Radula, holotype, bar = 200 µm.

FIGURE 12. A–D. Beringius aurulentus n. sp.; A. Holotype, LACM 3577, W of Buldir Island, 147 m, 117 m; B. Paratype, RNC 4701, Type locality, 88.6 mm; C. RNC 4701, close-up of periostracum; D. Radula, RNC 4701, bar = 200 µm; E–G. Beringius maristempestus n. sp.; E. Holotype, LACM 3576, W of Attu Island, 221 m, 111.5 mm; F. Holotype, close-up of sculpture; G. Radula, holotype, bar = 200 µm; H–K. Beringius undataformis n. sp.; H. Holotype, LACM 3578, Stalemate Bank, 184 m, 143.0 mm; I. Paratype, RNC 4893, Stalemate Bank, 184 m, 131.0 mm; J. RNC 4893, close-up of periostracum; K. Radula, holotype, bar = 200 µm.