Leptoconchus sp.

Oliverio, Marco, 2008, Coralliophilinae (Neogastropoda: Muricidae) from the southwest Pacific, Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle 196, pp. 481-586 : 557-558

Leptoconchus sp. [spp.?]

Figs 120, 121

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — New Caledonia proper. EXPÉDITION 167°08.5’E, 4 m, 2 dd; stn 1426, 20°45.9’S, 167°06.2’E, 4-7 m, 1 MONTROUZIER:stn 1241, Secteur de Touho, 20°48’S, 165°15.7’E, dd; stn 1449, 20°45.8’S, 167°01.65’E, 17 m, 1 dd (Fig. 120); stn 0-2 m, 1 dd (Fig. 121); stn 1270, 20°45’S, 165°16.5’E, 10-35 m, 2 1455, 20°56.8’S, 167°02.7’E, 15-20 m, 1 dd, 1 dd juv; stn 1459, dd; stn 1271, 20°52.7’S, 165°19.5’E, 5-25 m, 1 dd; stn 1318, Secteur 20°47’S, 167°03’E, 55-80 m, 5 dd, 1 lv juv; stn 1465, 20°47.7’S, de Koumac, 20°41’S, 164°14.8’E, 20-30 m, 1 dd. 167°07’E, 35-45 m, 3 dd; stn 1465, 20°47.7’S, 167°07.0’E, 35- Loyalty Islands. Lifou. LIFOU 2000: stn 1416, Baie du Santal, 45 m, 2 dd; stn 1466, 20°46.5’S, 167°06.2’E, 25-45 m, 2 dd; stn 20°49.25’S, 167°10.7’E, 5-7 m, 2 dd; stn 1421, 20°52.4’S, 1468, 20°46.5’S, 167°05.7’E, 30-80 m, 1 dd .

DISTRIBUTION. — Species of Leptoconchus are known from the Red Sea and the tropical Indo-West Pacific , in 3-7 m in faviid and fungiid corals (Massin 1990; Gittenberger 2006). New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands, live (one juvenile) in 55-80 m, shells in 2-55 m.

REMARKS. — Massin (1990, and references therein) pioneered studies on the biology and taxonomy of this group. According to Gittenberger (2006) a cryptic, adaptive radiation in the genus Leptoconchus has occurred at least within the species associated with mushroom corals ( Fungiidae ). Identification of the species seems possible only with molecular markers and/or data on the associated coral. Thus, it is impossible at present, to identify with certainty empty shells or specimens collected live but not properly fixed. There are several names available for species of Leptoconchus (e.g. Magilus peronii Lamarck, 1818 , Leptoconchus striatus Rüppell, 1835 , Leptoconchus schrenkii Lischke, 1871 ). The repositories of the types of some of the species are known (e.g. Magilus peronii , from Mauritius Island, lectotype MNHN 20684 (Massin 1990: 24) and paralectotypes MNHN 20685-20686; Leptoconchus schrenkii , from Nagasaki, Japan, “type most probably in St Petersburg Museum” [Cosel 1998: 29]). In some cases (e.g. Magilus peronii Lamarck, 1818: 374 ; Leptoconchus striatus Rüppell, 1835: 259 ) the descriptions were accompanied by identification of the coral host at the family level. A careful work of revision, with integrated molecular and ecological data is needed to clarify the systematics of these gastropods with severely misleading shell morphology.