Kanakina glaphyrella (Melvill & Standen, 1895) gen. et comb. nov.

Figs 13–17

Minolia glaphyrella Melvill & Standen, 1895: 125, pl. 3 fig. 18. Type locality: Lifou, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia (Hadfield).

Monilea glaphyrella – Hedley 1910: 353.

Minolia glaphyrella – Herbert 1992: 404, fig. 135, lectotype.

Talopena? glaphyrella – Héros et al. 2007: 2109.

Ethminolia glaphyrella – Raines 2007: 72, table 1.

Sericominolia glaphyrella – Williams et al. 2024: 6.

Material examined

Lectotype (Fig. 13E–G) NEW CALEDONIA – Loyalty Islands, Lifou • NMW.1955.158.01504 (designated by Herbert 1996: 404) .

Paralectotypes NEW CALEDONIA – Loyalty Islands, Lifou • 7 specimens; NMW.1955.158.115 • 5 specimens; NMW.1955.158.116 • 1 specimen; MM EE.3737 .

Other material

NEW CALEDONIA – Grande Terre, Koumac • 1 specimen, living; Îlot Double, Stn KM700; 20°28.0′ S, 164°07.7′ E; depth 0 m; 28 Oct. 2019; KOUMAC 2.3 leg.; gros blocs de corail mort et platier sous le vent de l’îlot de massif intermédiaire, et débris coralliens sur platier de massif intermédiaire; DNA voucher, photographed alive (image LC017, Fig. 16); MNHN-IM-2019-2902 • 1 specimen, dead; Îlot Double, Stn KB 500; 20°28′ S, 164°07.8′ E; depth 0 m; 28 Oct. 2019; KOUMAC 2.3 leg.; corail mort et débris coralliens sur platier de massif corallien intermédiaire; MNHN • 3 specimens, dead; Stn KB514; 20°29.2′ S, 164°10.5′ E; depth 1 m; 15 Nov. 2019; KOUMAC 2.3 leg.; débris coralliens dans passe de lagune; MNHN • 1 specimen, living; Îlot de la Table, Stn KB 502; 20°33.5′ S, 164°11.2′ E; depth 0 m; 31 Oct. 2019; KOUMAC 2.3 leg.; blocs et sable sur sable sur platier de récif frangeant; MNHN • 1 specimen, dead; Stn KB662; 20°35.2′ S, 164°13.9′ E; depth 1 m; 21 Nov. 2019; KOUMAC 2.3 leg.; patchs coralliens dispersés, sur sable et débris; MNHN • 4 specimens, living; Récif de l’Infernet, Stn KS 500; 20°36.6′ S, 164°14.4′ E; depth 3 m, 28 Oct. 2019; KOUMAC 2.3 leg.; patch corallien de terrasse sableuse d’arrière récif de massif corallien intermédiaire; DNA vouchers and radula prep.: MNHN-IM- 2019-2890 and -2891 • 7 specimens, dead; Pointe de Pandop, Stn 1279; 20°35′ S, 164°15.5′ E; depth 0–1 m; Oct. 1993; Expédition Montrouzier leg.; marée, fonds durs, herbiers; MNHN • 5 specimens, dead; Anse de Koumac [Baie de Ouanap], Stn 1277; 20°34.0′ S, 164°16.0′ E; depth 0–2 m; Oct. 1993; Expédition Montrouzier leg.; fonds meubles, herbiers; MNHN • 1 specimen, living; Anse de Koumac [Baie de Ouanap], Stn 1278; 20°34.0′ S, 164°16.0′ E; depth 0–2 m; Oct. 1993; Expédition Montrouzier leg.; fonds durs; MNHN • 1 specimen, dead; Plateau Karembé, Stn 1286; 20°38′ S, 164°16′ E; depth 0 m; Oct. 1993; Expédition Montrouzier leg.; marée, fonds meubles avec blocs; MNHN • 1 specimen, living; Pointe Pandop, Stn KM 100; 20°35.0′ S, 164°16.5′ E; depth 0 m; 12 Nov. 2019; KOUMAC 2.3 leg.; marée; DNA voucher; MNHN-IM-2019-7689 • 2 specimens, living; Tangadiou, Stn KB 516; 20°35′ S, 164°16.6′ E; depth 0 m; 18 Nov. 2019; KOUMAC 2.3 leg.; coraux vivants et morts; MNHN • 1 specimen, dead; Stn KB669; 20°42.1′ S, 164°19.3′ E; depth 3 m; 23 Nov. 2019; KOUMAC 2.3 leg.; bord externe de récif intermédiaire; MNHN . – Grande Terre, Touho • 2 specimens, dead; around the Thiem, Stn 1268; 20°45.2′ S, 165°08.0′ E; depth 9–11 m; Sep. 1993; Expédition Montrouzier leg.; sable fin; MNHN • 1 specimen, dead; Îlot Ouao (= Î. Camille), Stn 1246; 20°42.8′ S, 165°08.7′ E; depth 0–1 m; Sep. 1993; Expédition Montrouzier leg.; marée, platier, sable, herbier; MNHN • 3 specimens, dead; vicinity of Baie de Touho, Stn 1251; 20°46.0′ S, 165°13.0′ E; depth 6–15 m; Sep. 1993; Expédition Montrouzier leg.; vase, sable, herbiers; MNHN • 4 specimens, dead; Baie de Touho, Stn 1237; 20°46.9′ S, 165°13.8′ E; depth 0–1 m; Sep. 1993; Expédition Montrouzier leg.; sable fin et herbiers abrités; MNHN • 9 specimens, dead; platform off the wharf of Touho, Stn 1242; 20°46.2′ S, 165°14.5′ E; depth 0 m; Sep. 1993; Expédition Montrouzier leg.; marée, blocs, sable, herbiers; MNHN • 1 specimen, dead; between Baie de Touho and Îlot Atit, Stn 1240; 20°46.5′ S, 165°15′ E; depth 0–2 m; 1 Sep. 1993; Expédition Montrouzier leg.; platier abrité, sable, herbier; MNHN • 10 specimens, dead; Tiwaka estuary, Stn 1248; 20°50.3′ S, 165°16.0′ E; depth 0 m; 1 Sep. 1993; Expédition Montrouzier leg.; marée, platier, laisses de mer; MNHN • 4 specimens, dead; Grand Récif Mengalia, Stn 1245; 20°45.2′ S, 165°16.3′ E; depth 0 m; Sep. 1993; Expédition Montrouzier leg.; marée, platier, sable, herbiers; MNHN • 1 specimen, dead; Tié Shoal, Stn 1271; 20°52.7′ S, 165°19.5′ E; depth 5–25 m; Sep. 1993; Expédition Montrouzier leg.; tombants, sable sur dalle; MNHN . – Grande Terre, Bourail • 6 specimens, dead; lagon de Poé, Stn 1324; 21°36.9′ S, 165°22.7′ E; depth 0–2 m; 1 Sep. 1993; Expédition Montrouzier leg.; fonds mixtes, herbier; MNHN . – Grande Terre, Nouméa • 1 specimen, dead; SE Sèche Croissant, Stn 1507; 22°19.6′ S, 166°22.4′ E; depth unknown; 25 Oct. 2000; Cosel and Trondlé leg.; drague à main, récolte à vue; MNHN . – Loyalty Islands, Lifou • 2 specimens, dead; Baie du Santal, in front of landing beaches at Drueulu, Stn 1413; 20°55.3′ S, 167°05.0′ E; depth 3–10 m; 26 Nov. 2000; Atelier LIFOU 2000 leg.; fonds meubles; MNHN • 1 specimen, dead; Baie du Santal, small bay west of Pointe d’Easo, Stn 1422; 20°47.1′ S, 167°07.4′ E; depth 4 m; 25 Nov. 2000; Atelier LIFOU 2000 leg.; sable sur dalle, patates; MNHN • 3 specimens, dead; Baie du Santal, Easo, vicinity of intertidal marina, Stn 1406; 20°46.85′ S, 167°07.75′ E; depth 0 m; 18 Nov. 2000; Atelier LIFOU 2000 leg.; fonds durs; MNHN • 3 specimens, living; Baie du Santal, to east of Pointe d’Easo, Stn 1418; 20°46.9′ S, 167°07.9′ E; depth 1–5 m; 25 Nov. 2000; Atelier LIFOU 2000 leg.; sable et herbier autour du wharf; MNHN .

Description (Fig. 13)

SHELL. Small to moderate in size (diameter up to 7.1 mm, but usually <6.0 mm), turbiniform to depressed-turbiniform (H/D 0.79–0.90); whorls at most weakly shouldered, periphery below mid-whorl, weakly angled; base somewhat flattened, with moderately broad umbilicus. Sculpture of fine spiral cords and finer spiral lirae with close-set, microscopic axial threads in their intervals (Fig. 14A–B); first teleoconch whorl with three spiral cords, increasing in number with subsequent growth, adapical one suggesting a weak shoulder; approx. six first-order spiral cords above and including periphery at start of last adult whorl, with secondary and sometimes tertiary spirals in intervals; basal sculpture similar, comprising alternating cords and lirae. Umbilical margin delineated by a low, broad, thickened cord crenulated by radiating pliculae; interior of umbilicus steep-sided with another similar thickened cord (funicle) just below insertion of inner lip on to paries, above which is a narrow, deep sulcus which spirals into umbilicus. Aperture roundly quadrate; columella thickened and somewhat reflected, with distinct swellings at ends of umbilical cords; interior of outer lip smooth but slightly thickened subterminally at maturity.

COLOUR. Shell dull, lacking gloss or iridescence even when collected alive; colour pattern typically comprises a fine mottling in shades of greenish-brown on a pale greyish-white ground (sometimes more brownish at periphery), with green and/or whitish blotches below suture and at periphery; spiral cords marked with alternating white, green and dark green flecks, the darker markings most conspicuous on ‘shoulder’ and peripheral spirals; umbilicus paler, often uniformly white. Occasional specimens more deeply pigmented, with darker brown blotches below suture and at periphery; others with a more overall orange-pink or olive-brown coloration. Apex whitish.

PROTOCONCH (Fig. 14B). Typically umboniine, diameter ± 170 µm; apical beak present and confluent with terminal lip; apical bulb sculptured with oblique and subspiral threads creating an irregular network, almost hexagonal in places; terminal lip weakly convex.

OPERCULUM (Fig. 14C–D). Corneous; multispiral, but with relatively few whorls, growing edge moderately long; peripheral fringe radially striate; surface lacking spiral microsculpture.

RADULA (Fig. 15). Formula ∞ +(1) +5+1 +5+ (1)+ ∞, with ± 35 transverse rows of teeth; teeth of central field reduced; rachidian base-plate broadly trigonal with broad, blunt anterior edge; base-plates of inner lateral teeth expanded and bluntly rounded basally, outer anterior edge somewhat raised and ridge-like; outer laterals less trigonal. Innermost marginal transitional, with reduced shaft and cusp; other marginal teeth well developed with narrow shaft and strongly recurved cusp; cusps of inner marginal teeth with a large, bluntly lanceolate central denticle bearing a robust pointed denticle at its outer base and a minute denticle at inner base (usually not visible due to tooth overlap); marginals 3–10 with largest cusps; cusps progressively smaller thereafter, the outermost ones with finely pectinate margins.

EXTERNAL ANATOMY (from photographs and rehydrated specimens) (Fig. 16). Head with distinct forehead between cephalic tentacles; snout broad with a transverse row of digit-like papillae halfway down anterior face, distal part of snout more finely papillate; cephalic lappets not evident; cephalic tentacles long and slender, micropapillate, left and right of similar size; eyestalks sort, not up-turned; eyes black, small; left neck-lobe more extensive anteriorly, its edge with digit-like projections (10 or more); right neck-lobe rolled to form an exhalant siphon; four micropapillate epipodial tentacles on each side, each with a well-developed stalked epipodial sense organ (often whitish) near its base; an epipodial sense organ also present beneath each neck-lobe; propodium with a small lateral propodial lobe on each side, foot bluntly tapering posteriorly. Head-foot mostly pale milky-white; sides of foot sparsely speckled with greenish-brown and opaque white pigment granules; cephalic tentacles with narrow, widely separated, transverse dark bands. Ctendium appearing bipectinate, anterior portion unattached.

Habitat

Mostly associated with intertidal platforms and shallow flats on intermediary reefs and in near-shore part of lagoon; living specimens at depths of 0–5 m, dead specimens to 25 m, but mostly <10 m.

Distribution (Fig. 17)

Known within the New Caledonian marine ecoregion, only from Grande Terre and the Loyalty Islands, but recorded also in Queensland (Hedley 1910). Similar material has also been found in the Philippines and Vanuatu (Williams et al. 2024).

Remarks

Compared with New Caledonian Sericominolia species, the shell of Kanakina glaphyrella gen. et comb. nov. has a more distinctly angled periphery situated well below mid-whorl and lacks both gloss and iridescence. Its spiral sculpture is also more uneven, comprising both cords and lirae. Solariella sanjuanensis Poppe, Tagaro & Dekker, 2006 from the Philippines has a similarly shaped shell with a thickened cord at the umbilical margin, but it evidently lacks a second cord deep within the umbilicus and has fewer stronger spiral cords above the periphery. Another similar species, Ethminolia akuana Raines, 2007 from Easter Island, has cancellate sculpture on the first teleoconch whorl, a sunken suture, narrower umbilicus, stronger funicle and a more biconical profile with the periphery closer to mid-whorl.

The relationship between New Caledonian samples of this species and material from the Philippines and Vanuatu, provisionally identified as Sericominolia glaphyrella (Melvill & Standen, 1895) by Williams et al. (2024), requires further study.As yet, no molecular data are available for New Caledonian specimens.