Conus (Kurodaconus) gondwanensis, Rockel & Moolenbeek, 1995

Tenorio, Manuel J. & Puillandre, Nicolas, 2023, Revision of the deep-water cone snail fauna from New Caledonia (Gastropoda, Conoidea), European Journal of Taxonomy 896, pp. 1-134 : 84-86

Conus (Kurodaconus) gondwanensis R̂ckel & Moolenbeek, 1995

Figs 2 , 63–64

Conus gondwanensis R̂ckel & Moolenbeek in R̂ckel et al., 1995a: 572, figs 8–9, 54.

Conus species no. 15 – R̂ckel et al. 1995b: pl. 72 figs 12–13.

Kioconus gondwanensis – Tucker & Tenorio 2013: 210.

Turriconus (Kurodaconus) gondwanensis – Monnier et al. 2018a: 345.

Material examined

36 lots (54 specimens). See Supp. file 1.

Type material

Holotype NEW CALEDONIA • 21.5 mm; off S New Caledonia, Banc Jumeau Ouest, stn DW73; 23º40′ S, 168º00′ E; 230‒240 m depth; 7 Sep. 1989; SMIB 5 expedition; MNHN-IM-2000-2556 ( Fig. 63A ).

Figured material

NEW CALEDONIA • 20.7 mm; off S New Caledonia, Banc Kaimon Maru, stn DW158; 24º46′ S, 168º08′ E; 262–290 m depth; 28 Jan. 1993; SMIB 8 expedition; MNHN ( Fig. 63B ) • 19.8 mm; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN ( Fig. 63C ) • 19 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Banc P, off New Caledonia, stn DW1724; 23º17′ S, 168º14′ E; 200‒291 m depth; 27 Jun. 2001; NORFOLK 1 expedition; MNHN ( Fig. 63D ) • 19.1 mm; off S New Caledonia, Banc Kaimon Maru, stn DW155; 24º46′ S, 168º08′ E; 257‒262 m depth; 28 Jan. 1993; SMIB 8 expedition; MNHN ( Fig. 63E ) • 29.7 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Banc Crypthélia, off New Caledonia, stn DW2123; 23º18′ S, 168º15′ E; 187‒197 m depth; 2 Nov. 2003; NORFOLK 2 expedition; MNHN ( Fig. 63F ) • 21.4 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Banc Kaimon Maru, off New Caledonia, stn DW2093; 24º44′ S, 168º09′ E; 230 m depth; 29 Oct. 2003; NORFOLK 2 expedition; MNHN ( Fig. 63G ) • 20.8 mm; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN ( Fig. 63H ) • 24.9 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Banc Kaimon Maru, off New Caledonia, stn CP1681; 24º44′ S, 168º10′ E; 228–240 m depth; 22 Jun. 2001; NORFOLK 1 expedition; MNHN ( Fig. 63I ) • 15.7 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Banc Kaimon Maru, off New Caledonia, stn DW1675; 24º45′ S, 168º09′ E; 231–233 m depth; 22 Jun. 2001; NORFOLK 1 expedition; MNHN ( Fig. 63J, L ) • 12 mm; Norfolk Ridge, off New Caledonia, stn DW159; 24º46′ S, 168º08′ E; 241–245 m depth; 28 Jan. 1993; SMIB 8 expedition; MNHN ( Fig. 63K ) • 18.8 mm; Lifou, Loyalty Islands, off New Caledonia ; ER coll. ( Fig. 63M ) .

Geographical distribution and bathymetry

New Caledonia: Norfolk Ridge and Loyalty Islands, typically at depths between 100 and 300 m. Some specimens have been sampled in the Coral Sea (Bellona Plateau) and the New Hebrides Arc (Hunter Island). The species has not yet been found outside of the New Caledonia EEZ, and therefore it can be considered endemic.

Remarks

Shell small to moderately small (maximum shell length 30 mm), broadly conical, with a moderately stepped, nodulose spire of deeply concave profile. Larval shell ( Fig. 63L ) multispiral of more than 4 whorls. Shoulder slightly tuberculate to carinate. Last whorl pure white-colored, smooth or with granulated spiral ribs ( Fig. 63F–H, K ). Radular tooth ( Fig. 63M ) with the anterior section much shorter than the posterior section. The tooth is serrated with 12–15 minute denticles arranged in two rows. The denticles are obsolete or absent in the apical portion. Small, almost indistinct rounded terminating cusp present. Barb small, rather indistinct. Blade rounded, covering most of the anterior section of the tooth. Basal spur on top of a narrow base. In the phylogeny ( Fig. 2 ), the specimens of C. (K.) gondwanensis form a clade sister to the other species of Kurodaconus .

Figures

Fig. 2. Cox1-based Bayesian phylogeny. Posterior probabilities (> 0.95) and bootstrap values (> 90) from the ML analysis are provided for each node. Intraspecific relationships are collapsed. Subgenus names are indicated on the right.

Fig. 63. Conus (Kurodaconus) gondwanensis R̂ckel & Moolenbeek, 1995. A. Holotype, Banc Aztèque, 240 m depth, 21.5 mm (MNHNIM-2000-2556). B. Banc Kaimon Maru, Norfolk Ridge, 262–290 m depth, 20.7 mm. C. Same collection data as for specimen B, 19.8 mm. D. Banc P, Norfolk Ridge, 200‒291 m depth, 19 mm. E. Banc Kaimon Maru, Norfolk Ridge, 257‒262 m depth, 19.1 mm. F. Banc Crypthélia, Norfolk Ridge, 187‒197 m depth, 29.7 mm. G. Banc Kaimon Maru, Norfolk Ridge, 230 m depth, 21.4 mm. H. Same collection data as for specimen G, 20.8 mm. I. Banc Kaimon Maru, Norfolk Ridge, 228–240 m depth, 24.9 mm. J. Banc Kaimon Maru, Norfolk Ridge, 231–233 m depth, 15.7 mm. K. Norfolk Ridge, 241–245 m depth, 12 mm. L. Protoconch of specimen J. M. Radular tooth of a specimen from Lifou, New Caledonia, 18.8 mm (ER coll.). Scale bars = 10 mm, unless otherwise stated.

Fig. 64. Bathymetric range and distribution map for Conus (Kurodaconus) gondwanensis R̂ckel & Moolenbeek, 1995. Red circles indicate the points where the species was collected.