Conus (Asprella) gigasulcatus Moolenbeek, R

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 : 73

Conus (Asprella) gigasulcatus Moolenbeek, R ̂ckel & Bouchet, 2008

Figs 52I–K , 54

Conus gigasulcatus Moolenbeek et al., 2008: 43 .

Asprella gigasulcata – Tucker & Tenorio 2013: 206. — Monnier et al. 2018a: 614.

Material examined

5 lots (6 specimens). See Supp. file 1.

Type material

Holotype FIJI • 73.1 mm; south of Viti Levu ; 18°12.4′ S, 178°33.0′ E; 144–150 m depth; MNHN-IM-2000-21041 ( Fig. 52I ).

Figured material

NEW CALEDONIA • 85.2 mm; SE Terrasses, off New Caledonia, stn CP3091; 22°17′ S, 167°09′ E; 260‒270 m depth; 25 Oct. 2008; TERRASSES expedition; MNHN ( Fig. 52J ) • 80.9 mm; off SE New Caledonia, stn CP852; 21º44′ S, 166º36′ E; 253‒266 m depth; 19 Mar. 1994; HALIPRO 1 expedition; MNHN ( Fig. 52K ) .

Geographical distribution and bathymetry

Fiji, at depths between 150‒260 m, Indonesia (Kei Islands, off Irian Jaya) in 82 m, Solomon Islands between 97 and 381 m, Vanuatu between 45 and 175 m, and New Caledonia (E coast)between 100‒ 300 m.

Remarks

Shell moderately large to large (maximum length 88 mm), broadly conical with a rather low, concave spire. Protoconch missing in all specimens examined. Radular morphology not known. Initially described from Fiji, this species has been subsequently reported from many other localities. One specimen from Vanuatu has been sequenced. In the phylogeny, it appears sister to the clade containing C. fijisulcatus and C. samiae .

Figures

Fig. 52. A–H. Conus (Asprella) fijisulcatus Moolenbeek, R̂ckel & Bouchet, 2008. A. Holotype, Natewa Bay, Vanua Levu, Fiji, 220–224 m depth, 54.9 mm (MNHN-IM-2000-21038). B. New Caledonia, east coast, 237‒298 m depth, 55.9 mm. C. Same collection data as for specimen B, 52.7 mm. D. SE New Caledonia, 253‒266 m depth, 53.7 mm. E. Passe du Solitaire, off New Caledonia, 251‒281 m depth, 54.4 mm. F. SE New Caledonia, 204‒220 m depth, 58.8 mm. G. SE New Caledonia, 314‒364 m depth, 61.4 mm. H. Protoconch of specimen B. – I–K. Conus (Asprella) gigasulcatus Moolenbeek, R̂ckel & Bouchet, 2008. I. Holotype, south of Viti Levu, Fiji, 144–150 m depth, 73.1 mm (MNHN- IM-2000-21041). J. SE Terrasses, off New Caledonia, 260‒270 m depth, 85.2 mm. K. SE New Caledonia, 253‒266 m depth, 80.9 mm. – L. Conus (Asprella) samiae da Motta, 1982. Munida Bank, Norfolk Ridge, 180‒220 m depth, 53.9 mm (MNHN-IM-2007-34858). – M. C. (A.) fijisulcatus. Radular tooth of specimen E. – N. C. (A.) samiae. Radular tooth of specimen L. Scale bars = 10 mm, unless otherwise stated.

Fig. 54. Bathymetric range and distribution map for Conus (Asprella) gigasulcatus Moolenbeek, R̂ckel & Bouchet, 2008. Red circles indicate the points where the species was collected.