Vermeijius pallidus (Kuroda & Habe, 1961 ) Kantor & Fedosov & Snyder & Bouchet, 2018

Kantor, Yuri I., Fedosov, Alexander E., Snyder, Martin Avery & Bouchet, Philippe, 2018, Pseudolatirus Bellardi, 1884 revisited, with the description of two new genera and five new species (Neogastropoda: Fasciolariidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 433, pp. 1-57 : 45-50

Vermeijius pallidus (Kuroda & Habe, 1961) gen. et comb. nov.

Figs 11 A–E, 12A–B

Pseudolatirus pallidus Kuroda & Habe in Habe, 1961: 66 , pl. 33, fig. 9.

Pseudolatirus pallidus – Callomon & Snyder 2009: 167, fig. 20. — Mallard & Robin 2017: 154.

Molecular diagnosis

A molecular diagnosis is given in Table 4.

Type material

Holotype

JAPAN: off Cape Ashizuri , Kochi Prefecture ( NSMT Mo 40378) [not seen].

Sequenced material

SOLOMON ISLANDS: SALOMON 2: 1 lv, stn CP2290, Tetepare, 8°40′ S, 157°32′ E, 384–418 m ( MNHN IM-2007-32537).

NEW CALEDONIA: CONCALIS: 1 lv, stn CP2962, Grand Passage, 18°59′ S, 163°08′ E, 580–647 m ( MNHN IM-2007-35093).

SOUTH CHINA SEA: DongSha 2014, 2 lv, stn CP4128, 20°42′ N, 116°08′ E, 420–444 m ( MNHN IM- 2013-50173, MNHN IM-2013-50174).

Description

Shell up to 60 mm in length, solid, fusiform, with strongly constricted base with long, nearly straight, siphonal canal, slightly inclined to left. Protoconch obtusely conical ( Fig. 11E ) of 3.25 whorls, with evenly convex, brown, smooth whorls, last half whorl with seven distinct, arcuate, axial ribs, protoconch/ teleoconch discontinuity distinct, marked by appearance of spiral sculpture of teleoconch. Protoconch diameter 1160 µm, exposed height 1100 µm. Teleoconch with strongly convex whorls. Aperture wide, oval, with weak columellar plicae, corresponding to primary spiral cords overlaid by callus, from nearly absent to 4–5 on lower half of columella. Spiral sculpture of unevenly arranged cords, alternating in strength, strongly nodulous at intersection with axial ribs. Axial ribs broadly spaced, narrow, not aligned along spire, 10–12 on last whorl. Growth lines usually thickened, forming reticulated structure at intersection with spiral cords. Background colour pale flesh to nearly white.

Operculum elongate, leaf-shaped, nearly spanning the entire aperture. Nucleus terminal, often abraded.

Radula ( Fig. 12 A–B, MNHN IM-2007-35093, SL 42.5 mm) long, of about 105 rows of teeth, 30 nascent, 4.3 mm long (0.41 of AL without canal); narrow, distance between outer edges of lateral teeth about 140 µm wide (1.33% of AL without canal). Lateral teeth broad, slightly arcuate, with strongly attenuated outer anterior corner, producing long ‘handle’. Lateral teeth with six, almost equal, recurved, closely spaced, major cusps and one smaller inner cusp. Teeth outline convex at transition of outer cusp side into ‘handle’. Central tooth subrectangular, with three short, sharp cusps, central slightly longer. Distinct transverse folds of the membrane situated serially between rows of lateral teeth.

The radula illustrated by line drawing by Hadorn & Fraussen (2002: fig. 22) is very similar, differing in the presence of 7 major cusps on lateral teeth versus 6 in our specimen.

Distribution

Japan to New Caledonia, in 384– 647 m.

Remarks

Callomon & Snyder (2009) discussed and illustrated the type of the species stored in NSMT (Mo 40378) and concluded that it does not match the dimensions of the holotype (52.2 vs 56.8 mm for the latter according to the original description); the specimen may be a figured paratype.

Vermeijius pallidus gen. et comb. nov. is somewhat similar to V. virginiae gen. et comb. nov.; for differences, see the description of the latter.

Vermeijius virginiae ( Hadorn & Fraussen, 2002) gen. et comb. nov. Figs 11 F–J; 12C–D

Fusinus virginiae Hadorn & Fraussen, 2002: 70 , 72, figs 15–19.

Fusinus virginiae – Mallard & Robin 2017: 104.

Molecular diagnosis

A molecular diagnosis is given in Table 4.

Type material

Holotype

MOZAMBIQUE CHANNEL: off Southwest Madagascar, 22°10′ S, 43°05′ E, 525 m, Campagne Crevettière 1986, stn CH79 ( MNHN IM-2000-9626).

Sequenced material

SOUTH MADAGASCAR: ATIMO VATAE: 7 lv, stn CP3585, 25°32′ S, 44°16′ E, 549–576 m ( MNHN IM-2009-15020, MNHN IM-2009-15025, MNHN IM-2009-15026, MNHN IM-2009-15030, MNHN IM-2009-15031, MNHN IM-2009-15033, MNHN IM-2009-15034); 2 lv, stn CP3591, 25°03′ S; 43°58′ E, 400–402 m ( MNHN IM-2009-15021, MNHN IM-2009-15084).

Description

Shell large for genus, up to 56 mm, strong, fusiform, with strongly constricted base with long, nearly straight, siphonal canal, slightly inclined to left. Protoconch ( Fig. 11J ) conical of 2.25 moderately convex, smooth, greyish and semitransparent whorls, with elevated first whorl, and 2–5 indistinct axial ribs at transition to teleoconch. Protoconch/teleoconch discontinuity distinct, marked by appearance of teleoconch spiral sculpture. Protoconch diameter 960 µm, exposed height 800 µm. Teleoconch with regularly strongly convex whorls. Aperture broad, oval, columella smooth, or with 1 or 2 weak, inconspicuous plicae, corresponding to underlying spiral sculpture of preceding whorl. Spiral sculpture of unevenly spaced cords, alternating in strength, slightly nodulous at intersection with axial ribs. Growth lines usually thickened, forming reticulated structure at intersection with spiral cords. Axial ribs not aligned along spire, 9–11 on last whorl. Background colour pale flesh to nearly white. Operculum elongate, leaf-shaped, spanning nearly the entire aperture. Nucleus terminal.

Radula ( Fig. 12 C–D, MNHN IM-2009-15030, SL 51.5 mm) long, of about 150 rows of teeth, 40 nascent, 4.5 mm long (0.37 of AL without canal), narrow, distance between outer edges of lateral teeth about 130 µm (1.06% of AL without canal). Lateral teeth broad, slightly arcuate, with strongly attenuated outer anterior corner, producing long ‘handle’. Lateral teeth with six, almost equal, recurved, closely spaced, major cusps and one smaller inner cusp. Teeth outline convex at transition of outer cusp side into ‘handle’. Central tooth subrectangular, with three very short, sharp cusps, central slightly longer. The radula illustrated by line drawing by Hadorn & Fraussen (2002: fig. 19) is very similar to that of our specimen, but has 7 major cusps on lateral teeth versus 6 in our specimen.

Distribution

Southern Madagascar, in 400– 576 m.

Remarks

The species is rather similar conchologically and is a sister to V. pallidus gen. et comb. nov. It differs in having fewer protoconch whorls, thinner spiral cords, forming less defined beads at intersection with axial ribs.

Figures

Fig. 11. Species of Vermeijius gen. nov. A–E. Vermeijius pallidus (Kuroda & Habe, 1961) gen. et comb. nov. A–B. South China Sea, DongSha 2014, stn CP4128, 20°42′ N, 116°08′ E, 420–444 m. A. SL 50.6 mm (MNHN IM-2013-50173). B. SL 56.6 mm (MNHN IM-2013-50174). C. Solomon Islands, SALOMON 2, stn CP2290, 08°40′ S, 157°32′ E, 384–418 m, SL 59.9 mm (MNHN IM-2007-32537). D–E. New Caledonia, CONCALIS, stn CP2962, Grand Passage, 18°59′ S, 163°08′ E, 580–647 m, SL 45.2 mm (MNHN IM-2007-35093). F–J. Vermeijius virginiae (Hadorn & Fraussen, 2002) gen. et comb. nov. F. Holotype, SL 58.9 mm (MNHN IM-2000-9626). G–H. South Madagascar, ATIMO VATAE, stn CP3585, 25°32′ S; 44°16′ E, 549–576 m. G. SL 53.8 mm (MNHN IM-2009-15025). H. SL 52.6 mm (MNHN IM-2009-15026). I–J. South Madagascar, ATIMO VATAE, stn CP3591, 25°03′ S, 43°58′ E, 400–402 m, SL 56 mm (MNHN IM-2009-15021). K. Vermeijius retiarius (Martens, 1901) gen. et comb. nov., South Madagascar, ATIMO VATAE, stn CP3595, 25°35′ S, 44°15′ E, 821–910 m, SL 47.5 mm (MNHN IM-2009-15087). All specimens sequenced, except F. Figures A–D, F–I, K to the same scale.

Fig. 12. Radulae of species of Vermeijius gen. nov. A–B. Vermeijius pallidus (Kuroda & Habe, 1961) gen. et comb. nov., New Caledonia, CONCALIS, stn CP2962, Grand Passage, 18°59′ S, 163°08′ E, 580– 647 m, shell, see Fig. 11D (MNHN IM-2007-35093). C–D. Vermeijius virginiae (Hadorn & Fraussen, 2002) gen. et comb. nov., South Madagascar, ATIMO VATAE, stn CP3585, 25°32′ S, 44°16′ E, 549– 576 m (MNHN IM-2009-15030).