Lepetodrilus fijiensis Beck, 2023

Chen, Chong & Sigwart, Julia D., 2023, The lost vent gastropod species of Lothar A. Beck, Zootaxa 5270 (3), pp. 401-436 : 418

Lepetodrilus fijiensis Beck , sp. nov.

Fig. 11

[ZooBank LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2B534AA8-C250-4267-B0A8-2B6B437C4408 ]

Type material. Holotype [MNHN-IM-2000-38682], five paratypes in MNHN [Paratype 1: MNHN-IM-2000-38683; Paratype 2: MNHN-IM-2000-38684; Paratype 3: MNHN-IM-2000-38685; Paratype 4: MNHN-IM-2000-38686; Paratype 5: MNHN-IM-2000-38687], five paratypes in NSMT [Paratype 6: NSMT-Mo 79413; NSMT-Mo 79414; Paratype 8: NSMT-Mo 79415; Paratype 9: NSMT-Mo 79416; Paratype 10: NSMT-Mo 79417], five paratypes in SMF [Paratype 11: SMF 370360 ; Paratype 12: SMF 370361 ; Paratype 13: SMF 370362 ; Paratype 14: SMF 370363 ; Paratype 15: SMF 370364 ].

Type locality. Lau Basin, BIOLAU BL12, Vai Lili, 23°13′S – 176°38′W.

Material examined. The type material and: BIOLAU, BL01,> 10 specimens [MNHN-IM-2020-12942]; BIOLAU, BL02,> 100 specimens [NSMT-Mo 79418]; BIOLAU, BL03,> 100 specimens [ SMF 370365 ]; BIOLAU, BL04,> 10 specimens [ SMF 370366 ]; BIOLAU, BL05, 1 specimen [ SMF 370367 ]; BIOLAU, BL06, 6 specimens [ SMF 370368 ]; BIOLAU, BL08,> 10 specimens [ SMF 370369 ]; BIOLAU, BL09, 1 specimen [ SMF 370370 ]; BIOLAU, BL11, 1 specimen [ SMF 370371 ]; BIOLAU, BL12,> 100 specimens [NSMT-Mo 79419]; STARMER II, PL10,> 100 specimens [MNHN-IM-2020-12943]; STARMER II, PL11,> 100 specimens [NSMT-Mo 79420]; STARMER II, PL12,> 10 specimens [ SMF 370372 ]; STARMER II, PL13,> 10 specimens [ SMF 370373 ]; STARMER II, PL14,> 10 specimens [ SMF 370374 ]; STARMER II, PL15, 6 specimens [ SMF 370375 ]; STARMER II, PL16,> 100 specimens [ SMF 370376 ]; STARMER II, PL17, 1 specimen [ SMF 370377 ], STARMER II, PL18,> 100 specimens [ SMF 370378 ]; STARMER II, PL19,> 100 specimens [NSMT-Mo 79421]; STARMER II, PL20,> 100 specimens [ SMF 370379 ]; STARMER II, PL21,> 10 specimens [ SMF 370380 ] .

Distribution. Lau Basin and North Fiji Basin in bathyal hot-vent fields.

Etymology. Name refers to the distribution at North Fiji Basin and Lau Basin.

Description: As the new taxon is very similar in conchological, anatomical and radular characters to Lepetodrilus schrolli Beck, 1993 ( Beck 1993) , only diagnostic characters are given here.

Shell ( Fig. 11 ). Dimensions much higher, largest specimen: length 12.0 mm, width 8.3 mm, height 4.0 mm; apex in slightly more right-posterior position.

Radula . Rhachidian with long tapering cusp.

Soft parts. Pallial cavity deeper and shell muscles slightly shorter than in Lepetodrilus schrolli .

Dimensions. Holotype shell length 11.0 mm, width 8.3 mm, height 4.5 mm.

Remarks. No evident morphological-anatomical diagnostic character was found to separate North Fiji specimens from Lau specimens.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Lepetodrilus fijiensis sp. nov. Shell, soft parts and radula. A–C. Holotype (shell length 11.0 mm). A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view. C. Lateral view. D. Paratype 14 (shell length 8.3 mm) removed from shell, anterior part of mantle skirt dissected, arrow points to the rudimentary right gill. E. Radula, detail of right half-row. [Scale bar: E, 50 μm.]