Coralliophila solutistoma Kuroda & Shikama, 1966

Oliverio, Marco, 2008, Coralliophilinae (Neogastropoda: Muricidae) from the southwest Pacific, Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle 196, pp. 481-586 : 511-512

Coralliophila solutistoma Kuroda & Shikama in Shikama, 1966

Figs 35, 36

Coralliophila solutistoma Kuroda & Shikama in Shikama, 1966: 21, pl. 1, figs 1-2.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype KPM NG0103723 , figured by Kosuge & Suzuki (1985: pl. 40, fig. 1) and Higo et al. (2001: 66, G2395) [examined good photographs only].

TYPE LOCALITY. — Off Okinoshima, Tosa Bay , Kōchi Prefecture, Japan .

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — New Caledonia proper. LAGON: 250 m, 1 lv . — SMIB 5: stn DW 85, 22°20’S, 168°43’E, 260 m, 1 stn 933, Secteur de Koumac , 20°45’S, 164°15’E, 90-100 m, dd . — MUSORSTOM 6: stn CP 400, 20°42’S, 167°00’E, 270 m, 1 lv. — BATHUS 1: stn DW 688, Passe de Hienghu , 20°33’S, 1 dd (Fig. 35); stn DW 421, 20°26’S, 166°40’E, 245 m, 1 dd .

165°00’E, 270-282 m, 1 dd. Vanuatu. MUSORSTOM 8: stn CP 970, 20°19’S, 169°53’E,

Loyalty Islands. Lifou. LIFOU 2000: stn 1469, Baie du Santal, 252-310 m, 1 dd; stn CP 1102, 15°04’S, 167°09’E, 208-210 m, 20°54.2’S, 167°00.4’E, 70-130 m, 1 lv. 1 lv fixed on the host (Fig. 36).

Norfolk Ridge. SMIB 3: stn DW 14, 23°40’S, 168°00’E, 246 m, Fiji. BORDAU 1: stn CP 1394, 16°45’S, 179°59’E, 416 m, 1 1 dd . — BERYX 11: stn CP 17, 24°48’S, 168°09’E, 250-270 m, 1 dd.

lv. — SMIB 8: stn DW 157, 24°46’S, 168°08’E, 251-255 m, 1 dd; Wallis and Futuna. MUSORSTOM 7: stn DW 495, Futuna stn DW 159, 24°46’S, 168°08’E, 241-245 m, 1 dd . — CHALCAL Island, 14°19’S, 178°04’W, 180-210 m, 1 dd; stn CP 505, 2: stn CP 19, 24°43’S, 168°10’E, 271 m, 1 lv. 14°19’S, 178°04’W, 245-400 m, 1 lv; stn CP 508, 14°19’S,

Loyalty Ridge. VOLSMAR: stn DW 41, 22°19’S, 168°41’E, 195- 178°04’W, 245-440 m, 1 lv.

DISTRIBUTION. — Pacific Ocean : southern Japan (Tsuchiya 2000; Higo et al. 1999) to the Philippines ( D’Attilio & Emerson 1980: 70). New Caledonia, Loyalty Ridge, Norfolk Ridge, Vanuatu, Fiji and Wallis and Futuna, live in 100- 271 m, empty shells down to 416 m.

REMARKS. — The group of species related to Coralliophila solutistoma includes C. mitraeforma Kosuge, 1985 , C. elvirae Emerson & D’Attilio, 1980 , C. roseocephala Kosuge, 1986 , and possibly also C. rubrococcinea Melvill & Standen, 1901 and C. flava Kosuge, 1985 . Distinguishing among them is based mainly on the height/width and total-height/apertural-height ratios, the strength and scabrousness of the spiral sculpture, presence/absence of a

marked shoulder and the orientation (ortho-, proso-, opisthocline) and shape (sigmoid or straight) of the axial ribs. Specimens of C. rubrococcinea are frequently misidentified as C. solutistoma in collections and dealer lists but Coralliophila rubrococcinea has a taller spire and a variably but strongly pigmented shell. Coralliophila solutistoma was described from Tosa Bay; the collection depth was not reported in the English part of the original description. Shikama wrote in the Japanese part that the type specimen was collected by jewel coral nets, usually fishing in 100- 120 m. Specimens from Japan, concordant with the southwest Pacific ones, are presently collected in 60-120 m (T. Kimura, pers. comm.). The habitat notes indicating shallower waters (“intertidal to 30 m deep”: Tsuchiya 2000; Higo et al. 1999) are therefore probably erroneous. The partly preserved protoconch of a specimen from the Philippines was figured (drawing) by D’Attilio & Emerson (1980, pl. 20 fig. 2), and showed traces of 2 nodulose keels on the last 1.5 whorls.