Babelomurex spinosus (Hirase, 1908)

Oliverio, Marco, 2008, Coralliophilinae (Neogastropoda: Muricidae) from the southwest Pacific, Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle 196, pp. 481-586 : 538-539

Babelomurex spinosus (Hirase, 1908)

Figs 85, 86

Latiaxis spinosus Hirase, 1908: 71 , pl. 42, figs 253-254.

Synonyms:

Coralliophila spinosa Dall, 1925: 14 , pl. 36, figs 5, 8.

Latiaxis multispinosus Shikama, 1966: 24-25 , pl. 2, figs 13-15.

Latiaxis jeanneae D’Attilio & Myers, 1984: 86 , figs 15-20.

Other references:

Latiaxis pagodus - Abbott & Dance 1990: 156. — Springsteen & Leobrera 1986: 160 (as A. Adams “1852”; non A. Adams 1853: 269).

TYPE MATERIAL. — Latiaxis spinosus : possibly lost. — Coralliophila spinosa : holotype USNM 111045 , figured by Higo et al. (2001: 68 G2448) . — Latiaxis multispinosus : holotype KPM 3757 , figured by Kosuge & Suzuki (1985: pl. 30, fig. 8) [examined good photographs only] . — Latiaxis jeanneae : holotype and paratype SDSNH 79499 , figured by Kosuge & Suzuki (1985: pl. 30, figs 1, 2) .

TYPE LOCALITY. — L. spinosus: Kashiwajima Tosa, SW Shikoku , Japan. — C. spinosa : off Honshū, 63 fms [115 m] sand ( Albatross stn 3700) . — L. multispinosus : off Nada, Kii Peninsula , Gobō District, Japan . — L. jeanneae : Bohol Straits , Philippines .

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Coral Sea. MUSORSTOM 5: stn 255, 168°08’E, 235-252 m, 1 dd; stn DW 156, 24°46’S, 168°08’E, Banc Capel, 25°15’S, 159°55’E, 280-295 m, 2 dd; stn 280, Banc 275-300 m, 1 dd; stn DW 158, 24°47’S, 168°08’E, 262-290 m, 3 Kelso, 24°10’S, 159°36’E, 270 m, 1 dd; stn 294, Banc Argo, dd. — NORFOLK 1: stn CP 1676, Banc Kaimon-Maru, 24°43’S, 23°11’S, 159°30’E, 272 m, 1 dd; stn 304, Banc Nova, 22°10’S, 168°09’E, 227-232 m, 2 dd; stn CP 1681, Banc Kaimon-Maru, 159°26’E, 385-420 m, 1 dd. 24°44’S, 168°10’E, 228-240 m, 1 dd; stn DW 1723, 23°18’S, New Caledonia proper. MUSORSTOM 4: stn DW 227, 22°46’S, 168°15’E, 266-267 m, 1 dd .

167°20’E, 300 m, 1 dd. — BATHUS 2: stn DW 715, Ile des Pins , Loyalty Ridge. MUSORSTOM 6: stn DW 391, 20°47’S, 167°06’E, 22°39’S, 167°11’E, 202-227 m, 2 dd . — BATHUS 3: stn DW 836, 390 m, 2 dd; stn DW 392, 20°47’S, 167°05’E, 340 m, 1 dd; stn DW 23°02’S, 166°59’E, 295-306 m, 2 dd. 399, 20°42’S, 167°00’E, 282 m,1 dd; stn CP 400, 20°42’S, 167°00’E, Norfolk Ridge. BERYX 11: stn DW 18, 24°48’S, 168°09’E, 250- 270 m, 1 dd; stn DW 417, 20°42’S, 167°04’E, 283 m, 3 dd; stn DW 270 m, 3 dd. — CHALCAL 2: stn DW 70, 24°46’S, 168°09’E, 232 418, 20°42’S, 167°03’E, 283 m, 2 dd; stn CP 454, 21°0l’S, 167°26’E, m, 1 dd; stn DW 83, 23°20’S, 168°06’E, 200 m, 1 dd. — SMIB 3: 260 m, 1 dd ( Fig. 85); stn DW 456, 21°01’S, 167°26’E, 240 m, 1 dd stn DW 8, 24°45’S, 168°08’E, 233 m, 1 dd . — SMIB 5: stn DW 94, ( Fig. 86); stn DW 485, 21°23’S, 167°59’E, 350 m, 2 dd . — BIOCAL: 22°20’S, 168°43’E, 275 m, 1 dd. — SMIB 8: stn DW 154, 24°46’S, stn CP 84, 20°43’S, 167°01’S, 150-210 m, 1 dd.

New Hebrides Arc. VOLSMAR: stn DW 17, Hunter and Matthew stn DW 979, 19°22’S, 169°23’E, 250 m, 1 dd; stn DW 1038, Islands, 22°23’S, 171°41’E, 260-300 m, 1 dd. 16°49’S, 168°30’E, 469-472 m, 1 dd.

Vanuatu. MUSORSTOM 8: stn CP 970, 20°19’S, 169°53’E, 252- Fiji. BORDAU 1: stn CP 1469, 19°40’S, 178°10’W, 314-377 m, 1 310 m, 1 dd; stn CP 971, 20°19’S, 169°53’E, 250-315 m, 1 dd; dd; stn CP 1474, 19°39’S, 178°10’W, 316-340 m, 1 dd.

DISTRIBUTION. — Indian Ocean: northern Zululand, South Africa, 75 m ( Kosuge 1998). Pacific Ocean: from central Honshū ( Japan) to South China Sea, Philippines, southward to northern Australia ( Kosuge 1998; Tsuchiya 2000). From the Coral Sea, southern New Caledonia, Norfolk Ridge, Loyalty Ridge, New Hebrides Arc, Vanuatu and Fiji, empty shells in 200- 469 m.

REMARKS. — Kosuge (1988 b) considered Coralliophila deburghiae var. spinosa Dall, 1889 (a different species from Barbados, possibly a synonym of Babelomurex dalli ) as having priority over the supposed secondary homonyms Latiaxis spinosus Hirase, 1908 and Coralliophila spinosa Dall, 1925 (the present species). If this interpretation were correct, then the first available name for this very common species would be Latiaxis multispinosus Shikama, 1966 . Under the Code ( ICZN 1999: Article 45.6.4), C. deburghiae var. spinosa Dall, 1889 , is clearly infrasubspecific since the text unambiguously reveals an infrasubspecific intention. I have been unable to find any record of Dall’s (1889) name adopted as a (sub)species before 1985 ( ICZN 1999: Article 45.6.4.1). Therefore, Latiaxis spinosus Hirase, 1908 , is not threatened by senior homonyms and the current usage should be maintained for this common species, preserving stability.