Cadulus deschampsi, Scarabino, 2008

Scarabino, Victor, 2008, New species and new records of scaphopods from New Caledonia, Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle 196, pp. 215-268 : 258-259

Cadulus deschampsi n. sp.

Figs 3g, 4i

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype (lv) MNHN 20120 and 6 paratypes (dd) MNHN 20121-20122 .

TYPE LOCALITY. — Norfolk Ridge, Banc Introuvable, 24°39’S, 168°38’E, 516-569 m [NORFOLK 1: stn DW 1697] .

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Norfolk Ridge. NORFOLK 1: stn Jumeau Ouest, 23°19’S, 168°00’E, 601-608 m, 4 dd (paratypes DW 1697 , Banc Introuvable, 24°39’S, 168°38’E, 516-569 m, MNHN 20121 ) . — SMIB 8: stns 146-147, Banc Éponge (Mont B), 1 lv (holotype MNHN 20120 ) . — BATHUS 3: stn DW 824, Banc 24°55’S, 168°22’E, 508-532 m, 2 dd (paratypes MNHN 20122 ) .

DISTRIBUTION. — Norfolk Ridge , live in 516-569 m, shells in 532-601 m.

DESCRIPTION. — Shell up to 5.1 mm long, translucent white. Maximum diameter at centre of shell. In lateral view, ventral side of caudal region exhibits a regular, pronounced, long curve, dorsal side has an alternating slightly concave and convex outline. Dorsal view fusiform. Apex simple, section slightly oval, dorsoventrally compressed. Preapical callus thin, at about 1/4 shell length from aperture. Lumen oval dorsoventrally. Mouth slightly laterally compressed, oblique.

Measurements of holotype: L 5.1, W 1.0-0.9, mouth 0.51-0.46, w 0.40-0.35.

REMARKS. — The main distinctive characters of Cadulus deschampsi are its fusiform shape and the length of the posterior 1/3 of the shell, which is longer than in most similar species. It is somewhat similar to C. simillimus Watson, 1879 , but the new species is smaller and less swollen. Three of the specimens show naticid perforations in the side of the apex, demonstrating active naticid predation in the locality.

ETYMOLOGY. — Named after Guy Deschamps, a volunteer at MNHN, who has sorted numerous bottom samples for micromolluscs over almost 20 years.