Leptochiton macleani Sirenko, 2015

Wiklund, Helena, Taylor, John D., Dahlgren, Thomas G., Todt, Christiane, Ikebe, Chiho, Rabone, Muriel & Glover, Adrian G., 2017, Abyssal fauna of the UK- 1 polymetallic nodule exploration area, Clarion-Clipperton Zone, central Pacific Ocean: Mollusca, ZooKeys 707, pp. 1-46 : 22

Leptochiton macleani Sirenko, 2015

Material examined.

NHM_446 NHMUK 20170073.1-2, collected 2013-10-20, 13.86367 -116.54432, 4050 m. http://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/d69b581d-8a79-4c4d-8f70-88b2ec07d86e

Description.

The form and pattern of tegmental granules together with the three aesthete pores are most similar to the images of Leptochiton macleani (Sirenko, 2015: figs 34-36). Voucher NHM_446 length approx 10 mm, width 3.2 mm (Fig. 21).

Genetic data.

GenBank NHM_446 16S-MF157466, 18S-MF157497, COI-MF157523.

Remarks.

Sirenko (2015) has recently reviewed Leptochiton of the southeastern Pacific Ocean and described several new species that had been previously confounded with Leptochiton belknapi Dall, 1878. The specimen morphologically matches Leptochiton macleani , type locality Peru-Chile Trench, East Pacific, 4600 m depth. Forms a unique monophyletic clade distinct from other AB01 specimens. No genetic matches on GenBank. In the molecular analyses based on the 18S and COI genes, it falls with strong support as sister taxon to two other Leptochiton species, but in the phylogenetic tree the genus Leptochiton is not monophyletic (Fig. 22).

Ecology.

Specimen collected from an ROV scoop in region of sediment and polymetallic nodules, presumed living associated or on the nodule surface, but not directly observed doing so.