Arene lychee, Cavallari & Simone, 2018

Cavallari, Daniel Caracanhas & Simone, Luiz Ricardo Lopes de, 2018, A new species of Arene (Vetigastropoda, Areneidae) from Canopus Bank, off NE Brazil, Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia 58, pp. 1-4 : 1-3

Arene lychee sp. nov.

( Figure 1 A‑H)

Type material: Holotype MZSP 70301 . Paratypes: MZSP 93482, 2 shells (juveniles), MZSP 93501, 2 shells, MZSP 135314, 4 shells, same data as holotype, 200 m depth (viii/2005).

Type locality: Brazil, Ceará, off Fortaleza, Canopus Bank, 02°14’25”S, 38°22’50”W, 260 m.

Diagnosis: Shell relatively large, trochiform. Teleoconch sculptured by 3 wide spiral cords (increasing in number, up to 8 on body whorl) bearing large, mostly hollow, scale-like spines and closely-packed, thin axial growth lines, more visible in interspaces; cords separated by equally wide, deep interspaces. Color from white to intense red, darker on spiral cords, and lighter at base; apex yellow.

Description: Shell relatively large (H 7-9 mm), trochoid, slightly taller than wide (H/D ~1.1), with 5 convex whorls; color strong red to white, darker on spiral cords and lighter at base (juveniles are often lighter colored overall; Fig. 1E ); apex yellow ( Fig. 1B, H ). Spire medium-sized (height ~1/3 of shell height); apex rounded; spire angle ~85°. Protoconch ( Fig. 1 G-H) small (W 0.75 mm), protruding, of 1½ whorl; color yellow ( Fig. 1H ); transition to teleoconch visible as a radial groove ( Fig. 1G ). Teleoconch with ~3½ convex whorls, whorl profile rounded; sculpture of 3 evenly sized, spiny spiral cords (increasing in number, up to 8 on body whorl) separated by equally wide, deep interspaces; spines angular, large, spaced; on whorls 2 and beyond becoming partially hollow, scalelike ( Fig. 1D ); axial growth lines closely-packed, thin, more visible in interspaces between spiral cords. Suture barely visible. Aperture rounded, aperture height ~1/3 of shell height, white to light pinkish; inner lip thick, slightly flaring ( Fig. 1A ), producing short callus; outer lip slightly bending over aperture near whorl attachment ( Fig. 1A, F ). Shell base convex, sculptured by 4 spiral cords (with smaller spines than upper cords); periumbilical cord with larger, coarser nodules ( Fig. 1C ); umbilicus narrow, shallow. Operculum unknown.

Distribution: Known only from type locality.

Habitat: Coralline bottoms, 200- 260 m.

Etymology: The specific name, a noun in apposition, is derived from the English common name of the Asian soapberry tree Litchi chinensis (Sapindaceae) . The fruits of L. chinensis bear a strong resemblance to the shell of the described species, having similar coloration, globose outline, and an overall rough,“spiky” aspect.

Measurements (in mm): Holotype 5½ whorls, H = 8.3, D = 7.5.

Material examined: Types. Additional material: Syntype of Arene briareus var. perforata USNM 95025, Barbados, R / V Blake sta. 272, 139 m (05/iii/1879).

Figures

Figure 1.Arene lychee shell morphology.(A-D) Holotype MZSP 70301;(A) apertural view (H = 8.3mm,D = 7.5mm);(B) apical view;(C) umbilical view;(D)apical, slightly lateral view, SEM; (E) Paratype MZSP 135314, juvenile specimen (H = 3.6 mm, D = 4.7 mm); (F) Paratype MZSP 135314, apertural view (H = 7.2 mm, D = 6.5 mm); (G) Holotype protoconch,SEM,apical view (scale = 0.1 mm);(H) same,detail of the apex (scale= 0.5 mm).