Conus (Kurodaconus) stupa Kuroda, 1956

Figs 2, 61E–H, J, 67

Embrikena stupa Kuroda, 1956: 1, pl. 1 fig. 1.

Conus stupa – R̂ckel et al. 1995b: no. 121, pl. 28 figs 1–3.

Kurodaconus stupa – Tucker & Tenorio 2013: 379.

Turriconus (Kurodaconus) stupa – Monnier et al. 2018a: 343.

Material examined

9 lots (9 specimens). See Supp. file 1.

Type material

Holotype JAPAN • 100 mm; off Tosa; ca 183 m depth; THTA.

Figured material

NEW CALEDONIA • 81.1 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Banc Munida, off New Caledonia, stn CP2139; 23º01′ S, 168º23′ E; 372‒393 m depth; 3 Nov. 2003; NORFOLK 2 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 61E) • 73.3 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Banc Munida, off New Caledonia, stn DW2137; 23º01′ S, 168º23′ E; 547‒560 m depth; 3 Nov. 2003; NORFOLK 2 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 61F) • 73.3 mm; Loyalty Ridge, off New Caledonia, stn CP464; 21º02′ S, 167º32′ E; 430 m depth; 21 Feb. 1989; MUSORSTOM 6 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 61G, J) • 36.5 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Banc Munida, off New Caledonia, stn DW2136; 23º01′ S, 168º23′ E; 402‒410 m depth; 3 Nov. 2003; NORFOLK 2 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 61H) .

Geographical distribution and bathymetry

From Japan to Taiwan, Philippines and Solomon Islands. In New Caledonia present in the Norfolk Ridge and Grand Passage area, Loyalty Islands and New Hebrides Arc (Hunter Island), at depths between 200 and 600 m. Also found in the Coral Sea (Lansdowne Bank)

Remarks

Shell moderately large to large (maximum shell length 100 mm), ventricosely conical to broadly and ventricosely conical, with a high stepped spire of slightly concave profile. Early spire whorls tuberculated. Protoconch multispiral. Shoulder subangulate to rounded. Color of the last whorl white, with sparse reddish brown dotted spiral lines. Radular tooth (Fig. 61J) stout, with the anterior portion much shorter than the posterior section. The tooth is serrated with 20 to 30 minute denticles arranged in multiple rows, ending on a small, pointed terminating cusp. Barb well marked. Blade rounded, covering about 70% of the anterior section of the tooth. Small basal spur on top of the rounded base. In the phylogeny (Fig. 2), the specimens of C. stupa form a clade sister to C. (K.) darkini . This species is widely distributed in the Western Pacific, but it is rather uncommonly sampled due to its deep-water habitat.