Conus (Kurodaconus) luciae Moolenbeek, 1986

Figs 65–66

Conus luciae Moolenbeek, 1986: 211, figs 1–3.

Conus luciae – R̂ckel et al. 1995b: no. 109, pl. 26 figs 13–15.

Kurodaconus luciae – Tucker & Tenorio 2013: 262.

Turriconus (Kurodaconus) luciae – Monnier et al. 2018a: 346.

Material examined

110 lots (about 160 specimens). See Supp. file 1.

Type material

Holotype NEW CALEDONIA • 55.3 mm; Coral Sea, Nova Bank, off New Caledonia, stn DC68; 22º35′ S, 159º15′ E; 296 m depth; 28 Jul. 1984; CHALCAL 1 expedition; MNHN-IM-2000-2542 (Fig. 65A).

Figured material

NEW CALEDONIA • 30.4 mm; Coral Sea, Capel Bank, off New Caledonia, stn DW2495; 24º45′ S, 159º42′ E; 350‒357 m depth; 6 Oct. 2005; EBISCO expedition; MNHN (Fig. 65B) • 55.9 mm; Coral Sea, Nova Bank, off New Caledonia, stn CP315; 22º25′ S, 159º27′ E; 330‒335 m depth; 13 Oct. 1986; MUSORSTOM 5 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 65C) • 40 mm; off New Caledonia, stn DW3887; 22°22′ S, 171°42′ E; 257‒298 m depth; 18 Sep. 2011; EXBODI expedition; MNHN (Fig. 65D) • 34.5 mm; off S New Caledonia, stn DW56; 23º21′ S, 168º05′ E; 230‒260 m depth; 9 Mar. 1989; SMIB 4 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 65E) • 44 mm; Nova Bank Nord, off New Caledonia, stn DW2534; 22º17′ S, 159º28′ E; 390‒430 m depth; 10 Oct. 2005; EBISCO expedition; MNHN (Fig. 65F) • 40.3 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Banc Stylaster, off New Caledonia, stn DW2033; 23°39′ S, 167°43′ E; 430‒450 m depth; 22 Oct. 2003; NORFOLK 2 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 65G) • 42.1 mm; Coral Sea, Nova Bank, off New Caledonia, stn DW301; 22º07′ S, 159º25′ E; 487‒610 m depth; 12 Oct. 1986; MUSORSTOM 5 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 65H) • 32.3 mm; Coral Sea, Argo Bank, off New Caledonia, stn DW299; 22º48′ S, 159º24′ E; 360‒390 m depth; 11 Oct. 1986; MUSORSTOM 5 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 65I) • 31.8 mm; Kelso Bank, off New Caledonia, stn DW2520; 24º06′ S, 159º41′ E; 350‒400 m depth; 8 Oct. 2005; EBISCO expedition; MNHN (Fig. 65J) • 17.5 mm; Coral Sea, Capel Bank, off New Caledonia, stn DW256; 25º18′ S, 159º53′ E; 290‒300 m depth; 7 Oct. 1986; MUSORSTOM 5 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 65K) • 19 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Mont Jumeau Ouest, off New Caledonia, stn DW809; 23°39′ S, 167°59′ E; 650‒730 m depth; 27 Nov. 1993; BATHUS 3 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 65L) • 55.9 mm; Coral Sea, Nova Bank, off New Caledonia, stn 315; 22º25′ S, 159º27′ E; 330‒335 m depth; 13 Oct. 1986; MUSORSTOM 5 expedition (Fig. 65M) .

Geographical distribution and bathymetry

New Caledonia: Norfolk Ridge, Loyalty Islands, and especially in the Coral Sea (Banks Nova, Argo, Kelso, Capel and Lansdowne), typically at depths between 200 and 500 m.

Remarks

Shell medium-sized to moderately large (maximum shell length 62 mm), conical, with a moderate, variably stepped spire of straight to concave profile. Early spire whorls tuberculated. Larval shell (Fig. 65L) multispiral of more than 3 whorls. Shoulder with a characteristic rounded ridge, often tuberculated in younger specimens. Base with a distinctive columellar plait, more evident in larger specimens. Color of the last whorl very pale violet to white, with sparse reddish brown dotted spiral lines. Radular tooth (Fig. 65M) elongated, with the anterior portion shorter than the posterior section. The tooth is serrated with more than 40 minute denticles arranged in multiple rows. Small, elongated terminating cusp present. Barb present. Blade rounded, covering about 66–75% of the anterior section of the tooth. Small basal spur on top of the base. In the phylogeny, all specimens of C. luciae form a clade deeply nested within the Kurodaconus clade. This species is particularly abundant on the southern banks of the Coral Sea, and it has not been found outside of the New Caledonia EEZ. Therefore, it is considered an endemism from this area.