Conus (Asprella) fijisulcatus Moolenbeek, R ̂ckel & Bouchet, 2008

Figs 52A–H, M, 53

Conus fijisulcatus Moolenbeek et al., 2008: 43 .

Asprella fijisulcata – Tucker & Tenorio 2013: 190. — Monnier et al. 2018a: 613.

Material examined

14 lots (32 specimens). See Supp. file 1.

Type material

Holotype FIJI • 54.9 mm; Natewa Bay, Vanua Levu; 16°40′ S, 179°36′ E; 220–224 m depth; MNHN-IM-2000-21038 (Fig. 52A).

Figured material

NEW CALEDONIA • 55.9 mm; off New Caledonia, east coast, stn DW654; 21º17′ S, 165º57′ E; 237‒298 m depth; 12 Mar. 1993; BATHUS 1 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 52B, H) • 52.7 mm; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN (Fig. 52C) • 53.7 mm; off SE New Caledonia, stn CP852; 21º44′ S, 166º36′ E; 253‒266 m depth; 19 Mar. 1994; HALIPRO 1 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 52D) • 54.4 mm; Passe du Solitaire, off New Caledonia, stn CP3813; 21°46′ S, 166°38′ E; 251‒281 m depth; 6 Sep. 2011; EXBODI expedition; MNHN (Fig. 52E, M) • 58.8 mm; off SE New Caledonia, stn CC855; 21º45′ S, 166º37′ E; 204‒220 m depth; 20 Mar. 1994; HALIPRO 1 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 52F) • 61.4 mm; off SE New Caledonia, stn CP851; 21º43′ S, 166º37′ E; 314‒364 m depth; 19 Mar. 1994; HALIPRO 1 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 52G) .

Geographical distribution and bathymetry

Fiji, at depths between 150‒497 m, and New Caledonia (E coast and Loyalty Islands) between 200‒ 500 m.

Remarks

Shell medium to large (maximum shell length 62 mm), broadly conical, with a rather high spire of straight profile. Multispiral protoconch of 2.3 whorls (Fig. 52H). Radular tooth (Fig. 52M) narrow and elongated with the anterior section slightly shorter than the posterior section. The tooth is serrated with 14–15 small denticles arranged in one single row. There is a small terminating cusp. Barb well marked. Blade rounded and short, about 2.5 times the size of the barb, covering about 20–25% of the anterior section of the tooth. Small basal spur pointing upwards on top of the large cylindrical base. In the phylogeny, all specimens examined belong to New Caledonian populations, as specimens from the type locality have not been sequenced. These form a clade sister to Conus (Asprella) samiae da Motta, 1982 .