Conus (Splinoconus) martensi E.A. Smith, 1884

Figs 75I–L, N, 79

Conus martensi E.A. Smith, 1884: 488 .

Conus sazanka Shikama, 1970: 25, pl. 1 figs 24–25.

Conus yoshioi Azuma, 1973: 10, pl. 1. fig. 2, text-fig. 9–9a.

Conus kurzi Petuch, 1974: 41, fig. 1–2.

Conus martensi – R̂ckel et al. 1995b: pl. 32 fig. 1.

Kioconus martensi – Tucker & Tenorio 2013: 273.

Kioconus (Isoconus) martensi – Monnier et al. 2018a: 542.

Material examined

11 lots (13 specimens). See Supp. file 1.

Type material

Holotype INDIAN OCEAN • 24 mm; Providence Reef, Mascarenes; NHMUK (Fig. 77I).

Figured material

NEW CALEDONIA • 22.4 mm; Norfolk Ridge, off New Caledonia, stn DW829; 23º21′ S, 168º02′ E; 386‒390 m depth; 29 Nov. 1993; BATHUS 3 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 77J) • 36.5 mm; east coast, off New Caledonia, stn DW678; 20º49′ S, 165º19′ E; 94‒100 m depth; 15 Mar. 1993; BATHUS 1 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 77K) • 27.8 mm; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN (Fig. 77L) • 22 mm; Pouembout, New Caledonia; 80–90 m depth; Franck Leterrier coll. (Fig. 75N) .

Geographical distribution and bathymetry

Widely distributed across the Pacific (Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, Hawaii) and Indian Ocean (East and South Africa, including Madagascar and the Mascarenes). In New Caledonia it has been sampled in Norfolk Ridge, Loyalty Ridge and the Coral Sea, at depths between 0 to 500 m.

Remarks

Shell moderately small to medium-sized (maximum shell length 42 mm). Conical shell with a subangulate to angulate shoulder, and a low to moderate spire of concave profile. Multispiral protoconch. Last whorl colored pale yellow to red-orange. Radular tooth (Fig. 77N) with the anterior and posterior sections subequal in length. Tooth serrated with 22 rounded denticles arranged in one row, ending on a pointed cusp. Barb small. Blade rounded, covering about 70% of the anterior section of the tooth. Small basal spur present on top of the rounded base. The holotype of C. martensi in NHMUK is a dead and worn shell (Fig. 77I). Its conchological features are consistent with those of the widespread Indo-Pacific species Conus sazanka Shikama, 1970, which is considered a junior synonym. A DNA analysis shows that specimens from the SW Indian Ocean (Mozambique Channel) and the Western Pacific (New Caledonia) correspond to the same species (Supp. file 3).