Profundiconus zardoyai Tenorio, 2015

Figs 21–22

Profundiconus zardoyai Tenorio, 2015a: 39, pls 1–2.

Profundiconus zardoyai – Monnier et al. 2018a: 140.

Material examined

25 lots (about 85 specimens). See Supp. file 1.

Type material

Holotype NEW CALEDONIA • 10.5 mm; Grand Passage, off New Caledonia, stn DW926; 18º57′ S, 163º25′ E; 325–330 m depth; 7 Aug. 1994; BATHUS 4 expedition; MNHN-IM-2000-28206 (Fig. 21A, L).

Figured material

NEW CALEDONIA • 10.6 mm; off N New Caledonia, stn DW927; 18º56′ S, 163º22′ E; 444‒452 m depth; 7 Aug. 1994; BATHUS 4 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 21B) • 10.2 mm; off N New Caledonia, stn DW926; 18º57′ S, 163º25′ E; 325–330 m depth; 7 Aug. 1994; BATHUS 4 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 21C) • 11 mm; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN (Fig. 21D) • 12.9 mm; off N New Caledonia, stn DW942; 19º04′ S, 162º27′ E; 264‒270 m depth; 8 Aug. 1994; BATHUS 4 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 21E) • 11 mm; Grand Passage, off New Caledonia, stn DW941; 19º02′ S, 163º27′ E; 270 m depth; 8 Aug. 1994; BATHUS 4 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 21F) • 11.5 mm; off New Caledonia, stn DW01; 18º56′ S, 163º24′ E; 380‒400 m depth; 23 Nov. 1994; HALICAL 1 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 21G) • 11 mm; Grand Passage, off New Caledonia, stn DW924; 18°55′ S, 163°24′ E; 344‒360 m depth; 7 Aug. 1994; BATHUS 4 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 21H) • 10.8 mm; off N New Caledonia, stn DW926; 18º57′ S, 163º25′ E; 325–330 m depth; 7 Aug. 1994; BATHUS 4 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 21I) • 12.1 mm; Secteur des Belep, off New Caledonia, stn DW1152; 18º58′ S, 163º 24º E; 335 m depth; 29 Oct. 1989; LAGON expedition; MNHN (Fig. 21J) • 10.4 mm; Norfolk Ridge, off New Caledonia, stn DW181; 23º18′ S, 168º05′ E; 311‒330 m depth; 31 Jan. 1993; SMIB 8 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 21K) • 10.7 mm; Grand Passage, off New Caledonia, stn DW926; 18º57′ S, 163º25′ E; 325–330 m depth; 7 Aug. 1994; BATHUS 4 expedition (Fig. 21M) .

Geographical distribution and bathymetry

N New Caledonia: Grand Passage area, Secteur des Belep and Surprise Island. There is at least one record from the Coral Sea (Plateau des Chesterfield), although it might correspond to a misidentified P. barazeri . It has typically been found at depths between 200 and 600, although a few specimens come from depths of 700‒ 800 m. This species can be considered endemic.

Remarks

Shell very small (maximum shell length 13.5 mm), conical to broadly conical with a moderate spire of sigmoid outline. Paucispiral protoconch of 1.5–1.75 whorls, white, porcellaneous and translucent (Fig. 21L). Radular tooth (Fig. 21M) rather large, with the anterior section much shorter than half of the total tooth length. Barb present, opposing a pointed blade covering about one half of the anterior portion. External cusp laterally expanded and serrated with 5 to 6 small denticles. Characteristic fringe of closely spaced projections pointing towards the apex present immediately below the waist. Shaft fold present. Slanted base, with a large basal spur present. In the phylogeny, the two sequenced individuals form a monophyletic group that is the sister group of P. vaubani and P. kanakinus . Specimens of empty shells provisionally identified as P. cf. kanakinus, but remarkably similar to P. zardoyai, have been collected off Wallis and Futuna Islands (Moolenbeek & R̂ckel 1996). These specimens require further study and are hereby considered not conspecific with P. zardoyai .