Conasprella (Conasprella) pagoda (Kiener, 1847)

Figs 2, 36–37

Conus pagodus Kiener, 1847: 310, pl. 70 fig. 4.

Conus pagodus – R̂ckel et al. 1995b: no. 258, pl. 55 figs 17–21.

Conasprella pagoda – Tucker & Tenorio 2013: 308. — Monnier et al. 2018a: 186.

Material examined

79 lots (about 230 specimens). See Supp. file 1.

Type material

Holotype NEW CALEDONIA • 42 mm; Tahiti; MHNG 1107 /29 (Fig. 36A).

Figured material

NEW CALEDONIA • 27.4 mm; east coast, off New Caledonia, stn CP668; 20°57′ S, 165°35′ E; 205‒219 m depth; 14 Mar. 1993; BATHUS 1 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 36B) • 21.6 mm; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN (Fig. 36C) • 24.8 mm; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN (Fig. 36D) • 28.4 mm; off New Caledonia, stn CP108; 22º03′ S, 167º06′ E; 335 m depth; 9 Sep. 1985; BIOCAL expedition; MNHN (Fig. 36E) • 28.6 mm; east coast, off New Caledonia, stn CP669; 20°57′ S, 165°35′ E; 255‒280 m depth; 14 Mar. 1993; BATHUS 1 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 36F) • 22.8 mm; east coast, off New Caledonia, stn CP707; 21°43′ S, 166°36′ E; 347‒375 m depth; 19 Mar. 1993; BATHUS 1 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 36G) • 23.2 mm; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN (Fig. 36H) • 28.1 mm; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN (Fig. 36I) • 22.9 mm; east coast, off New Caledonia, stn CP710; 21°43′ S, 166°36′ E; 320‒386 m depth; 19 Mar. 1993; BATHUS 1 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 36J) • 14.4 mm; east coast, off New Caledonia, stn CP669; 20°57′ S, 165°35′ E; 255‒280 m depth; 14 Mar. 1993; BATHUS 1 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 36K) • 26.9 mm; Loyalty Islands, off New Caledonia; 200–390 m depth; MJT coll. (Fig. 36L) .

PHILIPPINES • 48.5 mm; ER coll. (Fig. 36M).

Geographical distribution and bathymetry

Japan to Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands at depths between 50‒ 420 m. In New Caledonia most specimens have been sampled off the E coast and Loyalty Islands, at depths between 200 and 500 m. Also present in Vanuatu, in 72‒547 m depth. The type locality “Tahiti” is most likely erroneous.

Remarks

Shell moderately small to medium-sized (maximum shell length 50 mm), conical to pyriform, with a characteristic constriction at basal third and a moderate to high, stepped spire of concave outline. Multispiral protoconch of 3–3.5 whorls (Fig. 36L). Teleoconch sutural ramp with radial threads crossing major spiral cords. Radular tooth (Fig. 36M) with a short barb and a pointed blade covering about one third of the anterior section, which is much shorter than the posterior section. Shaft fold is present but difficult to detect. Basal spur present. The morphology of the shell and radular tooth of C. pagoda is very similar to that of C. boholensis . In the phylogenetic analysis (Fig. 2), both species form clades which are very closely related. The shell of C. boholensis is usually more nodulose at the shoulder and exhibits radial threads on the teleoconch sutural ramp, whereas in C. pagoda the radial threads appear crossed by 4–6 major spiral cords. A typical constriction at the basal third present in large specimens of C. pagoda facilitates identification, but this feature may be not evident in smaller or juvenile specimens.