Conasprella (Boucheticonus) cf. pseudokimioi (da Motta & Martin, 1982)

Figs 2, 25F–L, 27

Conus pseudokimioi da Motta & Martin, 1982: 9, fig. 4.

Conus pseudokimioi – R̂ckel et al. 1995b: no. 245, pl. 52 figs 28–30.

Continuconus pseudokimioi – Tucker & Tenorio 2013: 332.

Kioconus (Ongoconus) pseudokimioi – Monnier et al. 2018a: 535.

Material examined

15 lots (17 specimens). See Supp. file 1.

Type material

Holotype PHILIPPINES • 20 mm; Mindanao Sea, off Siguijor Island; 183 m depth; MHNG MOLL-138915 (Fig. 25E).

Figured material

NEW CALEDONIA • 28 mm; Nova Bank S, off New Caledonia, stn DW2528; 22º49′ S, 159º23′ E; 320‒345 m depth; 9 Oct. 2005; EBISCO expedition; MNHN-IM-2007-30835 (Fig. 25F, L) • 18 mm; NW Bellona, off New Caledonia, stn DW2564; 20º25′ S, 158º41′ E; 333‒386 m depth; 13 Oct. 2005; EBISCO expedition; MNHN-IM-2007-30687 (Fig. 25G) • 20.2 mm; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN (Fig. 25H) • 19.5 mm; W Bellona, off New Caledonia, stn DW2574; 20º20′ S, 158º45.6′ E; 358‒374 m depth; 14 Oct. 2005; EBISCO expedition; MNHN (Fig. 25I) • 16.8 mm; W Bellona, off New Caledonia, stn DW2547; 21º06′ S, 158º36′ E; 356‒438 m depth; 11 Oct. 2005; EBISCO expedition; MNHN (Fig. 25J) • 16.7 mm; Grand Passage, off New Caledonia, stn CP3006; 18º32.5′ S, 163º07.6′ E; 400 m depth; 7 May 2008; CONCALIS expedition; MNHN (Fig. 25K) .

Geographical distribution and bathymetry

The nominal species occurs in the southern Philippines, at depths of 120– 240 m. Specimens of Conasprella cf. pseudokimioi are distributed in the Coral Sea, N New Caledonia and Loyalty Ridge, typically at depths between 300 and 500 m. Two dead, worn specimens sampled in Vanua Levu, Fiji, in 416 m depth, have been tentatively identified as C. cf. pseudokimioi by Moolenbeek et al. (2008).

Remarks

Small to moderately small (maximum shell length 25 mm) conical shell, with a low spire of concave profile. Multispiral protoconch of more than 3 whorls, with a brown blotch on the mid whorl (Fig. 25L), a feature shared with C. alisi . The basal end appears slightly deflected to the left. Pure white ground color covered by fine brown spiral lines formed by small dots closely aligned. The pattern is usually faded in dead specimens and difficult to appreciate. Although live specimens were sampled, the morphology of the radular tooth of C. cf. pseudokimioi is unknown. In the phylogeny (Fig. 2), the two specimens sequenced appear sister to C. alisi with good support, confirming their placement in Conasprella rather than in Conus . Although very similar in shell morphology, the conspecificity of C. cf. pseudokimioi with typical C. pseudokimioi from the Philippines is very doubtful. Specimens of the latter have not been sequenced, but the radular morphology (Rolán & Raybaudi 1994) is known and consistent with its placement in Conus (radular tooth with one row of rather obsolete denticles in the serration, shaft fold absent; see Tucker & Tenorio 2009). Furthermore, it has been suggested (Rolán & Raybaudi 1994) that C. pseudokimioi from the Philippines represents the young stage of Conus (Splinoconus) shikamai Coomans & Moolenbeek, 1986 . It is therefore likely that C. cf. pseudokimioi from New Caledonia represents a distinct, yet undescribed species sister to C. alisi . However, prior to its formal introduction as a new species, the hypothesis requires further support, namely DNA sequencing of specimens of C. pseudokimioi from the type locality and examination of the radular tooth of C. cf. pseudokimioi from New Caledonia. The shell of Conasprella kimioi, also present in New Caledonia, is similar to that of C. cf. pseudokimioi, but this species appears separated in the phylogeny (Fig. 2).