Babelomurex sibogae (Shepman, 1911) (Fig. 7J, K; 12F)

Latiaxis sibogae Shepman, 1911: 359, pl 21, fig. 8.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype (ZMA 3.11.092; figured by Kosuge & Suzuki [1985: pl. 34, fig. 8]).

TYPE LOCALITY. — Siboga exp. stn 89 Pulu Kaniungan ketjil Reef, Indonesia.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — The type material and: BENTHAUS, stn DW 1996, Rurutu (Avera), 22°29.1’S, 151°21.9’W, 489-1050 m, 1 dd (fragment). — Stn DW 1973, Banc Arago, 23°23.5’S, 150°43.9’W, 200-350 m, 4 dd (Fig.7J, K).— Stn DW 1951, Banc Lotus, 23°49.1’S, 147°53.4’W, 206-450 m, 1 dd. — Stn DW 1929, Banc Président Thiers, 24°38.6’S, 146°01.6’W, 350-370 m, 1 dd (Fig. 12F).

DISTRIBUTION. — From Indonesia (01°09’N, 018°52’E), Philippines and South China Sea (Kosuge & Suzuki 1985: 22). First record from the South West Pacific, Austral Islands empty shells in 350- 489 m.

REMARKS

Protoconch of 3.3 whorls, 710 µm high, 680 µm wide at the base (Fig. 12F). Sculpture of two weak spiral keels, each sculptured by a series of opisthocline threads, and an additional series of subsutural prosocline threads. Sinusigera outer lip. Babelomurex sibogae apparently is not rare in the Austral Islands and in the Philippines and Indonesia. Yet it has not been found in the New Caledonia area (Oliverio 2008b) and this is apparently the third literature record of this species after the original description in 1911 and Kosuge & Suzuki (1985).