Vokesimurex hirasei (Hirase, 1915)

Houart, Roland & Héros, Virginie, 2008, Muricidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from Fiji and Tonga, Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle 196, pp. 437-480 : 441-442

Vokesimurex hirasei (Hirase, 1915)

Fig. 1D

Murex hirasei Hirase, 1915 : pl. 47, fig. 232.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Fiji. MUSORSTOM 10: stn CP Tonga. BORDAU 2: stn DW 1535, 21°43’S, 175°18’W, 268 m, 1387, 18°19’S, 178°05’E, 229-370 m, 1 dd . — BORDAU 1: stn 1 lv juv; stn DW 1540, 21°15’S, 175°14’W, 317-329 m, 1 dd juv; DW 1464, 18°09’S, 178°38’W, 285-300 m, 2 dd juv; stn DW stn CP 1541, 21°15’S, 175°14’W, 319-333 m, 1 lv juv; stn DW 1469, 19°40’S, 178°10’W, 314-377 m, 1 lv, 1 dd; stn DW 1470, 1586, 18°34’S, 173°55’W, 440-487 m, 1 dd juv; stn DW 1602, 19°40’S, 178°10’W, 316-323 m, 1 dd; stn DW 1471, 19°40’S, 20°49’S, 174°57’W, 263-320 m, 2 dd; stn DW 1603, 22°12’S, 178°10’W, 280-296 m, 1 lv; stn DW 1472, 19°40’S, 178°10’W, 175°20’W, 189-196 m, 1 dd; stn DW 1607, 22°15’S, 175°23’W, 262-266 m, 1 lv; stn DW 1475, 19°41’S, 178°11’W, 321-424 m, 356-367 m, 1 dd; stn DW 1610, 22°59’S, 175°47’W, 216-237 m, 4 lv (Fig. 1D); stn CP 1476, 19°41’S, 178°11’W, 310-420 m, 1 lv 1 lv; stn DW 1611, 23°00’S, 175°47’W, 278-323 m, 1 dd juv. stn juv; stn DW 1497, 18°44’S, 178°25’W, 335-350 m, 4 lv & dd. DW 1636, 21°44’S, 175°20’W, 321-331 m, 1 dd.

DISTRIBUTION. — Known from Japan, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, and now Fiji and Tonga (new records), live in 237- 335 m.

REMARKS. — Vokesimurex hirasei is easily distinguishable from its congeners by its multispiral, conical protoconch and rounded, broad last teleoconch whorl with some dark brown spiral cords.