Acanthodaphne pungens, Morassi & Bonfitto, 2010

Morassi, M. & Bonfitto, A., 2010, New raphitomine gastropods (Gastropoda: Conidae: Raphitominae) from the South-West Pacific, Zootaxa 2526, pp. 54-68 : 65

Acanthodaphne pungens new species

Figures 3. I–M

Type material: Holotype MNHN 22310 .

Type locality: Solomon Islands, 9°21.3" N 160°24.6 "E, 387 m [N/ O Alis, SALOMON 1, stn. CP 1786] .

Material examined: only known from the holotype.

Description: Shell biconic (b/l 0.43; a/l 0.43), small but very stout. Teleoconch consisting of 5.5 whorls which are sharply angled just below middle on early two whorls, just above middle on last two whorls. Last whorl strongly excavated with a relatively long neck. Whorls separated by a deep, strongly undulating suture margined by a prominent subsutural fold. Sutural ramp wide, strongly concave. Axial sculpture consisting of short, prominent, opisthocline ribs, extending from lower suture to shoulder angle on spire, extending across base but not onto neck on last whorl. There are 11 ribs on penultimate whorl, 14 on last. Subsutural fold bearing a row of tubercles corresponding in number to axial ribs. Sutural ramp sculptured by fine collabral threads sinuous in conformity with the anal sinus. Spiral sculpture consisting of broad, flattened cords forming conspicuous nodules at points of intersection with axial ribs. Earlier whorls with one peripheral cord, forming shoulder angulation, joined on subsequent whorls by a weaker cord anteriorly. Nodules particularly sharp and prominent on peripheral cord, somewhat more rounded on second cord. Base sculptured with 2 nodulose cords; neck with 2 weak cords and 3 fine threads. Aperture lanceolate. Columella almost straight above, curved to left below forming a relatively long siphonal canal. Labial callus relatively thick over columella, wide, sculptured by microscopic rows of prickly nodules in its interior part. Outer lip thin; based on growth lines anal sinus moderately deep, broadly U-shaped. Protoconch conical of about 3 whorls, superficial layer of its surface dissolved but sculpture evidently diagonally cancellated. Protoconch diameter: 0.58 mm. Teleoconch white, protoconch yellowish-beige.

Dimensions: Holotype 7.0 x 3.0 mm, aperture height 3.0 mm.

Remarks: Acanthodaphne pungens is a very distinctive species readily recognised because of its ornamentation of conspicuous, sharp nodules (figs 3 J–K).

Etymology: Latin pungens alluding to the prickly sculpture of this species.