Conus (Turriconus) miniexcelsus (Olivera & Biggs, 2010 )

Tenorio, Manuel J. & Puillandre, Nicolas, 2023, Revision of the deep-water cone snail fauna from New Caledonia (Gastropoda, Conoidea), European Journal of Taxonomy 896, pp. 1-134 : 122

Conus (Turriconus) miniexcelsus (Olivera & Biggs, 2010)

Figs 2 , 87I–K, N

Conus miniexcelsus Olivera & Biggs in Biggs et al., 2010: 5, figs 1–2, 4, 6, 8.

Turriconus miniexcelsus – Tucker & Tenorio 2013: 281.

Turriconus (Turriconus) miniexcelsus – Monnier et al. 2018a: 340.

Material examined

2 lots (2 specimens). See Supp. file 1.

Type material

Holotype PHILIPPINES • 22 mm; Aliguay Island ; 30–150 m depth; Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines ( Fig. 87I ).

Figured material

NEW CALEDONIA • 22 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Munida, off New Caledonia, stn DW3106; 23°02′ S, 168°21′ E; 180–220 m depth; 27 Oct. 2008; TERRASSES expedition; MNHN ( Fig. 87J, N ) • 32.3 mm; S Lansdowne, off New Caledonia, stn DW2639; 20º47′ S, 161º01′ E; 289‒294 m depth; 22 Oct. 2005; EBISCO expedition; MNHN ( Fig. 87K ) .

Geographical distribution and bathymetry

Japan (Ryu Kyu Islands) to the Philippines and Vietnam ( Monnier et al. 2018a). Also present in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia, where this species has been sampled in Coral Sea and Norfolk Ridge at depths between 180‒ 294 m.

Remarks

Shell moderately small (maximum shell length 37 mm), biconical with a high spire of straight profile. Protoconch multispiral of about 3 whorls. Last whorl with flat spiral ribbons, white with two brown spiral bands, and a pattern of little brown square or rectangular spots. Radular tooth ( Fig. 87N ) with the anterior section much shorter than the posterior section. Tooth serrated with 4–5 small denticles arranged in one row, ending on a large, pointed cusp. Barb indistinct. Blade reduced or absent. Very small basal spur present on the rounded base. This species, resembling in shape a small specimen of C. (T.) excelsus (and hence its name), was initially reported from the Philippines, and its range has now been extended to many other localities including New Caledonia. It is distinct from C. (T.) excelsus as shown in the DNA phylogeny ( Fig. 2 ), where one specimen from New Caledonia appears sister to another one from Papua New Guinea.

Figures

Fig. 2. Cox1-based Bayesian phylogeny. Posterior probabilities (> 0.95) and bootstrap values (> 90) from the ML analysis are provided for each node. Intraspecific relationships are collapsed. Subgenus names are indicated on the right.

Fig. 87. A–H. Conus (Turriconus) andremenezi (Olivera & Biggs, 2010). A. Holotype, Aliguay Island, Philippines, 150 m depth, 36.7 mm (Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines). B. Along Passe d’Ounia, off New Caledonia, 246‒255 m depth, 47.1 mm (MNHN-IM-2009-29237). C. Along Passe d’Ounia, off New Caledonia, 220‒232 m depth, 40.4 mm (MNHN-IM-2009-29232). D. Passe du Solitaire, off New Caledonia, 251‒281 m depth, 43.3 mm (MNHN-IM-2009-31346). E. Along Toupeti, off New Caledonia, 307‒309 m depth, 44.2 mm (MNHN-IM-2009-31347). F. Same collection data as for specimen C, 45.5 mm (MNHN-IM-2009-31349). G. SE New Caledonia, 241‒250 m depth, 44.7 mm. H. East coast, off New Caledonia, 210 m depth, 32.6 mm. – I–K. Conus (Turriconus) miniexcelsus (Olivera & Biggs, 2010). I. Holotype, Aliguay Island, Philippines, 30‒150 m depth, 20.3 mm (Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines). J. Banc Munida, Norfolk Ridge, 180‒220 m depth, 22 mm (MNHN-IM-2007-34852). K. S Lansdowne, Coral Sea, 289‒294 m depth, 32.3 mm. – L–M. Conus (Turriconus) andremenezi. L. Protoconch of specimen G. M. Radular tooth of specimen H. – N. Conus (Turriconus) miniexcelsus. Radular tooth of specimen J. Scale bars = 10 mm, unless otherwise stated.