Pygmaepterys pointieri, Garrigues & Merle, 2014

Garrigues, Bernard & Merle, Didier, 2014, Nine new species of Muricidae Rafinesque, 1815 (Mollusca, Gastropoda) from the French Antilles, Zoosystema 36 (4), pp. 841-864 : 850-852

Pygmaepterys pointieri n. sp.

( Figs 5 A-F; 12 A)

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype ( MNHN-IM-2013-8488 ), DNA sequenced (GenBank no. KJ591662 ), KARUBENTHOS 2012, stn GB01, 16’11.8’N, 61’29.66’W, at 6 m deep ; paratype A ( MNHN-IM-2013-7767 ), DNA sequenced (GenBank no. KJ591664 ), KARUBENTHOS 2012, stn GB01 ; paratype B ( MNHN-IM-2013-7985 ), DNA sequenced (GenBank no. KJ591661 ), KARUBENTHOS 2012, stn GB01 ; paratype C ( MNHN-IM-2013-8433 ), DNA sequenced (GenBank no. KJ591663 ), KARUBENTHOS 2012, stn GB01 ; paratype D ( MNHN IM-2000-27729 ), KARUBENTHOS 2012, stn GS39, 16’09.5’N, 61’10.5’W, at 16 m deep ; one paratype (coll. BG), Gosier Island , 16’11.8’N, 61’29.66’W, at 6 m deep.

TYPE LOCALITY. — Gosier Island , Guadeloupe, 16’11.8’N, 61’29.66’W (stn GB01), at 6 m deep.

ETYMOLOGY. — Named in honour of Jean-Pierre Pointier.

DESCRIPTION OF HOLOTYPE

Protoconch 1, 75 whorls. Teleoconch biconic, H 7.6 mm, D 3.9 mm. Spire high of 4.5 whorls. Last whorl rounded, 73% of the total length of teleoconch. Apical angle of 49°. Spiral sculpture consisting in marked primary cords. First whorl: appearance of a shoulder spine and later formation of P1 and P2. Last whorl: sutural ramp, appearance of IP; convex part of the whorl, P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5 well developed; siphonal canal, P6 placed on the top, ADP and MP present. Axial sculpture with lamellose varices since the first whorl. Aperture ovate. Columellar lip smooth, slightly erected anteriorly. Outer lip erected and ondulated. Internal denticles ID, D1, D2, D3, D4 and D5. Siphonal canal open and dorsally recurved, of 23% of the total length of teleoconch. Squamous microsculpture with erected growing lamellae. Shell creamy with brown bands in P3 and between P5 and P6. Aperture creamy. Operculum and radula unknown.

COMPARISON

Pygmaepterys pointieri n. sp. differs from P.germainae Vokes & D’Attilio, 1980 ( Fig. 5 J-M) by a higher spire, a narrower shape, the lack of columellar folds and a brown notch near the suture. The holotype of P. aliceae (Petuch, 1987) is an eroded shell with a somewhat eroded ornamentation ( Fig. 5I ). However, P. pointieri n. sp. is distinguishing from P.aliceae by a more shouldered shell with a P1 spine which is adapically turned. The brown bands of P. pointieri n. sp. are lacking in P. aliceae which is entirely white.

Figures

FIG. 5. — A-F, Pygmaepterys pointieri n. sp.: A, B, ventral and dorsal views, holotype MNHN-IM-2013-8488, Gosier Island, at 6 m deep; C, ventral view, paratype A, MNHN-IM-2013-7767, Gosier Island, at 6 m deep; D, E, ventral and dorsal views, paratype D, Petite Terre, 15 m deep; F, dorsal view, paratype B, MNHN-IM-2013-7985, Gosier Island, at 6 m deep; G, H, ventral and dorsal views, P. karukerensis n. sp., holotype MNHN IM-2000-27730, Pigeon Island, at 50 m deep; I, ventral view, P. aliceae (Petuch, 1987), holotype USNM 859846, Southern coast of Bonaire Island, Netherlands Antilles, at 2 m deep; photo courtesy of E. Strong (USNM); J-M, P. germainae Vokes & D’Attilio, 1980; J, ventral view, holotype USNM 783319, off Pta. Higüero, northwestern Puerto Rico in 12-90 m deep; photo courtesy of E. Strong (USNM); K-M, ventral, dorsal views and protoconch, coll. DL, Fajou Island, Guadeloupe, 80-90 m deep. Scale bars: A-L, 5 mm; M, 0.5 mm.

FIG. 12. — Morphology of spiral cords and denticles: A, Pygmaepterys pointieri n. sp., holotype MNHN-IM-2013-8488, Gosier Island, at 6 m deep; B, P. karukerensis n. sp., holotype MNHN IM-2000-27730, Pigeon Island, at 50 m deep; C, Lindapterys domlamyi n. sp., holotype MNHN IM-2000-27732; D, Muricopsis guadalupensis n. sp., holotype MNHN IM-2000-27731, Malendure, Guadeloupe, at 10 m deep; E, Murexsul hexagonus (Lamarck, 1816), lectotype (MHNG 1099/41/1). Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bars: 5 mm.