Deep-sea “ cephalaspidean ” heterobranchs (Gastropoda) from the tropical southwest Pacific
Author
Valdés, Ángel
John T. Huber
text
Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle
2008
196
587
792
journal article
978-2-85653-614-8
1243-4442
Relichna hadra
n. sp.
Figs 84C, D, 85B, 86B, 90
TYPE MATERIAL
. —
Holotype
MNHN
20398 and
6 paratypes
MNHN
20399-20404,
1 paratype
LACM 3008
.
TYPE
LOCALITY
. —
Norfolk
Ridge
,
24°55’S
,
168°22’E
,
513 m
[
SMIB 3
: stn
DW 3
]
.
MATERIAL
EXAMINED. —
Norfolk
Ridge
. BIOCAL: stn
DW 51
, stn
DW 3
,
24°55’S
,
168°22’E
,
513 m
, 2 dd,
holotype
(
MNHN
23°05’S
,
167°45’E
,
680-700 m
, 1 dd,
paratype
(
MNHN
20400); 20398;
Figs
84C, D) and
paratype
(
MNHN
20399)
. —
SMIB 8
: stn
DW 53
,
23°09’S
,
167°43’E
,
975-1005 m
, 1 dd,
paratype
stn
DW 149
,
Mont B
, Banc Eponge,
24°55’S
,
168°22’E
, 508- (
MNHN
20401); stn
DW 66
,
24°55’S
,
168°22’E
,
505-515 m
, 1
510 m
, 1 dd,
paratype
(
MNHN
20404); stn
DW 152
,
24°54’S
, dd,
paratype
(
MNHN
20402); stn
DW 70
,
23°25’S
,
167°53’E
,
168°22’E
,
514-530 m
, 1 dd,
paratype
(
LACM 3008
)
.
965 m
,
1 lv
,
paratype
(
MNHN
20403;
Figs
85B, 86B)
. —
SMIB 3
:
DISTRIBUTION
. — Collected from
New Caledonia
(Fig. 90), in
510-975 m
, live in
965 m
.
DESCRIPTION. —
Shell morphology.
Length
11 mm
, width
6 mm
(largest specimen examined). Shell solid, short, and oval, with a right concave side and a left convex side (Fig 84C). Only 1 whorl visible, forming nearly the entire shell, except for a small visible portion of the top of the spire. Apex flat, umbilicate (Fig. 84D). Aperture lip rising from the left side. The aperture lip forms a rounded wing connected to the columellar margin. Anterior end of the shell rounded. Aperture as long as the shell, wider anteriorly and narrowing gradually at about 1/2 of its length. Columellar margin slightly thickened. Columella with 1 small fold. Umbilicus narrow, partially covered by a columellar extension. Sculpture of a number of inconspicuous growth lines. Colour uniformly dirty white.
Anatomy
. The digestive system contains 3 smooth, unequal gizzard plates (Fig. 85B). There is no radula.
The reproductive system contains a complex ejaculatory duct connected to a spermatic bulb and the prostate (Fig. 86B). The female and hermaphroditic organs are unknown.
REMARKS. — This species is assigned to the genus
Relichna
because of the absence of radula and jaws and the presence of 3 smooth and unequal gizzard plates.
Relichna hadra
is clearly distinguishable from other species of
Relichna
here reviewed by the twisted shape of the shell with a right concave side and a left convex side. Also, the reproductive anatomy is clearly distinct, with a complex ejaculatory duct connected to a spermatic bulb and the prostate.
Relichna murdochi
Suter, 1913
, the
type
species of the genus, also has a spermatic bulb (Rudman 1971), but the ejaculatory duct is short and simple.
ETYMOLOGY. — From the Greek adjective
hadros
(thick, bulky, strong), in reference to the thick and large shell of this species.