Chicoreus ( Triplex ) microphyllus ( Lamarck, 1816 )

Chicoreus ( Triplex) microphyllus ( Lamarck, 1816) View in CoL

Fig. 5A; F–R View FIGURE 5

Murex microphyllus Lamarck, 1816 View in CoL : pl. 415, fig. 5.

Murex microphyllus Lamarck, 1822: 1822: 163 View in CoL .

Chicoreus poirieri Jousseaume, 1881: 349 View in CoL .

Murex jousseaumei Poirier, 1883: 58 View in CoL , pl. 6, fig. 1.

Type Material. Lectotype of Murex microphyllus . INDO-WEST PACIFIC • dd; unknown locality; MHNG 1099/22, designated by Houart (1992: 59).

Lectotype of Chicoreus poirieri . NEW CALEDONIA • dd; unprecised locality; MNHN-IM-2000-863 , designated by Houart (1992: 59).

Lectotype of M. jousseaumei . NEW CALEDONIA • dd; unprecised locality; MNHN-IM-2000-981 , designated by Houart (1992: 59).

Material Examined. Dozens of lots not assessed genetically or without a readable protoconchs, examined by us during the years, are not listed here.

NEW CALEDONIA • 1 lv, juv; secteur de Touho, MONTROUZIER stn 1240; 20°47'S, 165°15' E; 0–2 m; ( Fig. 5H–J View FIGURE 5 ); MNHN-IM-2018-1787 GoogleMaps • 1 lv, juv; Belep Islands ; 16.9 mm; ( Fig. 5P–R View FIGURE 5 ); RH .

VANUATU • 1 lv, ad; E Aoré Island , Mambeto Point, SANTO 2006, stn DR09; 15°34' S, 167°13' E; 12 m; ( Fig. 5K–L View FIGURE 5 ); MNHN-IM-2009-4998 GoogleMaps .

PAPUA NEW GUINEA • 1 lv, ad; Hansa Bay , Laing Island; 61.4 mm; ( Fig.5M–N View FIGURE 5 ); RH .

PHILIPPINES • 1 lv, ad; Balabac Island ; 10–30 m; 57.6 mm; ( Fig. 5O View FIGURE 5 ); RH .

Distribution. Throughout the Tropical Indo-West Pacific.

Description. Shell up to 90 mm in length, stout. Spire high, with 1.75–2.5 protoconch whorls and up to 9 rounded teleoconch whorls. Protoconch paucispiral, whorls rounded, glossy.

Last whorl with 3 frondose varices, each with 5 or 6 short, open, frondose spines, intermediate spinelets short. Adapical spines usually short to obsolete but specimens with long shoulder spine not uncommon. Other axial sculpture of 3 or occasionally 2 low intervarical, nodose ridges. Spiral sculpture of 6 or 7 squamous cords, P1–P6 or P1–s6, flanked by squamous secondary cords and threads. Small nodules formed where primary cords cross axial sculpture.

Aperture ovate. Columellar lip fully adherent, usually bearing series of weak denticles along the edge. Moderately strong callus delineating large, deep anal sulcus. Outer lip crenulate, strongly lirate for short distance within. Siphonal canal moderately short, narrowly open, abaperturally bent at tip, bearing 2 or 3 short, frondose, open spines.

Colour pale brown with darker spiral cords and dark brown siphonal canal. Aperture glossy white or bluish-white. Columellar lip peach, pale orange or bluish-white.

Remarks. Similar to the case of Chicoreus brunneus , none of the type specimens examined for C. microphyllus and its synonyms has a preserved protoconch. For the sake of stability and in accordance with previous authors ( Radwin & D'Attilio, 1976; Houart, 1992; Merle et al. 2011), we restrict the concept of Chicoreus microphyllus to the lineage with paucispiral protoconch, and keep the two synonyms Chicoreus poirieri Jousseaume, 1881 and Murex jousseaumei Poirier, 1883 , within the same concept.