Sericominolia safrocincta Herbert, 2024, sp. nov.

Sericominolia safrocincta sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: D3F3F410-21ED-45DA-8F01-33337D121700 Figs 32–33 Diagnosis Shell thin, diameter up to 9.0 mm, apex low and spire profile bluntly rounded; periphery weakly angled; base umbilicate; sculpture fine, predominantly spiral, comprising low, close-set, spiral lirae separated by narrower, incised striae; later whorls also with fine, close-set, collabral pliculae; umbilicus with rounded, thickened rim, at most a very low funicle within; colour pattern mottled and with fine capillary lines dotted with opaque white flecks; umbilicus white, with broad saffron-yellow band within. Etymology From the Arabic ‘ safra ’, yellow, saffron, and the Latin ‘ cinctum ’, a girdle or belt; in reference to the saffron-yellow band in the umbilicus. Material examined Holotype (Fig. 32A–D) NEW CALEDONIA • empty shell; Bellona Plateau, Stn D58; 21°34.6′ S, 159°18.9′ E; depth 56 m; Jul. 1984; CHALCAL 1 leg.; MNHN-IM-2000-38851. Paratypes NEW CALEDONIA – Chesterfield Plateau • 1 specimen, dead; Stn DW128; 19°28′ S, 158°30′ E; depth 38 m; 29 Jul. 1988; NO Coriolis - CORAIL 2 leg.; MNHN-IM-2000-38852 • 1 specimen, dead; Stn DW154; 19°52′ S, 158°27′ E; depth 35 m; 1 Aug. 1988; NO Coriolis -CORAIL 2 leg.; MNHN-IM-2000-38853. – Grande Terre • 1 specimen, living; Grand Récif de Koumac, Stn KL03; 20°40.5′ S, 164°12.9′ E; depth 50 m; 15 Sep. 2018 – 11 Nov. 2019; KOUMAC 2.3 leg.; pente externe de récif barrière, lumun-lumun; DNA voucher, photographed alive (image LC482); MNHN IM-2019-8540 • 1 specimen, living; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN-IM-2000-38854 • 1 specimen, living; Grand Récif de Koumac, Stn 1318; 20°41.4′ S, 164°14.8′ E; depth 20–30 m; Oct. 1993; Expédition Montrouzier leg.; pente externe; MNHN-IM-2000-38855 • 1 specimen, dead; Nouméa, Passe de Dumbéa, Stn 1339; 22°21.9′ S, 166°15.4′ E; depth 20 m; 17 Aug. 1992; P. Bouchet leg.; tombant récifal; MNHN-IM-2000-38856 • 1 specimen, living; Yaté, Stn 597B; 22°00′ S, 167°04′ E; depth 50–70 m; 5 Aug. 1986; B. Richer-ORSTOM leg.; MNHN-IM-2000-38857. Other material NEW CALEDONIA – Plateau Chesterfield-Bellona • 2 specimens, dead; Plateau Chesterfield-Bellona, Stn D26; 19°10.72′ S, 158°34.95′ E; depth 48 m; Jul. 1984; CHALCAL 1 leg.; MNHN • 1 specimen, dead; Plateau des Chesterfield, Stn DW38; 19°22′ S, 158°43′ E; depth 61 m; 23 Jul. 1988; NO Coriolis -CORAIL 2 leg.; MNHN • 1 specimen, dead; Plateau des Chesterfield, Stn DW82; 19°12′ S, 158°50′ E; depth 62 m; 25 Jul. 1988; NO Coriolis -CORAIL 2 leg.; MNHN • 1 specimen, dead; Stn D62; 21°46.60′ S, 159°30.70′ E; depth 40 m; 26 Jul. 1984; CHALCAL 1 leg.; MNHN. – Lansdowne-Fairway Banks • 4 specimens, dead; Bancs Lansdowne–Fairway, Stn DW26; 20°22′ S, 161°05′ E; depth 62 m; 22 Jul. 1988; NO Coriolis -CORAIL 2 leg.; MNHN. – Grande Terre, Koumac • 1 specimen, dead; Grand Récif de Koumac, Stn KL22; 20°26.8′ S, 163°58.3′ E; depth 47 m; 16 Sep. 2018 – 19 Nov. 2019; KOUMAC 2.3 leg.; lumun-lumun, pente externe de récif barrière; MNHN • 12 specimens, dead; Grand Récif de Koumac, Stn 1331; 20°40.0′ S, 164°11.2′ E; depth 55–57 m; Oct. 1993; Expédition Montrouzier leg.; pente externe; MNHN SEM • 2 specimens, dead; Grand Récif de Koumac, Stn 1333; 20°40.0′ S, 164°11.2′ E; depth 30–60 m; Oct. 1993; Expédition Montrouzier leg.; pente externe; MNHN • 1 specimen, living; Grand Récif de Koumac, Stn KL25; 20°45.3′ S, 164°13.8′ E; depth 65 m; 16 Sep. 2018 – 10 Nov. 2019; KOUMAC 2.3 leg.; pente externe de récif barrière, lumun-lumun; MNHN • 2 specimens, dead; Chenal de la Passe de Koumac, Stn 1323; 20°40.9′ S, 164°14.8′ E; depth 82–120 m; Oct. 1993; Expédition Montrouzier leg.; sable coquillier vaseux; MNHN • 1 specimen, dead; Passe de Koumac, Stn 1311; 20°40.4′ S, 164°14.9′ E; depth 10–60 m; Oct. 1993; Expédition Montrouzier leg.; fonds dur; MNHN • 3 specimens, dead; Passe de Koumac, east drop-off, Stn 1312; 20°40.4′ S, 164°14.9′ E; depth 26–40 m; Oct. 1993; Expédition Montrouzier leg.; suceuse fonds durs; MNHN • 2 specimens, living; Stn KB649; 20°48.4′ S, 164°16.1′ E; depth 42 m; 18 Nov. 2019; KOUMAC 2.3 leg.; pente externe de récif barrière; MNHN. – Grande Terre, Nouméa • 1 specimen, dead; Canyon de la Dumbéa, Stn 1356; 22°19.7′ S, 166°15.4′ E; depth 20–23 m; 4 Dec. 1992; Bouchet and Marshall leg.; sable sous blocs; MNHN. – Loyalty Islands • 1 specimen, dead; Lifou, Baie du Santal, off Cap Lefèvre [=Nem], Stn 1469; 20°54.2′ S, 167°00.4′ E; depth 70–130 m; 23 Nov. 2000; Atelier LIFOU 2000 leg.; dragages; MNHN. Description (Fig. 32) SHELL. Thin, of moderate size (adult diameter up to 9.0 mm), wider than high (H/D 0.69–0.77); apex low and spire profile bluntly rounded, periphery below mid-whorl, weakly angled; suture indented but not strongly so; sculpture fine, predominantly spiral; base rounded, umbilicate; teleoconch of up to 5.25 whorls. First teleoconch whorl with three narrow spiral lirae, broadening during second whorl and increasing in number through intercalation of intermediaries; subsequent sculpture of low, close-set, spiral lirae separated by narrower, incised striae; lirae finer below suture; axial sculpture initially weak, close-set microscopic threads only, later whorls with stronger, close-set, collabral growth-lines, most distinct below suture; basal sculpture similar, but lirae narrower and with wider intervals; lirae more numerous around and within umbilicus; axial sculpture of base weak peripherally, strengthening medially to form fine, close-set pliculae around umbilicus; umbilical rim rounded, steep-sided within, without a funicle or with at most a very low one, above which is a shallow sulcus underlying insertion onto preceding whorl (Fig. 32D). Aperture obliquely quadrate; peristome interrupted in parietal region; columella lip thickened and with surface microscopically granular at termination of umbilical rim, weakly reflected at end of umbilical funicle when present; outer lip simple; interior smooth and weakly nacreous. COLOUR. Pattern variable; usually finely mottled in shades of pale apricot, pink, or olive-green with fine capillary lines dotted with alternating opaque white and olive-green flecks; periphery usually with a broad whitish band with olive-green blotches; peri-umbilical region white, interior of umbilicus with a broad, saffron-yellow band; some specimens banded or blotched and others more uniformly coloured in pink to orange-red hues (Fig. 32G); protoconch usually whitish. DIMENSIONS. Holotype, height 5.5 mm, diameter 7.5 mm; largest specimen, diameter 9.0 mm. PROTOCONCH. As in S. lifuana, diameter 190–200 µm. OPERCULUM. AS in S. lifuana. RADULA AND EXTERNAL ANATOMY. Not examined. Habitat Mostly found in the deeper lagoon channels and passes, and on the outer slope of the barrier reef, at depths of 20–70 m (living specimens, 30–65 m). Distribution (Fig. 33) Known only from the New Caledonian marine ecoregion, ranging from the Chesterfield-Bellona Plateau and Lansdowne-Fairway Banks, to Grande Terre and the Loyalty Islands. Remarks Very similar to Sericominolia lifuana, but differs therefrom in having a more bluntly rounded apex, a broad saffron-yellow band in the umbilicus and at most a weak umbilical funicle that does not project into the umbilicus at the columella lip.