One of the largest ophiolitic peridotite masses in the world covers a quarter of the island of Grande Terre, New Caledonia. The Peridotite Nappe was obducted during the Eocene, is weakly deformed, and corresponds to the highest of a structurally simple pile of thrust nappes. We present new marine seismic data that allow us to track the offshore continuation of the Peridotite Nappe along strike for a distance of more than 500 km south of New Caledonia and to image its preobduction, synobduction, and postobduction sedimentary records. Offshore, the Peridotite Nappe underlies a ~150 km wide and 2 km deep basin. Flat-topped horsts of peridotite are clearly bounded by major normal faults; in contrast, faults are obscure onland. To the east, the Peridotite Nappe roots along the eastern margin of the Félicité Ridge (new name), a ~300 × 25 km dome-shaped ridge, which we interpret as being the southern extension of the high-pressure/ low-temperature metamorphic core complex observed in New Caledonia. Two alternative tectonic models address the relative timing and relationships between Peridotite Nappe emplacement, uplift of a metamorphic core complex, and extensional tectonics. These models provide new ideas for the understanding the formation of the eastern margin of the Zealandia continent. Our results contribute to an understanding of how oceanic mantle is emplaced onto continental margins.

KANACONO

Convergence and subduction started in the Late Palaeocene, to the east of New Caledonia, in the South Loyalty Basin/Loyalty Basin, leading to the formation of the Subduction-Obduction Complex of Grande Terre. Convergence during the Eocene consumed the oceanic South Loyalty Basin, and the north easternmost margin of Zealandia (the Norfolk Ridge). The attempted subduction of the Norfolk Ridge led eventually to the end-Eocene obduction. Intra-oceanic subduction started in the South Loyalty Basin, as indicated by high-temperature amphibolite (56 Ma), boninite- and adakite-series dykes (55-50 Ma), and changes in sedimentation regime (55 Ma). The South Loyalty Basin and its margin were dragged to a maximum depth of 70 km, forming the high pressure – low temperature Pouébo Terrane and the Diahot-Panié Metamorphic Complex, before being exhumed at 38-34 Ma. The obduction complex was formed by the stacking from NE to SW of several allochthonous units over autochthonous Zealandia, which include the Montagnes Blanches Nappe (Norfolk Ridge crust), the Poya Terrane (crust of the South Loyalty Basin), and the Peridotite Nappe (mantle lithosphere of the Loyalty Basin). A model of continental subduction accepted by most authors is proposed and discussed. Offshore continuations and comparable units in Papua-New Guinea and New Zealand are presented.

KANACONO

La majorité des informations disponibles sur les minéralisations marines profondes au sein de la ZEE de Nouvelle-Calédonie provient des travaux entrepris par l’ORSTOM (IRD) entre 1970 et 1980. L’objectif de ce projet, mené conjointement entre l’Institut Français pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER), le Service Géologique de Nouvelle-Calédonie (SGNC) et l'Agence de Développement Économique de Nouvelle- Calédonie (ADECAL) est de mettre à jour les connaissances sur ces dépôts en utilisant des méthodes analytiques modernes. L'inventaire de tous les échantillons de dragages existants en Nouvelle-Calédonie depuis 1970 a permis de mettre en évidence 104 échantillons présentant des encroûtements au sein et à proximité de la ZEE. Ces échantillons sont principalement localisés au Sud-Est de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, mais également au Nord dans la continuité de la Ride des Loyauté et à l'Ouest sur les monts sous-marins de la Ride de Lord Howe. Une caractérisation chimique et minéralogique de ces minéralisations (XRD/XRF, MEB et ICP-MS) a permis de confirmer qu'elles sont pour la plupart des encroûtements ferromanganésifères hydrogénés, et a également mis en évidence l’originalité de certaines minéralisations associées à une activité hydrothermale et/ou diagénétique, dont la description et l'analyse sont une première en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Les encroûtements ferromanganésifères hydrogénés sont enrichis en métaux de base, traces et terres rares (17,4% Mn, 20,8% Fe, 0,42% Co, 0,31% Ni et 1 307 ppm ΣREE), alors que les minéralisations hydrothermales et/ou diagénétiques sont appauvries en métaux traces et terre rares, mais présentent pour quelques-unes des concentrations fortes en Mn (plus de 50%) et Ni (jusqu'à 0,7%). La comparaison de ces résultats avec ceux issus d'autres océans du globe montre que la Nouvelle-Calédonie se situe dans la moyenne des concentrations en métaux. Les fortes concentrations en Co, Ni et Cu de certains échantillons, ainsi que la physiographie particulière de la zone Sud des rides de Loyauté et de Norfolk, en font une des zones les plus propice pour des investigations supplémentaires. Une première approche, couplant les données de prélèvements, de réflectivité du fond et de bathymétrie haute-résolution, a permis de tester une méthode de prédectivité de présence d'encroûtement sur les sites les plus intéressants et potentiellement minéralisés. La robustesse de ces cartes a été testée en comparant les zones potentielles avec des données vidéo ROV de fonds marins acquises lors de la campagne KANADEEP II. Cette étude a permis de répertorier pour la première fois les minéralisations Fe-Mn de la ZEE de Nouvelle- Calédonie, et d'en caractériser leurs grandes diversités, compositions et morphologies. L'effort d'échantillonnage reste malgré tout insuffisant pour poursuivre l'évaluation du potentiel économique. La poursuite de cette évaluation nécessite la réalisation de campagnes d'exploration dédiées avec des méthodes d'échantillonnage et d'acquisition de données propres à l'étude des minéralisations profondes.

BATHUS 3, EBISCO, KANADEEP, KANADEEP 2

Located in the South-West Pacific, at the northern extremity of the mostly submerged Zealandia continent, the New Caledonian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covers 1,470,000 km2 and includes basins, ridges and seamounts where abundant ferromanganese crusts have been observed. Several investigations have been conducted since the 1970s on the nature and composition of ferromanganese crusts from New Caledonia’s seamounts and ridges, but none have covered the entire EEZ. We present data from 104 ferromanganese crusts collected in New Caledonia’s EEZ during twelve oceanographic cruises between 1974 and 2019. Samples were analysed for mineralogy, geochemical compositions, growth rates, and through a statistical approach using correlation coefficients and factor analysis. Crust thicknesses range from 1 mm to 115 mm, with growth rates between 0.45 mm/Ma and 102 mm/Ma. Based on textures, structures, discrimination plots, and growth rates, we distinguish a group of hydrogenetic crusts containing the highest mean contents of Co (0.42 wt%), Ni (0.31 wt%), and high contents of Mo, V, W, Pb, Zn, Nb, from a group of hydrothermal and/or diagenetic deposits showing high mean contents of Mn (38.17 wt%), Ba (0.56 wt%) and low contents of other trace metals. Several samples from this later group have exceptionally high content of Ni (0.7 wt%). The data shows that crusts from the southern part of the EEZ, notably seamounts of the Loyalty Ridge and the Lord Howe Rise, present high mineral potential for prospectivity owing to high contents of valuable metals, and constitute a great target for further investigation.

BATHUS 3, EBISCO, KANADEEP, KANADEEP 2

Neogene and Quaternary shallow-water carbonate records surrounding New Caledonia main island, Grande Terre, provide a good example for understanding the stratigraphic architecture of tropical mixed carbonatesiliciclastic systems. Due to a southeastern tilt of the eastern margin, the eastern shelf of Grande Terre has been better preserved from erosion than the western part, favouring the development and preservation of shallow-water carbonates. Based on the integration of bathymetric and seismic data, along with paleoenvir­ onmental and biostratigraphic constraints derived from dredged carbonate rocks, a comprehensive geomor­ phological and architectural characterization of the offshore eastern margin of Grande Terre has been made. During the Mio-Pliocene, a wide, up to 750 m-thick carbonate build-up developed and extended over at least 350 km from north to south. This Mio-Pliocene build-up, currently lying at 300 to 600 m water depths, is overlain by a Pleistocene-Holocene barrier reef-lagoon complex and associated slope deposits. The switch from aggrading Neogene carbonate banks to backstepping Quaternary platforms likely reflects an increase in accommodation due to a high subsidence rate or to relative sea-level rise, and/or results from a switch in carbonate producers associated with global environmental changes. The internal architecture of the Quaternary barrier reef-lagoon complex is highlighted, especially the development of lowstand siliciclastic prisms alternating with trans­ gressive shallow-water carbonate sequences. This pattern agrees with the reciprocal sedimentation model typically invoked for mixed sedimentary systems. This stratigraphic pattern is well developed in front of the Cap Bayes inlet in the north of our study area, yet it is not observed southward along the eastern margin. This dif­ ference suggests that other factors than relative sea-level variations directed the architecture of the margin, such as low terrigenous inputs, lagoon paleo-drainage networks or sediment by-pass towards deep basins.

KANACONO

The only revision of Iphione was made by Pettibone in 1986, who recognized four species including two newly described in that work: I. muricata (Savigny in Lamarck, 1818) (type species), I. ovata Kinberg, 1856, I. treadwelli Pettibone, 1986, and I. henshawi Pettibone, 1986. She included I. fimbriata de Quatrefages, 1866, I. glabra de Quatrefages, 1866, and I. fustis Hoagland, 1920 within I. muricata, and I. spinosa Kinberg, 1856 and I. hirotai Izuka, 1912 in I. ovata. Three other species were later added to the genus: I. reticulata Amoureux, Rullier & Fishelson, 1978 from the Red Sea, I. coriolis Hanley & Burke, 1991 from the Coral Sea, and I. malifera Piotrowski, 2014 from the Philippines. A recent contribution showed that I. ovata ranges from the Red Sea to the Eastern Pacific and includes I. spinosa and I. reticulata. Our objectives were to revise the genus, evaluating all species and describing new ones by assessing the relevance of morphological features, assisted in part with COI sequence data. We studied the morphology of type and non-type material from 18 institutions and sequenced 52 specimens representing 11 species. We found that the size and position of eyes, the size relationships between cephalic appendages, and the number of rows of macrotubercles in elytra vary with body size. The most relevant diagnostic features for species delineation, confirmed by genetic species delineation, are the type and size relationships of macrotubercles, the presence of fimbriae, the development of the basal tubercle of dorsal cirrophores, the type of neurochaetae (falcate versus acicular), and their tips (uni- vs bidentate; or simple vs hooded). We clarified the type species of the genus as I. ovata, and recognized 17 species, nine previously described and eight new. Our main results include: 1) the restriction of I. muricata; 2) the reinstatement of I. fimbriata including I. fustis; 3) redescriptions of I. coriolis, I. henshawi and I. treadwelli; and 4) the description of eight new species: I. ankeri sp. nov. from Guam, I. corbari sp. nov. from the Saya de Malha Bank, I. harrisae sp. nov. from French Polynesia, I. hourdezi sp. nov. from New Caledonia, I. hyndmani sp. nov. from Hong Kong, I. readi sp. nov. from the Red Sea (including many earlier records of I. muricata), I. richeri sp. nov. from New Caledonia, and I. wilsoni sp. nov. from Australia. Descriptions the eight newly described species include only one based upon a single specimen. Keys are included for the genera in the family, and species of Iphione.

CORAIL 2, KANACONO, LAGON, MIRIKY, MUSORSTOM 10, PAPUA NIUGINI, SAYA, SPANBIOS, TARASOC

Thought to be monotypic for decades, the only species in the goosefish genus Lophiomus Gill, Lm. setigerus (Vahl), shows a wide range of morphological variation and is distributed widely in the Indo-West Pacific (IWP). In this study, datasets for two mitochondrial and two nuclear genes sequences obtained from samples of Lophiomus collected in different localities across the IWP were constructed and analyzed to explore the phylogeny and species diversity within the genus. Our integrated approach with multiline evidence unveiled an unanticipated richness of at least six delimited species of Lophiomus. Herein, based on materials already available from museums and new specimens obtained primarily through the Tropical Deep-Sea Benthos program surveying IWP benthic fauna, we formally describe three new species: Lm. immaculioralis sp. nov., Lm. nigriventris sp. nov., and Lm. carusoi sp. nov. Also, we resurrect Lm. laticeps stat. rev. from synonyms of Lm. setigerus. These species can be diagnosed by genetics, body coloration, patterns on the floor of the mouth, peritoneum pigmentation, morphometric measurements, and meristic counts of cranial spines, dorsal-fin spines, and pectoral-fin and pelvic-fin rays from each other and from Lm. setigerus. The species Lm. setigerus, as well as the genus Lophiomus, are re-described accordingly based on the new results. Amended identification keys to the four extant lophiid genera and to species of Lophiomus are also provided.

AURORA 2007, EXBODI, KANADEEP, KAVIENG 2014, SPANBIOS, ZhongSha 2015

A new signalfish from the Grand Passage north of Grande Terre, New Caledonia, Acanthopsaron striatum n. gen. n. sp., is described, characterized by 7 spines in the first dorsal, anal-fin rays mostly branched, branched caudal-fin rays 10, scales small compared to other signalfishes, cycloid, lateral-line scales 60, peripheral ctenoid; pelvic fin short, not reaching to anus when adpressed; snout terminal, neither jaws projecting; maxillary tentacle absent; maxillary spine absent; maxillary notch present, weakly developed; opercle with a single, strong spine; subopercle with a weak spine; barbel on lower-jaw tip absent; anterior-nostril projections absent; iris flap absent. Pteropsaron flavissimum n. sp. is also described from a single specimen also trawled in the Grand Passage of New Caledonia, characterised by having 6 spines in the first dorsal fin, 18 rays in the second dorsal fin, ca. 22 rays in the anal fin, gill rakers 0 + 8, 46 lateral-line scales, first dorsal fin low, without filaments; anal fin normal, without extended rays; head length 3.6 in SL, preorbital length 1.7 in eye diameter; pelvic fin extending to fifth anal-fin membrane when adpressed; body colour rosy-pink, with wide yellow streak dorsally extending from tip of snout to upper caudalfin base; first dorsal fin pale, without black markings. The new species are compared with allied species. A key to the genera and species of the family Hemerocoetidae is presented.

SPANBIOS

With 11 species, the genus Chelidoperca is a small group of teleost fishes belonging to the Serranidae. They are bottom-dwelling fishes living on continental shelves/slopes in offshore areas or on remote seamounts/banks at depths ranging from around 40–400m mostly in the tropical Indo-West Pacific. Over the past few years, efforts have been made to resolve the taxonomy of Chelidoperca, and subsequently four new species were described. However, these recent advances were made with a traditional approach (i.e., morphology) and limited examinable materials, usually preserved specimens, from ichthyological collections. Further investigations are still needed to address the gaps in our knowledge about their diversity, phylogeny, and biogeography. In this study, we collected 65 new samples, mainly during eight biodiversity expeditions carried out between 2007 and 2016 in the West Pacific under the Tropical Deep-Sea Benthos program. Specimens were photographed after collection to record fresh color patterns, which are essential for species diagnosis. Our analytical approach includes state-of-the-art DNA-based methods for species delimitation. The combined evidence from both molecular and morphological examinations, as well as other information such as geography, is used to test species validity. This reveals 15 species, including six new ones. We formally describe herein C. leucostigmata sp. nov., C. microdon sp. nov., and C. barazeri sp. nov. on the basis of specimens collected on Macclesfield Bank in the South China Sea, on the Chesterfield and Island of Pines plateau of New Caledonia, and off the New Ireland Province of Papua New Guinea, respectively. These new species are morphologically distinct from all other known species of Chelidoperca by body color pattern and combinations of a few identified characters. We also redescribe one of the lesser known species, C. lecromi, from fresh specimens collected close to its type locality and a new site in the Coral Sea. The distributional records for this and other known species are updated accordingly. Genetic references of the species as well as an updated identification key to western Pacific species are also provided.

AURORA 2007, BIOPAPUA, EXBODI, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, ZhongSha 2015

Two new perchlet species (Perciformes: Serranidae), Chelidoperca pulchella [3 specimens, 58.8–70.4 mm standard length (SL)] and Chelidoperca pollux (3 specimens, 68.1–72.3 mm SL), are described from Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan and Nha Trang Bay, Vietnam, respectively. Both new species are morphologically similar to Chelidoperca flavimacula Psomadakis, Gon and Htut 2021, described from the northern Andaman Sea, but can be readily distinguished from other congeners by the presence of many yellow spots on the anal fin, and three [2 full-sized and 1 (uppermost) half-sized] scales from the dorsal-fin base mid-point to the lateral line. However, the former differ primarily from C. flavimacula in having fewer yellow spots on the anal fin (2 or 3 spots on each membrane between the 3rd to 6th soft rays in the new species vs. 3 or 4 in C. flavimacula), and a single row of mandibular scales extending anteriorly from the angular onto the ventral surface of the dentary (vs. scales restricted to the angular in C. flavimacula). Chelidoperca pulchella is readily distinguished from C. pollux, the former having interorbital scales extending anteriorly beyond the mid-orbit (vs. ending at the mid-orbit), a deeper body (depth at pelvic-fin origin 25.8–26.4% of SL vs. 23.5–24.1% of SL), longer head (length 39.0–39.4% of SL vs. 35.6–36.3% of SL), larger eyes (orbit diameter 13.5–14.1% of SL vs. 11.0–11.7% of SL), and longer pectoral fins (length 27.8–29.8% of SL vs. 24.7–26.4% of SL). Since mitochondrial COI sequences from the type specimens of C. pulchella closely matched that of a specimen from the Philippines, the species may have a widespread distribution on the upper continental slope from the Ryukyu Islands to the Philippines.

EBISCO, KANADEEP, LITHIST, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 8, TERRASSES

The new serranid fish Chelidoperca cerasina is described on the basis of 13 specimens from the Coral Sea (off New Caledonia and eastern Australia), southwest Pacific Ocean, at depths of 245–338 m. The new species can be readily distinguished from all congeners by having the following combination of characters: an orange spot on pectoral-fin and caudal-fin bases; 4 scale rows between lateral line and base of spinous dorsal fin; cheek scales in 8 or 9 (modally 8) rows; tip of upper caudal-fin lobe elongated, slightly longer than lower lobe in specimens > ca. 100 mm; no longitudinal dark stripe or row of dark blotches laterally on body; interorbital scales extending beyond mid-orbit level, but not reaching anterior margin of orbit; scales on ventral surface of lower jaw restricted to angular, absent on dentary; pelvic fin short, tip not reaching anus when adpressed.

CHALCAL 2, EXBODI, KANADEEP, LITHIST, MIRIKY, MUSORSTOM 5

Left-eyed flounders of the genus Chascanopsetta Alcock 1894 (Bothidae) occur in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans at depths ranging from 120 to 1500 meters. They possess some unique features in bothid fishes including a strongly compressed and elongated body and a tremendously large mouth. Currently, nine species of Chascanopsetta are recognized, and three of them (C. micrognatha Amaoka & Yamamoto 1984, C. lugubris Alcock 1894 and C. prognatha Norman 1939) are distributed in the West Pacific. We collected 25 specimens of Chascanopsetta during 11 biodiversity expeditions carried out mainly in the West Pacific. Among them, eight specimens taken off Papua New Guinea present morphological features that differ from those of the three nominal species known in the West Pacific. In this study, we examined these eight specimens of unknown affinity and compared their morphology to that of specimens of other congeneric species. Results of these comparisons showed that these specimens represent an undescribed species of Chascanopsetta, named herein, C. novaeguineae sp. nov.. The new species resembles C. elski Foroshchuk 1991, which is known only from the Saya de Malha Bank in the western Indian Ocean, in having a high number of gill rakers (> 13). However, the combination of the following characters further distinguishes C. novaeguineae sp. nov. from C. elski: longer jaws, narrower interorbital width, and number of pseudobranches (21–25 vs. 26–27). The DNA sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene from C. novaeguineae sp. nov. and other species were obtained and compared to confirm its taxonomic status and to infer its tentative phylogenetic position within the Chascanopsetta.

AURORA 2007, BIOPAPUA, DongSha 2014, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KARUBENTHOS 2, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, NanHai 2014, SALOMONBOA 3, ZhongSha 2015

With 289 known species in 51 genera, the ophidiiform family Ophidiidae together with their relatives from the Carapidae (36 species in eight genera) of the same suborder Ophidioidei dominate the deep sea, but some occur also in shallow water habitats. Despite their high species diversity in the deep sea and wide bathymetric distributions, their phylogenetic relationships and evolution remain unexplored due in part to sampling difficulties. Thanks to the biodiversity exploratory program entitled “Tropical Deep-Sea Benthos” and joint efforts between Taiwan and French teams for sampling from different localities across the Indo-West Pacific over the last two decades, we are able to compile comprehensive datasets for investigations. In this study, 59 samples representing 36 of 59 known ophidioid genera are selected and used to construct a multi-gene dataset to infer the phylogenetic relationships of ophidioid fishes and their relatives. Our results reveal that the Ophidiidae forms a paraphyletic group with respect to the Carapidae. The four main clades of Ophidioidei resolved are the (1) clade comprising species from the subfamily Brotulinae; (2) clade that includes species in the genera Acanthonus and Xyelacyba; (3) clade grouping Hypopleuron caninum with species from the family Carapidae; and (4) clade containing the species in the subfamily Brotulotaenilinae, Neobythitinae (in part), and Ophidiinae. Accordingly, we suggest the following new revisions based on our results and proposed morphological diagnoses. The subfamily Brotulinae should be elevated to the family level. The genera Xyelacyba and probably Tauredophidium (unsampled in this study) should be included in the newly established family Acanthonidae with Acanthonus. The families Carapidae and Ophidiidae are re-defined. Our time-calibrated phylogenetic and ancestral depth reconstructions enable us to clarify the evolutionary history of ophidiiform fishes and infer past patterns of species distributions at different depths. While Ophidiiformes is inferred to have originated in shallow waters around 96.25 million years ago (Mya), the common ancestor to the Ophidioidei is inferred to have invaded the deep sea around 90.22 Mya, the dates coinciding with the global anoxic event of the OAE2. The observed bathymetric distribution patterns in Ophidioidei most likely point to the mesopelagic zone as the center of origin and diversification. This was followed by multiple events of depth transitions or range expansions towards either shallower waters or greater depth zones, which were likely triggered by past climate changes during the Paleogene-Neogene.

AURORA 2007, BIOMAGLO, BIOPAPUA, DongSha 2014, EXBODI, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KANADEEP 2, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, NanHai 2014, ???msg.security.private???, PAPUA NIUGINI, SAKIZAYA 2019, SAYA, SPANBIOS, TAIWAN 2013, TARASOC, ZhongSha 2015

Previous molecular phylogenetic reconstructions have highlighted frequent convergences and iterations of external morphological characters during the evolution of crinoids. Classifications of extant and fossil crinoids based on these characters need to be thoroughly revised. This is particularly the case for the Isocrinida. We propose a new classification of this order based on molecular data and ontogenetic analysis of the derived characters displayed on ossicles and their articulations. The argument is strengthened by the discovery and description of a species belonging to a new genus (Panglaocrinus isseliformis gen. nov., sp. nov.) closely related to the genus Isselicrinus, which was abundant and widespread during the Late Cretaceous and Eocene. Extant Isocrinida appear to be divided into two major lineages that we interpret as two distinct families: Isocrinidae and Balanocrinidae. Isocrinidae are represented by the subfamily Metacrininae (genera Metacrinus and Saracrinus), while Balanocrinidae comprise four subfamilies: Balanocrininae (Neocrinus), Diplocrininae (Endoxocrinus and Teliocrinus), Isselicrininae (Panglaocrinus), and Proisocrininae (Proisocrinus). In the absence of molecular data, the genus Cenocrinus has not been attributed to any subfamily, but its close relationship to Balanocrinidae is suggested. Possible relationships between Mesozoic and modern taxa are discussed, although descriptions of arms in the palaeontological record are often important details.

KANADEEP, KARUBENTHOS 2, MIRIKY, NORFOLK 1, PANGLAO 2005, SALOMONBOA 3

The deep-sea octocoral Pseudochrysogorgia bellona was recently described from specimens sampled on the Chesterfield Plateau, off New Caledonia. It is morphologically and genetically similar to the con-familial Metallogorgia melanotrichos, which is known to closely associate with a species of brittle star, Ophiocreas oedipus. These latter two species have never been observed separately and are thought to grow synchronously. The morphological similarity between M. melanotrichos and P. bellona makes the latter another possible host for ophiuroids. However, no brittle star was associated with P. bellona specimens from the type collection. In 2017, 130 P. bellona colonies were sampled near the type locality, and 98% were associated with Asteroschema ajax, a species closely related to O. oedipus. Mitochondrial DNA analysis confirmed the morphological identifications of both P. bellona and A. ajax. Uni- and multivariate statistical analyses were used to characterize the morphological space of both species to test if larger ophiuroids are associated with larger corals. Two variables were measured to estimate the size of the coral (total height and diameter of the skeletal axis at its base) and 9 variables were used to characterize the brittle star (disc and arm morphology). Morphological variables representing the size for both species were significantly correlated (Spearman rank correlation coefficient: 50%, p < 0.001), suggesting that larger ophiuroids indeed associate with larger corals. This is one of the rare studies that allowed comparison of growth in associated deep-sea invertebrates.

EBISCO, KANADEEP

The widespread and abundant brooding brittle-star ( Amphipholis squamata ) is a simultaneous hermaphrodite with a complex mitochondrial phylogeography of multiple divergent overlapping mtDNA lineages, high levels of inbreeding or clonality and unusual sperm morphology. We use exon-capture and transcriptome data to show that the nuclear genome comprises multiple (greater than 3) divergent (π > 6%) expressed components occurring across samples characterized by highly divergent (greater than 20%) mitochondrial lineages, and encompassing several other genera, including diploid dioecious species. We report a massive sperm genome size in A. squamata , an order of magnitude larger than that present in other brittle-stars, and consistent with our SNP-based measure of greatly elevated ploidy. Similarity of these genetic signatures to well-known animal systems suggests that A. squamata (and related taxa) is a hybrid polyploid asexual complex of variable subgenome origins, ploidy and reproductive mode. We discuss enigmatic aspects of A. squamata biology in this light. This putative allopolyploid complex would be the first to be reported from the phylum Echinodermata.

EBISCO, KANACONO, KANADEEP 2

Recent expeditions to Rapa Nui (also known as Easter Island) and New Caledonia have revealed undescribed species from mesophotic and deeper depths. This includes three new species from Rapa Nui, Hacelia raaraa, Linckia profunda (Ophidiasteridae), Uokeaster ahi (Asterodiscididae) and two new species from New Caledonia, Astroglypha pyramidata n. gen. and Ophidiaster colossus (Ophidiasteridae). The new genus Astroglypha is described for A. pyramidata but the genus also includes the Atlantic Tamaria passiflora, which is reassigned herein. Pauliastra n. gen. is designated as a replacement for the homonym issue with Pauliella. New occurrences and synonymies are addressed for taxa related to New Caledonia, Rapa Nui and adjacent regions. A morphology based phylogenetic analysis agrees with prior work which placed Goniaster among the Asterodiscididae and posits biogeographic relationships among asterodiscidid genera. Implications for the Goniasteridae and placement of Goniaster among asterodiscidid genera are discussed. Biogeography and relationships among taxa from Rapa Nui and New Caledonia are reviewed. In situ observations from species observed from Rapa Nui are included.

AZTEQUE, BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, BERYX 11, EXBODI, HALIPRO 1, KANACONO, KANADEEP, LITHIST, MUSORSTOM 10, MUSORSTOM 4, NORFOLK 1, ???msg.security.private???, SMIB 4

Mah C.L. 2024. New Goniasteridae and in situ observations significant to deep-sea coral predation. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 83: 1–35. Eight new species, including one new genus, Armaster chondros n. gen. sp., Atheraster luma n. sp., Atheraster phaeos n. sp., Atheraster umbo n. sp., Circeaster dux n. sp., Evoplosoma besseyae n. sp., Evoplosoma mystrion n. sp. and Evoplosoma pharos n. sp. are newly described from Australian waters. Atheraster, Circeaster and Evoplosoma have been reported previously as predators on deep-sea octocorals. Evoplosoma, Gilbertaster and Hippasteria are members of the Hippasterinae, which have also been reported as predators on deep-sea corals and other cnidarians, suggesting that this interaction occurs in Australian deep-sea settings. Atheraster, Circeaster and Armaster are referred to a new subfamily, the Circeasterinae. Ecological and systematic implications for the Goniasteridae are discussed. An in situ observation of a myxasterid predating upon an octocoral is also reported.

KANADEEP 2

Delineating biogeographical regions can provide important insights into the processes shaping large‐scale species distribution patterns. Here we aimed to 1) identify global marine benthic biogeographical regions for ophiuroids extending from shallow waters to the deep sea and 2) quantify the importance of contemporary environmental conditions and geological features in shaping the delineated biogeographical regions. We delineated marine benthic biogeographical regions using a bipartite network analysis applied to a historical dataset of brittle stars. We then examined the faunal exchanges between the regions, and applied random forest models to evaluate the relative role of contemporary environmental conditions and tectonic configuration underlying the proposed biogeographic scheme. We propose ten main large biogeographical regions across the benthos. The biogeographical regions with the highest species richness and endemicity rates were found in the Indo‐Pacific region, Tropical West Atlantic and Southern Ocean, and South America. The key transition regions fall within the subarctic areas of the Pacific and the waters surrounding Southern Australia and New Zealand. Tectonic configuration, surface temperature and salinity were found to be the most important predictors of the ten delineated biogeographical regions. Our biogeographic delineation, including the deep sea, is in partial agreement with those proposed in previous studies. Our results suggest that contemporary environmental conditions (sea water temperature and salinity) strongly influence the modern distribution of ophiuroids, but that plate tectonics left a marked imprint on regional species pools. Future work based on multiple benthic taxa, and with a better understanding of the environmental conditions in the deep sea, are needed to evaluate the robustness of our proposed division.

ATIMO VATAE, AURORA 2007, AZTEQUE, BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, BENTHAUS, BERYX 11, BIOCAL, BIOGEOCAL, BIOPAPUA, BOA1, BORDAU 1, BORDAU 2, CHALCAL 1, CHALCAL 2, CORAIL 2, CORINDON 2, DongSha 2014, EBISCO, EXBODI, GUYANE 2014, HALIPRO 1, HALIPRO 2, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KARUBAR, KARUBENTHOS 2, LAGON, LITHIST, MIRIKY, MUSORSTOM 1, MUSORSTOM 10, MUSORSTOM 2, MUSORSTOM 3, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 7, MUSORSTOM 8, MUSORSTOM 9, NORFOLK 1, PALEO-SURPRISE, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMON 2, SALOMONBOA 3, SANTO 2006, SMIB 1, SMIB 2, SMIB 3, SMIB 4, SMIB 5, SMIB 6, TAIWAN 2000, TARASOC, VAUBAN 1978-1979, VOLSMAR, Walters Shoal

???msg.security.private???, ANT-XXIX_3, ATIMO VATAE, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 4, ???msg.security.private???, ???msg.security.private???, ???msg.security.private???, BENTHAUS, ???msg.security.private???, BIOCAL, ???msg.security.private???, ???msg.security.private???, ???msg.security.private???, BIOGEOCAL, BIOMAGLO, BIOPAPUA, ???msg.security.private???, CEAMARC-AA, CHALCAL 2, CONCALIS, CORINDON 2, ???msg.security.private???, ???msg.security.private???, ???msg.security.private???, ???msg.security.private???, EBISCO, EXBODI, HALIPRO 2, ???msg.security.private???, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KANADEEP 2, KARUBENTHOS 2, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, MD42 (SIBEX), MUSORSTOM 1, MUSORSTOM 10, MUSORSTOM 2, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 7, ???msg.security.private???, NORFOLK 2, NanHai 2014, ???msg.security.private???, SALOMON 1, SALOMON 2, SALOMONBOA 3, SPANBIOS, TAIWAN 2000, ???msg.security.private???, TARASOC, ???msg.security.private???, Walters Shoal, ZhongSha 2015

The deep-sea octocoral Pseudochrysogorgia bellona was recently described from specimens sampled on the Chesterfield Plateau, off New Caledonia. It is morphologically and genetically similar to the con-familial Metallogorgia melanotrichos, which is known to closely associate with a species of brittle star, Ophiocreas oedipus. These latter two species have never been observed separately and are thought to grow synchronously. The morphological similarity between M. melanotrichos and P. bellona makes the latter another possible host for ophiuroids. However, no brittle star was associated with P. bellona specimens from the type collection. In 2017, 130 P. bellona colonies were sampled near the type locality, and 98% were associated with Asteroschema ajax, a species closely related to O. oedipus. Mitochondrial DNA analysis confirmed the morphological identifications of both P. bellona and A. ajax. Uni- and multivariate statistical analyses were used to characterize the morphological space of both species to test if larger ophiuroids are associated with larger corals. Two variables were measured to estimate the size of the coral (total height and diameter of the skeletal axis at its base) and 9 variables were used to characterize the brittle star (disc and arm morphology). Morphological variables representing the size for both species were significantly correlated (Spearman rank correlation coefficient: 50%, p < 0.001), suggesting that larger ophiuroids indeed associate with larger corals. This is one of the rare studies that allowed comparison of growth in associated deep-sea invertebrates.

EBISCO, KANADEEP

Thirty-six species of various thecate hydroids occur in two recent, deep-water collections from off New Caledonia. Of these, nine are new, namely Solenoscyphus subtilis Galea, sp. nov., Hincksella immersa Galea, sp. nov., Synthecium rectangulatum Galea, sp. nov., Diphasia alternata Galea, sp. nov., Dynamena opposita Galea, sp. nov., Hydrallmania clavaformis Galea, sp. nov., Symplectoscyphus acutustriatus Galea, sp. nov., Symplectoscyphus elongatulus Galea, sp. nov. and Zygophylax niger Galea, sp. nov. The male and female gonothecae of Caledoniana decussata Galea, 2015, the female gonothecae of Caledoniana microgona Galea, 2015, as well as the gonothecae of both sexes of Solenoscyphus striatus Galea, 2015 are described for the first time. The systematic position of the genera Solenoscyphus Galea, 2015 and Caledoniana Galea, 2015 is discussed on both morphological and molecular grounds, and both are confidently placed within the family Staurothecidae Maronna et al., 2016. In light of the molecular data, the genera Billardia Totton, 1930 and Dictyocladium Allman, 1888 are assigned to the families Syntheciidae Marktanner-Turneretscher, 1890 and Symplectoscyphidae Maronna et al., 2016, respectively. The previously undescribed gonothecae of Hincksella neocaledonica Galea, 2015, and the male gonothecae of Sertularella tronconica Galea, 2016, were found. Thyroscyphus scorpioides Vervoort, 1993, a peculiar hydroid with putative stem nematothecae, is redescribed and assigned to the new genus Tuberocaulus Galea, gen. nov. Noteworthy new records from the study area are: Tasmanaria edentula (Bale, 1924), Hincksella sibogae Billard, 1918, Dictyocladium reticulatum (Kirchenpauer, 1884), Salacia sinuosa (Bale, 1888) and Billardia hyalina Vervoort & Watson, 2003. Most species are illustrated to facilitate their identification, and the morphology of the new ones is compared to that of their related congeners.

KANACONO, KANADEEP

Sixteen aglaopheniid hydroids occurring in two recent, deep water collections from off New Caledonia are reported upon, of which 8 species are new, namely Cladocarpus asymmetricus sp. nov., C. partitus sp. nov., C. pennatus sp. nov., Lytocarpia fragilis sp. nov., L. pilosa sp. nov., L. pseudoctenata sp. nov., L. subtilis sp. nov. and Macrorhynchia spiralis sp. nov., the latter producing medusoid gonophores. Although not occurring in the present collections, brief notes on M. disjuncta (Pictet, 1893), including the first description of its gonosome, are provided to support its specific separation from M. phoenicea (Busk, 1852).

KANACONO, KANADEEP

The so far monotypic genus Sibogella Billard, 1911 is revised based on literature data. Its type species, S. erecta Billard, 1911, is thoroughly redescribed and illustrated, and accounts on two new congeners, S. flabellata sp. nov. from shallow waters of Indonesia and S. spissa sp. nov. from deep waters of New Caledonia, are provided. Single- (16S rRNA) and multi-locus (concatenated 16S, 18S, and 28S rRNA) phylogenetic assessments of the Plumulariidae, including newlysequenced Sibogella material, supplement the alpha-taxonomical study.

KANACONO

This study reports on 25 species of hydroids occurring in the collections gathered during KANACONO and KANADEEP expeditions carried out in the SE of New Caledonia in 2016, and off the western coast of the island in 2017, respectively. Of these, 19 have not been dealt with in earlier reports on these collections. Two new genera and four new species are described, viz, Actinopluma mirifica Galea gen. et sp. nov., provisionally assigned to the family Kirchenpaueriidae Stechow, 1921, Schizoplumularia helicoidalis sp. nov., belonging to the Plumulariidae McCrady, 1859, and Corhiza patula Galea sp. nov. and Thamnopteros uniserius Galea gen. et sp. nov., both placed in the family Halopterididae Millard, 1962. The gonotheca and the medusoid gonophore of Plumularia contraria Ansín Agís et al., 2014 are described for the first time, allowing a genus transfer to Dentitheca Stechow, 1919, as D. contraria comb. nov. Plumularia conjuncta Billard, 1913, known earlier from a minute portion of colony, is redescribed based on a complete, though infertile, specimen. Similarly, complete specimens corresponding to the hydroid previously referred to as Antennella megatheca Ansín Agís et al., 2009 are documented, allowing a provisional reallocation to Corhiza Millard, 1962 and a description of its so far unknown gonothecae. Fertile material assignable to the poorly-known Monostaechas fisheri Nutting, 1905 allows the recognition of this hydroid as a valid species, distinct from M. quadridens (McCrady, 1859). Most taxa are illustrated to validate the reliability of their identifications. Finally, phylogenetic reconstructions of the families Aglaopheniidae, Plumulariidae, and Halopterididae, based on the 16S rRNA, allowed a first genetic characterization of some of the species dealt with in this work.

KANACONO, KANADEEP

Ten species belonging to the genus Gonaxia Vervoort, 1993 occur in recent collections gathered by KANACONO (2016), KANADEEP (2017) and KANADEEP 2 (2019) expeditions of the French Tropical Deep-Sea Benthos Program in deep waters of the New Caledonian region. They were studied using the classical, morphological approach, supplemented by the first genetic characterization of the genus undertaken so far. Two species are previously undescribed, namely G. incisa Galea, sp. nov. and G. solenoscyphoides Galea, sp. nov. Additional notes on the remaining species are provided, notably the discovery of the female gonothecae of G. crassicaulis Vervoort, 1993 and G. perplexa Vervoort, 1993. Lofty colonies, with distinctive cladia-bearing branches spirally-arranged around the stem, assignable to the recently-described G. plumularioides Galea, 2016 actually represent fully-developed colonies of G. errans Vervoort, 1993, as demonstrated using molecular markers, the latter nominal species having priority. Its unusual, club-shaped, longitudinally-ridged gonothecae, fully free from the stem, are described for the first time. Supplementary notes on the hydrotheca of G. crassicaulis Vervoort, 1993 are provided, together with the description of a distinctive gutter of perisarc channeling the coenosarc of the colony along the lumen of both the stem and cladia. A multi-locus phylogenetic hypothesis of the Macrocolonia supports the establishment of the family Gonaxiidae Maggioni, fam. nov., to accommodate the species dealt with herein.

KANACONO, KANADEEP, KANADEEP 2

Two thecate hydroids, Carpocladus fertilis Vervoort & Watson, 2003 (family Aglaopheniidae Marktanner-Turneretscher, 1890) and Gonaxia constricta (Totton, 1930) (family Gonaxiidae Maggioni, in Galea & Maggioni, 2021), are recorded for the first time from off New Caledonia, thus outside their original area of distribution in New Zealand waters. Specimens of both sexes of C. fertilis occur in the present collection, allowing the first description of its so far unknown female gonothecae. The trophosome of G. constricta, the only known to date, is thoroughly redescribed, pending the discovery of its gonothecae.

KANACONO, KANADEEP, KANADEEP 2

Eleven species of hydroids belonging to the genus Zygophylax Quelch, 1885 are present in the material collected by the KANACONO, KANADEEP and KANADEEP 2 expeditions of the French Tropical Dee-Sea Benthos Program. Of these, ten represent known taxa and are fertile specimens, while the last one is unidentifiable in the absence of its gonosome. Seven species are new records for the study area. Zygophylax dispersa Peña Cantero, 2020 is assigned to the synonymy of Z. pseudafricana Vervoort & Watson, 2003, while Z. laertesi Peña Cantero, 2020 is comprehensively redescribed based on numerous and morphologically-varied specimens. Uncertainties exist as to the synonymy between Z. antipathes (Lamarck, 1816) and Z. rufa (Bale, 1884), but the oldest available binomen was nevertheless used. The presence of nematothecae is confirmed in Z. polycarpa Vervoort & Watson, 2003, a species with unusual gonothecae for the genus, now redescribed based on additional, abundant material. Zygophylax pseudosibogae Gu et al., 2022 is also redescribed, supplementing the original account. Finally, phylogenetic analyses, based on the 16S rRNA gene, allowed the genetic characterization of a total of twenty nominal species of Zygophylax, including sequences for eight taxa not considered so far. The number of Zygophylax species known from the New Caledonian area is raised from eight to sixteen.

KANACONO, KANADEEP, KANADEEP 2

AZTEQUE, BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, BENTHAUS, BERYX 11, BIOCAL, BIOGEOCAL, BOA0, CHALCAL 1, CHALCAL 2, CONCALIS, CORAIL 2, EBISCO, EXBODI, GEMINI, HALICAL 1, HALIPRO 1, HALIPRO 2, KANACONO, KANADEEP 2, LAGON, LIFOU 2000, LITHIST, MONTROUZIER, MUSORSTOM 10, MUSORSTOM 2, MUSORSTOM 3, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 7, MUSORSTOM 8, MUSORSTOM 9, NORFOLK 1, NORFOLK 2, PALEO-SURPRISE, SMIB 1, SMIB 10, SMIB 2, SMIB 3, SMIB 4, SMIB 5, SMIB 6, SMIB 8, TERRASSES, VAUBAN 1978-1979, VOLSMAR

Introduction Host-parasite associations provide very useful models to study adaptive processes. We investigated the interaction between carnivorous marine gastropods, the Ovulidae or egg-cowries, and their cnidarian food targets. Ovulidae (Fleming, 1828), is a family of specialized carnivorous caenogastropods that feed by browsing on octocorals (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Malacalcyonacea and Scleralcyonacea) or, to a much lesser degree, on antipatharians (Anthozoa: Hexacorallia: Antipatharia) and Stylasteridae (Hydrozoa: Hydroidolina: Anthoathecata). Very scanty information is available on the phylogenetic relationships and the degree of specificity of the relationship with the cnidarians of this corallivorous lineage, especially for deep-water taxa. Methods To assess taxonomic identifications and investigate cnidarian/ovulid relationships in the context of their evolution, we generated an extensive molecular dataset comprising two mitochondrial ( cox1 and 16S rDNA ) and one nuclear gene ( 28S rDNA ) from 524 specimens collected worldwide. The coral hosts of the ovulid species have been identified by integrating literature data with new records, employing morphological and/or molecular (the mitochondrial 16S rDNA and mtMSH , and the nuclear ITS2) markers. Results We obtained a molecular phylogenetic framework for the Ovulidae, time-calibrated with nine reliable fossil records. An ancestral state reconstruction allowed to identify Hexacorallia or Hydroidolina as the most likely ancestral cnidarian host for the Ovulidae. Discussion Our phylogenetic hypothesis revealed the existence of groups that do not completely correspond to the currently employed subfamilial arrangement. Concerning trophic ecology, while only pediculariines ( Pedicularia and allied) are associated with hydrozoans (Stylasteridae), our results suggest that some ovulid lineages shifted independently between octocorals and hexacorals.

ATIMO VATAE, AURORA 2007, BIOMAGLO, CORSICABENTHOS 1, CORSICABENTHOS 2, CORSICABENTHOS 3, EBISCO, EXBODI, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KARUBENTHOS 2, KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.3, MADEEP, MADIBENTHOS, MAINBAZA, MIRIKY, NORFOLK 2, NanHai 2014, PAKAIHI I TE MOANA, PANGLAO 2004, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMONBOA 3, SANTO 2006, SPANBIOS, ZhongSha 2015

Biogeographical classification schemes such as the Marine Ecoregions of the World (MEOW) have been devel­ oped for continental shelf depths. The lack of faunal data in the deep sea has led to the development of biogeographical units based on oceanographic characteristics. The aim of this study was to propose biogeo­ graphical schemes for the Upper Bathyal (200–1000 m) across the Pacific Ocean using octocoral distributions. We retrieved over 200 000 octocoral data records from the Deep Sea Coral Data Portal (DSCDP), Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), Tropical Deep-Sea Benthos program (French National Museum of Natural History), Queensland Museum from the CIDARIS expeditions, and records retrieved from the Siboga expedition reports. We used cluster analysis to examine octocoral distributions against four different biogeo­ graphical classification schemes. The classification schemes produced mostly concordant patterns with three major faunal distribution barriers: the North Pacific Current isolates the subarctic units by creating a steep temperature gradient; the Subantarctic Front separates the Subantarctic from the rest of the Pacific; and the East Pacific Barrier separates the East Pacific from the Central and West Pacific. Two other smaller but distinct provinces are the Indo-Pacific where Lower Bathyal genera are found in the Upper Bathyal, and Torres Strait/ Coral Sea characterised by mesophotic genera. We propose 12 biogeographic provinces across the Pacific Ocean Upper Bathyal region from 200 to 1000 m depth based on octocoral distributions. The main driver for these units seems to be temperature, a defining feature of water masses. These units could potentially be subdivided into smaller regions based on habitat. Additionally, the clustering of Ecological Marine Units (EMUs) provides evi­ dence that the Upper Bathyal should in certain regions be divided vertically into two depth zones based on water masses.

BIOPAPUA, EXBODI, KANACONO, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, PAPUA NIUGINI, TARASOC, TERRASSES, ZhongSha 2015

Background  Caryophylliidae is one of the most diverse scleractinian families, however it was recovered as polyphyletic in multiple molecular studies. Recently, the mitochondrial gene order was proposed as a character for a taxonomic revision of the family. Here we describe the first mitogenome of the caryophylliid genus Crispatotrochus, whose phylogenetic position remains uncertain. Methods and results  The complete mitochondrial genomes of Crispatotrochus rubescens and Crispatotrochus rugosus were sequenced, assembled, and annotated. The two mitogenomes are identical and circular, have a length of 16,536 bp, a GC content of 35.9%, and contain 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNAs and 2 transfer RNAs. Both species have a transposition of a three gene block - cob, nad2, and nad6 - similarly to a group of caryophylliid genera that were recovered as monophyletic, including the type genus (Caryophyllia) of the family. The phylogenetic analyses recovered Crispatotrochus within the clade that presents the gene rearrangement and specifically as sister taxa of the genus Caryophyllia, a result consistent with previous studies and the similar gross morphology of the two genera. Conclusions  We determined the mitochondrial genomes of the genus Crispatotrochus to investigate their relations within Scleractinia. Results from this study provide insights on the phylogenetic position of the genus and corroborate that the mitochondrial gene order could be used as taxonomic character for the family Caryophylliidae.

KANACONO, KANADEEP

The integration of morphological and molecular lines of evidence has enabled the family Deltocyathidae to be erected to accommodate Deltocyathus species that were previously ascribed to the family Caryophylliidae. However, although displaying the same morphological characteristics as other species of Deltocyathus, molecular data suggested that D. magnificus was phylogenetically distant from Deltocyathidae, falling within the family Turbinoliidae instead. To elucidate the enigmatic evolutionary history of this species and skeletal microstructural features, the phylogenetic relationships of Deltocyathidae and Turbinoliidae were investigated using nuclear ultraconserved and exon loci and complete mitochondrial genomes. Both nuclear and mitochondrial phylogenomic reconstructions confirmed the position of D. magnificus within turbinolids. Furthermore, a novel mitochondrial gene order was uncovered for Deltocyathidae species. This gene order was not present in Turbinoliidae or in D. magnificus that both have the scleractinian canonical gene order, further indicating the taxonomic utility of mitochondrial gene order. D. magnificus is therefore formally moved to the family Turbinoliidae and accommodated in a new genus (Dennantotrochus Kitahara, Vaga & Stolarski, gen. nov.). Surprisingly, turbinolids and deltocyathids do not differ in microstructural organisation of the skeleton that consists of densely packed, individualised rapid accretion deposits and thickening deposits composed of fibres perpendicular to the skeleton surface. Therefore, although both families are clearly evolutionarily divergent, macromorphological features indicate a case of skeletal convergence while these may still share conservative biomineralisation mechanisms.

CONCALIS, EBISCO, EXBODI, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KANADEEP 2

Abstract Once considered the most speciose mostly azooxanthellate scleractinian group, the family Caryophylliidae is found to be highly polyphyletic based on molecular data and is undergoing a process of systematic revision. High‐throughput sequencing methods coupled with morphological analyses have facilitated revision of several scleractinian lineages, including the aforementioned family. In previous studies that relied on few mitochondrial and nuclear markers, the caryophylliid genera Stephanocyathus and Vaughanella were phylogenetically recovered in separate clades from the lineage that includes the type genus of the family, Caryophyllia , which is considered the ‘true’ Caryophylliidae. To help untangle the relationship among taxa of this family, here a new deep‐sea scleractinian family (Stephanocyathidae Vaga, Cairns & Kitahara fam. nov.) is proposed based on phylogenomic reconstructions coupled with molecular features, specifically gene order, of the complete mitochondrial genome. Evolutionary reconstructions were based on both mitochondrial and nuclear ultraconserved elements (UCEs) and exon loci data sets and confirmed the divergent position of the genera Stephanocyathus and Vaughanella . The new family shows a specific gene transposition in the mitochondrial genome, not present in the ‘true’ caryophylliid lineage, but instead already observed for the species Paraconotrochus antarcticus , recovered as sister taxon of the here proposed new family. Although its phylogenetic position is unknown, the genus Ericiocyathus is also added to the new family, based on macromorphological similarities. This study represents a step forward in our understanding of deep‐sea corals relationships and provide further information (e.g., mitochondrial gene order) that will aid in future efforts of assessing the systematic of caryophylliid lineages.

KANACONO, KANADEEP

SPANBIOS

Galeommatoidea are bivalves with small (usually 1–15 mm), fragile, sometimes vestigial, shells, occurring free-living or in association with other benthic invertebrates from the intertidal to depths in excess of 7,000 m. They are the most diverse but least studied and most underrepresented group of bivalves in biodiversity surveys and museum collections. The majority of commensal species of Galeommatoidea have dull, frequently uncoloured, unsculptured shells, but free-living species have papillate, sometimes coloured, mantles; they can be gregarious, and superficially resemble crawling gastropods. Many species of Galeommatoidea remain to be discovered, and we argue that future descriptions of free-living new species should ideally include photos of living animals, while many of the historically known species described based on their shells will probably be best treated as nomina dubia.

KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.1, KOUMAC 2.2, KOUMAC 2.3, PANGLAO 2004, PAPUA NIUGINI, SANTO 2006, ???msg.security.private???

The present paper illustrates specimens of the family Cerithiopsidae reported from the Indo-Pacific area by the MNHN during expeditions made between 1993 and 2017. In the Eastern Indian Ocean, the research areas are Comoro Is., Mozambique, South Madagascar, South Africa and Western Australian coasts. In Pacific Ocean are New Caledonia, French Polynesia (Austral Is., Fiji, Marquesas Is., Society Is., Tarawa, Vanuatu, Tuam­ otu), Philippines, Salomon Is. and Papua New Guinea. From the analysis of the material 120 species were identified, 42 of which new for science. Some deep-water species, reported from the Comoro Is., are of uncertain generic classification and have been provisionally included in the genus “Cerithiopsis”, pending the study of further specimens.

KANACONO, SALOMON 2

Recent sampling efforts in the deep seas of southern and eastern Australia have generated a wealth of DNA-­suitable material of neogastropods of the family Raphitomidae. Based on this material, a molecular phylogeny of the family has revealed a considerable amount of genus and species level lineages previously unknown to science. These taxa are now the focus of current integrative taxonomic research. As part of this ongoing investigation, this study focuses on the genera Austrobela, Austrotheta (both Criscione, Hallan, Puillandre & Fedosov, 2020), Spergo Dall, 1895 and Theta Clarke, 1959. We subjected a comprehensive mitochondrial DNA dataset of representative deep-­sea raphitomids to Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery, which recognized 24 primary species hypotheses (PSHs). Following additional evaluation of shell and radular features, as well as examination of geographic and bathymetric ranges, 18 of these PSHs were converted to secondary species hypotheses (SSHs). Based on the evidence available, the most likely speciation mechanisms involved were evaluated for each pair of sister SSHs, including niche partitioning. Eleven SSHs were recognized as new and their systematic descriptions are provided herein. Of these, four were attributed to Austrobela, one to Austrotheta, four to Spergo and two to Theta. While all new species are endemic to Australian waters, other species studied herein exhibit wide Indo-­Pacific distributions, adding to the growing body of evidence suggesting that wide geographic ranges in deep-­sea Raphitomidae are more common than previously assumed.

AURORA 2007, BATHUS 3, BIOMAGLO, BIOPAPUA, CHALCAL 2, CONCALIS, EBISCO, KANADEEP, KARUBAR, KARUBENTHOS 2, NORFOLK 2, NanHai 2014, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMON 2, TAIWAN 2013, ???msg.security.private???, TARASOC, TERRASSES, ZhongSha 2015

The deep sea of temperate south-eastern Australia appears to be a ‘hotspot’ for diversity and endemism of conoidean neogastropods of the family Raphitomidae. Following a series of expeditions in the region, a considerable amount of relevant DNA-suitable material has become available. A molecular phylogeny based on this material has facilitated the identification of diagnostic morphological characters, allowing the circumscription of monophyletic genera and the introduction of several new genus-level taxa. Both named and new genera are presently being investigated through integrative taxonomy, with the discovery of a significant number of undescribed species. As part of this ongoing investigation, our study focuses on the genera Famelica Bouchet & Warén, 1980, Glaciotomella Criscione, Hallan, Fedosov & Puillandre, 2020 and Rimosodaphnella Cossmann, 1914. We subjected a comprehensive mitochondrial DNA dataset of representative deep-sea raphitomids to the species delimitation methods ABGD and ASAP that recognised 18 and 15 primary species hypotheses (PSHs) respectively. Following additional evaluation of shell and radular features, and examination of geographic and bathymetric ranges, nine of these PSHs were converted to secondary species hypotheses (SSHs). Four SSHs (two in Famelica and two in Rimosodaphnella) were recognised as new, and formal descriptions are provided herein.

AURORA 2007, BIOPAPUA, BOA1, EXBODI, KANACONO, KAVIENG 2014, MAINBAZA, PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMON 2, SALOMONBOA 3, TARASOC, ZhongSha 2015

Profundiconus is the most divergent cone snail genus and its unique phylogenetic position, sister to the rest of the family Conidae, makes it a key taxon for examining venom evolution and diversity. Venom gland and foot transcriptomes of Profundiconus cf. vaubani and Profundiconus neocaledonicus were de novo assembled, annotated, and analyzed for differential expression. One hundred and thirty-seven venom components were identified from P. cf. vaubani and 82 from P. neocaledonicus, with only four shared by both species. The majority of the transcript diversity was composed of putative peptides, including conotoxins, profunditoxins, turripeptides, insulin, and prohormone-4. However, there were also a significant percentage of other putative venom components such as chymotrypsin and L-rhamnose-binding lectin. The large majority of conotoxins appeared to be from new gene superfamilies, three of which are highly different from previously reported venom peptide toxins. Their low conotoxin diversity and the type of insulin found suggested that these species, for which no ecological information are available, have a worm or molluscan diet associated with a narrow dietary breadth. Our results indicate that Profundiconus venom is highly distinct from that of other cone snails, and therefore important for examining venom evolution in the Conidae family.

KANACONO

Species in the family Capulidae (Littorinimorpha: Capuloidea) display a wide range of shell morphologies. Several species are known to live in association with other benthic invertebrates—mostly bivalves and sabellid worms, but also other gastropods—and are believed to be kleptoparasitic filter feeders that take advantage of the water current produced by the host. This peculiar trophic ecology, implying a sedentary lifestyle, has resulted in highly convergent shell forms. This is particularly true for the genus Hyalorisia Dall, 1889, which occurs in deep water in the Caribbean and Indo-West Pacific provinces, with two nominal species recognized so far. Combining morphological, ecological and molecular data, we assessed the diversity of the genus, its phylogenetic position inside the family and its association with its bivalve host, the genus Propeamussium de Gregorio, 1884 (Pectinoidea), resulting in the description of nine new cryptic species. When sympatric, species of Hyalorisia are associated with different host species, but the same species of Propeamussium may be the host of several allopatric species of Hyalorisia.

AURORA 2007, CONCALIS, CORSICABENTHOS 1, EBISCO, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KARUBENTHOS 2, KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.3, MADEEP, MAINBAZA, MIRIKY, NanHai 2014, PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005, SALOMON 2, ZhongSha 2015

A coiled shell is the most evident feature of the typical Bauplan of a gastropod mollusc. However, at least 54 families independently evolved an apparently simplified shell morphology: the limpet. Species with this largely uncoiled, depressed shell morphology occur in almost every aquatic habitat and are associated to a number of different lifestyles and diets. The marine gastropod family Capulidae includes 18 recognised genera, the large majority of which are coiled, but with a number of limpet-like species. Capulid shell plasticity is also associated to a broad range of feeding ecologies, from obligate suspension feeders to kleptoparasites.

KARUBENTHOS 2, KOUMAC 2.3, PANGLAO 2004

A remarkably high diversity of native small spindle-shells (Gastropoda, Fasciolariidae, Fusininae) has been recently inventoried in the Mediterranean Sea, with 23 species identified based on shell morphology. They have almost invariably been classified in the genus Fusinus, and a few of them recently moved to other genera (Aptyxis Troschel 1868, Aegeofusinus Russo, 2017 and Gracilipurpura Jousseaume, 1880), mostly based on the sole shell features. We have reconstructed a molecular phylogenetic framework for the Mediterranean Fusininae, focusing on native species representative of the genus-level taxa. Our results confirmed that Fusinus s.s. (type species Murex colus Linnaeus, 1758) should be restricted to a group of large-shelled species from the Indo-West Pacific and does not fit any of the small-shelled Mediterranean fusinines. We confirm that Murex syracusanus Linnaeus, 1758 represents a distinct lineage, and show that for all the remaining species the pattern is suggestive of a single monophyletic radiation of small Mediterranean fusinines, for which the name Pseudofusus Monterosato, 1884 must be used

ATIMO VATAE, AURORA 2007, CONCALIS, ???msg.security.private???, EBISCO, EXBODI, GUYANE 2014, KANACONO, KARUBENTHOS 2, KARUBENTHOS 2012, KAVIENG 2014, MIRIKY, NanHai 2014, PAKAIHI I TE MOANA, PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMON 2, SALOMONBOA 3, SANTO 2006, TARASOC, TERRASSES, ???msg.security.private???

Abstract The systematics of the marine mollusc family Velutinidae has long been neglected by taxonomists, mainly because their often internal and fragile shells offer no morphological characters. Velutinids are usually undersampled owing to their cryptic mantle coloration on the solitary, social or colonial ascidians on which they feed and lay eggs. In this study, we address the worldwide diversity and phylogeny of Velutinidae based on the largest molecular dataset (313 specimens) to date, accounting for > 50% of the currently accepted genera, coupled with morphological and ecological data. Velutinids emerge as a diverse group, encompassing four independent subfamily-level lineages, two of which are newly described herein: Marseniopsinae subfam. nov. and Hainotinae subfam. nov. High diversity was found at genus and species levels, with two newly described genera (Variolipallium gen. nov. and Pacifica gen. nov.) and ≥ 86 species in the assayed dataset, 58 of which are new to science (67%). Velutinidae show a remarkable morphological plasticity in shell morphology, mantle extension and chromatic patterns. This variability is likely to be the result of different selective forces, including habitat, depth and trophic interactions.

ATIMO VATAE, BIOMAGLO, BIOPAPUA, CEAMARC-AA, CORSICABENTHOS 1, CORSICABENTHOS 2, CORSICABENTHOS 3, GUYANE 2014, ILES DU SALUT, KANACONO, KANADEEP 2, KARUBENTHOS 2, KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.1, KOUMAC 2.3, MADEEP, MADIBENTHOS, PANGLAO 2004, PAPUA NIUGINI, SAKIZAYA 2019, SANTO 2006, Tuhaa Pae 2013, ZhongSha 2015

Background:  Planaxis sulcatus has been touted as a textbook example of poecilogony, with members of this wideranging Indo-Pacific marine gastropod said to produce free-swimming veligers as well as brooded juveniles. A recent paper by Wiggering et al. (BMC Evol Biol 20:76, 2020) assessed a mitochondrial gene phylogeny based on partial COI and 16S rRNA sequences for 31 individuals supplemented by observations from the brood pouch of 64 mostly unsequenced individuals. ABGD and bGYMC supported three reciprocally monophyletic clades, with two distributed in the Indo-Pacific, and one restricted to the northern Indian Ocean and Red Sea. Given an apparent lack of correlation between clade membership and morphological differentiation or mode of development, the reported 3.08% maximum K2P model-corrected genetic divergence in COI among all specimens was concluded to represent population structuring. Hence, the hypothesis that phylogenetic structure is evidence of cryptic species was rejected and P. sulcatus was concluded to represent a case of geographic poecilogony. Results:  Our goal was to reassess the case for poecilogony in Planaxis sulcatus with a larger molecular dataset and expanded geographic coverage. We sequenced an additional 55 individuals and included published and unpublished sequence data from other sources, including from Wiggering et al. Our dataset comprised 108 individuals (88 COI, 81 16S rRNA) and included nine countries unrepresented in the previous study. The expanded molecular dataset yielded a maximum K2P model-corrected genetic divergence among all sequenced specimens of 12.09%. The value of 3.08% erroneously reported by Wiggering et al. is the prior maximal distance value that yields a single-species partition in ABGD, and not the maximum K2P intraspecific divergence that can be calculated for the dataset. The bGMYC analysis recognized between two and six subdivisions, while the best-scoring ASAP partitions recognized two, four, or five subdivisions, not all of which were robustly supported in Bayesian and maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses of the concatenated and single gene datasets. These hypotheses yielded maximum intra-clade genetic distances in COI of 2.56–6.19%, which are more consistent with hypothesized species-level thresholds for marine caenogastropods. Conclusions:  Based on our analyses of a more comprehensive dataset, we conclude that the evidence marshalled by Wiggering et al. in support of Planaxis sulcatus comprising a single widespread, highly variable species with geographic poecilogony is unconvincing and requires further investigation in an integrative taxonomic framework.

ATIMO VATAE, INHACA 2011, KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.1, SANTO 2006

Among gastropods, the ability to swim has developed independently several times, mostly among Heterobranchia. Only a few species of Caenogastropoda are known to have swimming adults. Velutinidae Gray, 1840, is a family of caenogastropods with a fragile shell enclosed by the mantle. The adults of this family are benthic and ectoparasites of ascidians. Here, we present the first recorded instance of a swimming velutinid, Marsenia cf. gemma, filmed in New Caledonia. The swim propulsion method was based on the movement of the snail’s foot, which followed a ∞-shaped curve. This first report changes our perspective on the biology of this family, unexpectedly placing it within the restricted group of swimming caenogastropods.

ATIMO VATAE, KOUMAC 2.1, KOUMAC 2.3, MADIBENTHOS, PANGLAO 2004, PAPUA NIUGINI

KARUBENTHOS 2, KOUMAC 2.3, PANGLAO 2004

The conoidean family Drilliidae Olsson, 1964 is a species-rich lineage of marine gastropods, showing a high degree of diversification in comparison to other families of Conoidea. Despite intensive molecular phylogenetic studies during the last decade that have led to notable rearrangements of conoidean systematics, the genus- and species-level taxonomy of Drilliidae has not thus far been affected and remains entirely based on shell features. In the current study we revisit species delimitation in a morphological cluster of species from the Indo-Pacific referred to as the Clavus canalicularis complex, using an integrative taxonomy approach. The species in the complex possess robust thick-walled shells typically over 15 mm in height with sculpture of prominent rounded nodules located at the whorl’s shoulder, sometimes sharp and squamiform, or producing long spines. We find that in addition to five known species, the complex comprises four new species. These are described as Clavus brianmayi n. sp. (New Caledonia), Clavus davidgilmouri n. sp. (the Philippines), Clavus andreolbrichi n. sp. (Vanuatu and New Ireland) and Clavus kirkhammetti n. sp. (Madagascar). Clavus exasperatus (Reeve, 1843), which was previously considered widely distributed in IndoPacific, is shown to be confined to the western Indian Ocean.

ATIMO VATAE, INHACA 2011, KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.1, PANGLAO 2004

Marine gastropods of the genus Conus are renowned for their remarkable diversity and deadly venoms. While Conus venoms are increasingly well studied for their biomedical applications, we know surprisingly little about venom composition in other lineages of Conidae. We performed comprehensive venom transcriptomic profiling for Conasprella coriolisi and Pygmaeconus traillii, first time for both respective genera. We complemented referencebased transcriptome annotation by a de novo toxin prediction guided by phylogeny, which involved transcriptomic data on two additional ‘divergent’ cone snail lineages, Profundiconus, and Californiconus. We identified toxin clusters (SSCs) shared among all or some of the four analysed genera based on the identity of the signal region—a molecular tag present in toxins. In total, 116 and 98 putative toxins represent 29 and 28 toxin gene superfamilies in Conasprella and Pygmaeconus, respectively; about quarter of these only found by semi-manual annotation of the SSCs. Two rare gene superfamilies, originally identified from fish-hunting cone snails, were detected outside Conus rather unexpectedly, so we further investigated their distribution across Conidae radiation. We demonstrate that both these, in fact, are ubiquitous in Conidae, sometimes with extremely high expression. Our findings demonstrate how a phylogeny-aware approach circumvents methodological caveats of similarity-based transcriptome annotation

KANACONO, KAVIENG 2014

The genus Conasprella Thiele, 1929 is the second largest in the family Conidae. It encompasses 161 described species that mainly occur at bathyal depths. Despite this relatively high species diversity, species delimitation and taxonomy of the genus have barely been addressed with molecular data. In the present study, we revisit species delimitation in the Indo-Pacific Conasprella orbignyi complex based on data from a previous study and substantial original data. Integrative taxonomy applied to a dataset comprising 82 specimens revealed ten putative species, and available names were assigned to seven of them. Two unnamed species are new and described here as Conasprella zinaidae Fedosov & Puillandre, n. sp. (represented by a single sequenced specimen from Papua New Guinea) and Conasprella emilieae Puillandre & Fedosov, n. sp. (represented by four sequenced specimens, all from Papua New Guinea). Some populations within the Conasprella orbignyi complex show weak genetic structure but unusually high morphological variation, which overlaps differences among genetically distinct species. This variation renders identification of both new species on conchological grounds problematic. Therefore, we provide DNA-based diagnoses for both new species to facilitate their identification in future studies.

ATIMO VATAE, AURORA 2007, BIOPAPUA, BOA1, EBISCO, EXBODI, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, MAINBAZA, MIRIKY, PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMON 2, SANTO 2006, TERRASSES

Marginelliform gastropods are a heterogeneous and diverse group of molluscs encompassing over 1,600 living species, among which are the smallest known neogastropods. The relationships of marginelliform gastropods within the order Neogastropoda are controversial, and the monophyly of the two marginelliform families the Marginellidae J. Fleming, 1828 and the Cystiscidae Stimpson, 1865, remains unconfirmed. DNA sequence data have never been used to assess the relationships of the marginelliform gastropods, making this group the only major branch missing in our current understanding of the neogastropod tree of life. Here we report results of the first multilocus phylogenetic analysis of marginelliform gastropods, which is based on a dataset comprising 63 species (20 genera) of Marginellidae and Cystiscidae, and a wide range of neogastropod lineages. The Marginellidae and Cystiscidae form a moderately supported clade that is sister to the family Volutidae. Marginellona gigas appears to be sister to all other marginelliforms. The subfamily Marginellinae was recovered as a well-supported clade, and good resolution of this part of the tree makes it possible to propose amendments to the family-level classification of the group. The relationship between Granulina and other marginelliforms could not be resolved and requires further study. Due to poor resolution of basal relationships within the Marginellidae–Cystiscidae clade, the monophyly of the Cystiscidae was neither confirmed nor convincingly rejected. The shell morphology of most marginellid and cystiscid genera is taxonomically not very informative but, nevertheless, of the traditionally recognized genera only Gibberula and Dentimargo were shown to be polyphyletic. Although a comprehensive systematic revision of the group requires more extensive taxonomic sampling (e.g. with better representation of the type species of nominal genus-group names), our results support the superfamily Volutoidea, comprising four families (Volutidae, Cystiscidae, Marginellidae and Marginellonidae), with the placement of the Granulinidae uncertain for the time being.

ATIMO VATAE, ???msg.security.private???, DongSha 2014, EXBODI, GUYANE 2014, ILES DU SALUT, INHACA 2011, KANACONO, KARUBENTHOS 2, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, MADIBENTHOS, MAINBAZA, PAPUA NIUGINI, ???msg.security.private???

Abstract The molluskan order Neogastropoda encompasses over 15,000 almost exclusively marine species playing important roles in benthic communities and in the economies of coastal countries. Neogastropoda underwent intensive cladogenesis in the early stages of diversification, generating a “bush” at the base of their evolutionary tree, which has been hard to resolve even with high throughput molecular data. In the present study to resolve the bush, we use a variety of phylogenetic inference methods and a comprehensive exon capture dataset of 1817 loci (79.6% data occupancy) comprising 112 taxa of 48 out of 60 Neogastropoda families. Our results show consistent topologies and high support in all analyses at (super)family level, supporting monophyly of Muricoidea, Mitroidea, Conoidea, and, with some reservations, Olivoidea and Buccinoidea. Volutoidea and Turbinelloidea as currently circumscribed are clearly paraphyletic. Despite our analyses consistently resolving most backbone nodes, 3 prove problematic: First, the uncertain placement of Cancellariidae, as the sister group to either a Ficoidea-Tonnoidea clade or to the rest of Neogastropoda, leaves monophyly of Neogastropoda unresolved. Second, relationships are contradictory at the base of the major “core Neogastropoda” grouping. Third, coalescence-based analyses reject monophyly of the Buccinoidea in relation to Vasidae. We analyzed phylogenetic signal of targeted loci in relation to potential biases, and we propose the most probable resolutions in the latter 2 recalcitrant nodes. The uncertain placement of Cancellariidae may be explained by orthology violations due to differential paralog loss shortly after the whole genome duplication, which should be resolved with a curated set of longer loci.

ATIMO VATAE, AURORA 2007, BIOMAGLO, BIOPAPUA, CORSICABENTHOS 1, DongSha 2014, EXBODI, ILES DU SALUT, INHACA 2011, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KARUBENTHOS 2, KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.1, KOUMAC 2.3, MADEEP, MADIBENTHOS, MAINBAZA, NanHai 2014, PAPUA NIUGINI, TAIWAN 2013, Tuhaa Pae 2013, ZhongSha 2015

KOUMAC 2.1, KOUMAC 2.2, KOUMAC 2.3, PAKAIHI I TE MOANA, PANGLAO 2004

Molecular and morphological evidence support the view that the widely distributed species Berthella stellata (Risso, 1826) is a species complex of at least eight different species. The closely related species Berthella plumula (Montagu, 1803), examined for comparison, is also a complex of two species; the name B. plumula is retained for the Atlantic species and the name Berthella perforata (Philippi, 1844) is proposed for the Mediterranean species. The B. stellata species complex forms a monophyletic group when the Eastern Pacific species Berthella strongi (MacFarland, 1966) is included. Based on a critical review of the literature, the name Berthella stellata is retained for the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean species, and the name Berthella pellucida (Pease, 1860) is resurrected for a species found in the Hawaiian Islands. Two new species from the Caribbean region (Berthella nebula sp. nov., Berthella vialactea sp. nov.) and one from the Eastern Pacific (Berthella andromeda sp. nov.) are described herein, but the status of the Brazilian species B. tupala Er. Marcus, 1957 remains uncertain. Two possible new species from the Eastern Pacific, represented by one specimen each, were recovered in the phylogenetic analyses but not formally described. It is hypothesized that additional species of this complex may occur in other parts of the Indo-Pacific tropics, particularly in the Indian Ocean.

KOUMAC 2.1

The molluscan class Gastropoda includes over 5,000 parasitic species whose evolutionary origins remain poorly understood. Marine snails of the genus Caledoniella (Caledoniellidae) are obligate parasites that live on the abdominal surface of the gonodactylid mantis shrimps. They have highly modified morphological characteristics specialized to the ectoparasitic lifestyle that make it difficult to infer their close relatives, thereby posing a question about their current systematic position in the superfamily Vanikoroidea. In the present study, we performed molecular phylogenetic analyses using three nuclear and three mitochondrial gene sequences to unveil the phylogenetic position of these enigmatic snails. The resulting trees recovered Caledoniella in the su­ perfamily Truncatelloidea and within a subclade of commensal species that live on the burrow wall of marine benthic invertebrates. More specifically, Caledoniella formed the sister clade to a commensal snail species living in mantis-shrimp burrows and they collectively were sister to Sigaretornus planus (formerly in the family Tornidae or Vitrinellidae), a commensal living in echiuran burrows. This topology suggests that the species of Caledoniella achieved their ectoparasitic mode of life through the following evolutionary pathway: (1) invasion into the burrows of benthic invertebrates, (2) specialization to mantis shrimps, and (3) colonization of the host body surface from the host burrow wall with the evolution of the parasitic nature. The final step is likely to have been accompanied by the acquisition of a sucker on the metapodium, the loss of the radula and operculum, and the formation of monogamous pair bonds. The present molecular phylogeny also suggested parallel evolution of planispiral shells in a subclade of Truncatelloidea and enabled us to newly redefine the families Caledoniellidae, Elachisinidae, Teinostomatidae, Tornidae and Vitrinellidae.

KOUMAC 2.1, PANGLAO 2005

AbstractTarget‐capture approaches have facilitated a rapid growth in the field of phylogenomics but few probe sets exist for molluscs, an exceptionally rich phylum with unparalleled ecological and morphological diversity. We designed and tested the first universal probe set using Phyluce to capture ultraconserved elements (UCEs) and exon loci from the Subclass Caenogastropoda ‐ one of six major lineages of gastropods. The probe set consists of 29,441 probes designed to target 1142 UCE loci and 1933 exon loci (3075 total). In silico analyses of our probe set yielded an average of 2110 loci from genomes and 1389 loci from transcriptomes of diverse caenogastropods, from which an average of 1669 and 849 loci were retained respectively after screening to remove those that matched multiple contigs. Phylogenetic analyses of the loci extracted from transcriptomes produced well‐supported trees very similar to those published based on transcriptomic analyses. Phylogenetic relationships estimated from loci extracted from genomes recover similar phylogenetic relationships, and indicate that the loci targeted with this probe set are informative for resolving deep phylogenetic relationships. An in vitro analysis of the probe set with the Epitoniidae, a diverse caenogastropod family of uncertain affinity and with poorly resolved evolutionary relationships, recovered a total of 2850 loci. Although preliminary, the analysis of loci captured by our probe set for a small number of epitoniid taxa produced a well‐resolved tree indicating that this probe set is also able to resolve relationships at shallower hierarchical scales. Together, the in silico and in vitro analyses indicate that target‐capture enrichment with this probe set is a useful tool for reconstructing phylogenetic relationships across taxonomic levels and evolutionary time scales.

ATIMO VATAE, CORSICABENTHOS 2, KANACONO, KANADEEP 2, KARUBENTHOS 2, KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.1, KOUMAC 2.3, MADEEP, MADIBENTHOS, SPANBIOS, ZhongSha 2015

The deep-sea malacofauna of temperate Australia remains comparatively poorly known. However, a recent influx of DNA-suitable material obtained from a series of deep-sea cruises has facilitated integrative taxonomic study on the Conoidea (Caenogastropoda : Neogastropoda). Building on a recent molecular phylogeny of the conoidean family Raphitomidae, this study focussed on the genera Gladiobela and Pagodibela (both Criscione, Hallan, Puillandre & Fedosov, 2020). We subjected a representative mtDNA cox1 dataset of deep-sea raphitomids to ABGD, which recognised 14 primary species hypotheses (PSHs), 9 of which were converted to secondary species hypotheses (SSHs). Following the additional examination of the shell and hypodermic radula features, as well as consideration of bathymetric and geographic data, seven of these SSHs were recognised as new to science and given full species rank. Subsequently, systematic descriptions are provided herein. Of these, five are attributed to Gladiobela (three of which are endemic to Australia and two more widely distributed) and two are placed in Pagodibela (one endemic to southern Australia and one widespread in the Pacific). The rarity of many ‘turrids’ reported in previous studies is confirmed herein, as particularly indicated by highly disjunct geographic records for two taxa. Additionally, several of the studied taxa exhibit wide Indo-Pacific distributions, suggesting that wide geographic ranges in deep-sea ‘turrids’ may be more common than previously assumed. Finally, impediments to deep-sea ‘turrid’ taxonomy in light of such comparative rarity and unexpectedly wide distributions are discussed.

ATIMO VATAE, BIOMAGLO, BIOPAPUA, BOA1, EBISCO, EXBODI, KANACONO, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMON 2, TARASOC, ZhongSha 2015

All species of Umboniinae known to occur in New Caledonia are discussed (19 species, 8 new, belonging to 10 genera, 2 new) and a key to genera is provided. An additional new species is described from the Bismarck Sea. Nine species are perhaps endemic to New Caledonia. The diversity of the fauna is comparable to that of Japan and Australia, both regions of much greater extent and spanning a much broader latitudinal range. Ethalia lampra (Watson, 1880), previously known only from the original HMS Challenger material from Fiji, has been rediscovered in New Caledonia. Re-examination of the type material of Monilea apicina Gould, 1861 has led to a re-interpretation of the application of this name. Type specimens of a number of additional umboniine species examined for comparison are illustrated. Two new genera are proposed: Kanakina gen. nov. and Tylorhaphe gen. nov. Nine new species are described: Ethalia anomphala sp. nov., Ethminolia hickmanae sp. nov., Sericominolia porcata sp. nov., S. safrocincta sp. nov., Talopena maestratii sp. nov., Tylorhaphe alisae gen. et sp. nov., T. fritillaria gen. et sp. nov., T. luteopicta gen. et sp. nov. and T. wallacei gen. et sp. nov. Revised status: Talopena Iredale, 1918 is recognised as a full genus rather than a subgenus or synonym of Monilea Swainson, 1840. Minolia agapeta Melvill & Standen, 1896 is considered a distinct species, no longer to be regarded as a junior synonym of Monilea apicina Gould, 1861. Trochus (Monilea) lifuanus Fischer, 1878 is considered a distinct species, no longer to be regarded as a junior synonym of Monilea vernicosa Gould, 1861. New combinations: Monilea incerta Iredale, 1912 is reassigned to Talopena Iredale, 1918; Monilea apicina Gould, 1861, Monilea menkei A. Adams, 1855, Monilea philippii A. Adams, 1855, Pseudominolia tramieri Poppe, Tagaro & Dekker, 2006, Trochus belcheri Philippi, 1850, Trochus calyculus W. Wood, 1828, and Trochus (Monilea) masoni G. Nevill & H. Nevill, 1874 are all referred to Talopena Iredale, 1918. Minolia glaphyrella Melvill & Standen, 1895 is transferred to Kanakina gen. nov. Type localities: Nouméa, New Caledonia is designated as the type locality for Trochus nucleus Philippi 1850; the type locality ‘Port Jackson’ originally given for Monilea apicina Gould, 1861 is considered erroneous and is emended to Lansdowne Bank. New records for New Caledonian marine ecoregion: Ethalia lampra (Watson, 1880), Talopena apicina (Gould, 1861) and ‘Talopena’ tramieri (Poppe, Tagaro & Dekker, 2006).

CHALCAL 1, CORAIL 2, EXBODI, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.1, KOUMAC 2.3, LAGON, LIFOU 2000, MONTROUZIER, MUSORSTOM 6, SALOMON 1, ???msg.security.private???

The recent genetic analysis of the muricid subfamily Ergalataxinae has led to a better understanding of this subfamily, but some species were left without appropriate generic assignments and the classification of others required revision. This knowledge gap is partially filled herein, with new combinations and the description of three new genera. The examination of new material, along with a careful re-examination of and comparison to existing material, resulted also in the identification of nine new species. These new genera and new species are described herein, lectotypes are designated and new combinations are given. The geographical range of all the new species is provided on maps. All new species are compared with related or similar species. The radula of Morula palmeri Powell, 1967 is illustrated for the first time.

ATIMO VATAE, AURORA 2007, BATHUS 2, BENTHEDI, BERYX 11, BIOCAL, BIOMAGLO, BORDAU 2, CHALCAL 2, EBISCO, EXBODI, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KARUBENTHOS 2, LIFOU 2000, MAINBAZA, MD32 (REUNION), ???msg.security.private???, MIRIKY, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 7, MUSORSTOM 8, MUSORSTOM 9, NORFOLK 1, NORFOLK 2, PAKAIHI I TE MOANA, PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005, PAPUA NIUGINI, SANTO 2006, SMCB, SMIB 3, SMIB 4, SMIB 5, SMIB 8, TERRASSES, Walters Shoal

The subgenus Dermomurex (Takia) is reviewed and one new species, D. (T.) manonae n. sp., is described from New Caledonia. It is distinguished from the similar D. (T.) wareni Houart, 1990 based on genetic differences and a few shell characters. From other species it differs in its shell and intritacalx morphology. The four Indo-West Pacific species are reviewed and illustrated, namely D. (T.) bobyini Kosuge, 1984, D. (T.) infrons Vokes, 1974, D. (T.) wareni Houart, 1990 and D. (T.) manonae n. sp. Dermomurex (subgenus?) paulinae n. sp. is described from New Caledonia in an undetermined subgenus and is distinguished from D. (D.) africanus Vokes, 1978 from South Africa by its shell and intritacalx morphology. Trialatella is synonymized with Dermomurex s.s.

ATIMO VATAE, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, BENTHAUS, BIOCAL, CHALCAL 2, CONCALIS, EBISCO, EXBODI, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KARUBAR, MIRIKY, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 8, NORFOLK 1, NORFOLK 2, SMIB 1, SMIB 2, SMIB 3, SMIB 4, SMIB 5, SMIB 6, SMIB 8, TAIWAN 2000, TAIWAN 2002, TAIWAN 2004, TERRASSES, VAUBAN 1978-1979

The genus Gemixystus Iredale, 1929 in New Caledonia is reviewed. Five species are recorded of which two are new, G. impolitus n. sp. and G. lenis n. sp. Gemixystus stimuleus (Hedley, 1912) is recorded for the first time in New Caledonia. Gemixystus transkeiensis (Houart, 1987) is re-transferred from Vaughtia to Gemixystus. The 12 extant species of Gemixystus are illustrated.

BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, EBISCO, KANACONO, KANADEEP, NORFOLK 1, SMIB 8

The classification of the subfamily Typhinae is revised based on a molecular phylogenetic analysis. The genera Typhina Jousseaume, 1880, Typhisopsis Jousseaume, 1880 and Typhisala Jousseaume, 1881 are here treated as synonyms, and Typhina is given precedence over Typhisopsis. Trubatsa Dall, 1889 is confirmed as a separate, valid genus, based on morphological shell characters and molecular analysis. Choreotyphis Iredale, 1936 is also regarded as a valid genus but still requires validation by molecular analysis. An appendix of Recent Typhinae includes a short description of each genus. The list of Typhinae recorded from New Caledonia is updated. The validity of Trubatsa lozoueti (Houart, 1991), a species so far known only from the empty collected holotype, is confirmed by the morphological and molecular analysis of a second specimen.

BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, BERYX 11, BIOGEOCAL, CHALCAL 2, CONCALIS, EXBODI, HALIPRO 1, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KOUMAC 2.3, LAGON, LITHIST, MONTROUZIER, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 8, NORFOLK 1, NORFOLK 2, PALEO-SURPRISE, SMIB 3, TERRASSES, VAUBAN 1978-1979

Fifteen species of Enixotrophon collected during expeditions of the Tropical Deep-Sea Benthos programme are reported from the Indo-West Pacific. All are illustrated using the holotypes and material collected during more than 30 years. The species were collected in the bathyal zone, living specimens occurring in depths from 198 to 1,280 m, with a majority between 250 and 800 m. One new combination, Enixotrophon pistillum (Barnard, 1959), is introduced; Trophon johannthielei Barnard, 1959 and Trophonopsis ziczac Tiba, 1981 are synonymised with E. pulchellus (Schepman, 1911). New geographical distribution data are presented for E. lochi (Marshall & Houart, 2011), E. pistillum, E. planispinus (E.A. Smith, 1906), E. plicilaminatus (Verco, 1909), E. pulchellus (Schepman, 1911) and E. sansibaricus (Thiele, 1925). Six species are recorded from the New Caledonia region, E. lochi, E. multigradus (Houart, 1990), E. obtuseliratus (Schepman, 1911), E. plicilaminatus (Verco, 1909), E. procerus (Houart, 2001) and E. pulchellus (Schepman, 1911). E. karubar n. sp. is described from Indonesia and one subadult specimen collected in the Mozambique Channel during the MAINBAZA expedition remains unidentified (Enixotrophon sp. cf. E. sansibaricus).

BATHUS 3, BIOCAL, BIOGEOCAL, BIOMAGLO, BIOPAPUA, BORDAU 1, CORAIL 2, KANACONO, KANADEEP 2, KARUBAR, KAVALAN 2018, MUSORSTOM 10, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 7, MUSORSTOM 8, NORFOLK 2, PANGLAO 2005, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMON 1, SALOMON 2, SALOMONBOA 3, TARASOC, Walters Shoal

KANACONO

30 new species in the Trichotropid CAPULIDAE in the genera Verticosta, Latticosta n. gen., Torellia and Trichosirius are described from tropical and subtropical deep water of Indo-Pacific and Atlantic Ocean: Verticosta ariane n. sp., Verticosta bellefontainae n. sp., Verticosta milleinsularum n. sp., Verticosta filipinos n. sp., Verticosta plexa n. sp., Verticosta lapita n. sp., Verticosta pyramis n. sp., Verticosta kanak n. sp., Verticosta vanuatuensis n. sp., Verticosta feejee n. sp., Verticosta lilii n. sp., Verticosta sinusvellae n. sp., Verticosta terrasesae n. sp., Verticosta uvea n. sp., Verticosta rurutuana n. sp., Verticosta bicarinata n. sp., Verticosta tricarinata n. sp., Verticosta quadricarinata n. sp., Verticosta cheni n. sp., Verticosta iris n. sp., Verticosta castelli n. sp., Verticosta biangulata n. sp., Verticosta reunionnaise n. sp., Verticosta lemurella n. sp., Verticosta madagascarensis n. sp., Latticosta guidopoppei n. sp., Latticosta tagaroae n. sp., Latticosta magnifica n. sp., Torellia loyaute n. sp. and Trichosirius omnimarium n. sp. Trichotropis townsendi is now Latticosta townsendi n. comb.. Shell material comes from expeditions by MNHN and collections of authors.

ATIMO VATAE, AURORA 2007, BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, BENTHAUS, BENTHEDI, BIOCAL, BIOGEOCAL, BIOMAGLO, BIOPAPUA, BOA1, BORDAU 1, BORDAU 2, CONCALIS, EBISCO, EXBODI, GUYANE 2014, HALIPRO 1, INHACA 2011, KANACONO, KARUBAR, KAVIENG 2014, LAGON, LIFOU 2000, MADEEP, MADIBENTHOS, MD32 (REUNION), MIRIKY, MONTROUZIER, MUSORSTOM 10, MUSORSTOM 2, MUSORSTOM 3, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 7, MUSORSTOM 8, NORFOLK 1, NORFOLK 2, PANGLAO 2005, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMON 1, SALOMON 2, SALOMONBOA 3, SANTO 2006, SMIB 8, ???msg.security.private???, TAIWAN 2000, TARASOC, TERRASSES

The study of a well-preserved collection of discodorid nudibranchs collected in Koumac, New Caledonia, revealed the presence of seven species new to science belonging to the genera Atagema, Jorunna, Rostanga, and Sclerodoris, although some of the generic assignments are tentative as the phylogeny of Discodorididae remains unresolved. Moreover, a poorly known species of Atagema originally described from New Caledonia is re-described and the presence of Sclerodoris tuberculata in New Caledonia is confirmed with molecular data. All the species described herein are highly cryptic on their food source and in the context of the present study the term “cryptic” is used to denote such species. This paper highlights the importance of comprehensive collecting efforts to identify and document well-camouflaged taxa.

KOUMAC 2.1, KOUMAC 2.2, KOUMAC 2.3

Abstract Eyes within the marine gastropod superfamily Stromboidea range widely in size, from 0.2 to 2.3 mm—the largest eyes known in any gastropod. Despite this interesting variation, the underlying evolutionary pressures remain unknown. Here, we use the wealth of material available in museum collections to explore the evolution of stromboid eye size and structure. Our results suggest that depth is a key light-limiting factor in stromboid eye evolution; here, increasing water depth is correlated with increasing aperture width relative to lens diameter, and therefore an increasing investment in sensitivity in dim light environments. In the major clade containing all large-eyed stromboid families, species observed active during the day and the night had wider eye apertures relative to lens sizes than species observed active during the day only, thereby prioritizing sensitivity over resolution. Species with no consistent diel activity pattern also had smaller body sizes than exclusively day-active species, which may suggest that smaller animals are more vulnerable to shell-crushing predators, and avoid the higher predation pressure experienced by animals active during the day. Within the same major clade, ancestral state reconstruction suggests that absolute eye size increased above 1 mm twice. The unresolved position of Varicospira, however, weakens this hypothesis and further work with additional markers is needed to confirm this result.

ATIMO VATAE, CONCALIS, EXBODI, INHACA 2011, KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.3, MADIBENTHOS, MIRIKY, PAPUA NIUGINI

Members of the gastropod superfamily Stromboidea (Littorinimorpha) are characterised by their elaborate shell morphologies, distinctive mode of locomotion, and often large and colourful eyes. This iconic group comprises over 130 species, including many large and charismatic species. The family Strombidae is of particular interest, largely due to its commercial importance and wide distribution in tropical and subtropical waters. Although a few strombid mitochondrial genomes have been sequenced, data for the other four Recent families in Strom­ boidea are lacking. In this study we report seven new stromboid mitogenomes obtained from transcriptomic and genomic data, with taxonomic representation from each Recent stromboid family, including the first mitoge­ nomes for Aporrhaidae, Rostellariidae, Seraphsidae and Struthiolariidae. We also report a new mitogenome for the family Xenophoridae. We use these data, along with published sequences, to investigate the relationships among these and other caenogastropod groups. All analyses undertaken in this study support monophyly of Stromboidea as redefined here to include Xenophoridae, a finding consistent with morphological and behav­ ioural data. Consistent with previous morphological and molecular analyses, including those based on mitoge­ nomes, monophyly of Hypsogastropoda is confirmed but monophyly of Littorinimorpha is again rejected.

KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.1, MADIBENTHOS, MIRIKY, PAPUA NIUGINI

Abstract The superfamily Stromboidea is a clade of morphologically distinctive gastropods which include the iconic Strombidae, or ‘true conchs’. In this study, we present the most taxonomically extensive phylogeny of the superfamily to date, using fossil calibrations to produce a chronogram and extant geographical distributions to reconstruct ancestral ranges. From these results, we confirm the monophyly of all stromboidean families; however, six genera are not monophyletic using current generic assignments (Strombidae: Lentigo , Canarium , Dolomena , Doxander ; Xenophoridae: Onustus , Xenophora ). Within Strombidae, analyses resolve an Indo‐West Pacific (IWP) clade sister to an East Pacific/Atlantic clade, together sister to a second, larger IWP clade. Our results also indicate two pulses of strombid diversification within the Miocene, and a Tethyan/IWP origin for Strombidae—both supported by the fossil record. However, conflicts between divergence time estimates and the fossil record warrant further exploration. Species delimitation analyses using the COI barcoding gene support several taxonomic changes. We synonymise Euprotomus aurora with Euprotomus bulla , Strombus alatus with Strombus pugilis , Dolomena abbotti with Dolomena labiosa , and Dolomena operosa with Dolomena vittata . We identified cryptic species complexes within Terebellum terebellum , Lambis lambis , “Canarium” wilsonorum , Dolomena turturella and Maculastrombus mutabilis . We reinstate Rimellopsis laurenti as a species (previously synonymised with R. powisii ) and recognise Harpago chiragra rugosus and Lambis truncata sowerbyi valid at the rank of species. Finally, we establish several new combinations to render Lentigo , Dolomena , and Canarium monophyletic: Lentigo thersites , Dolomena robusta , Dolomena epidromis , Dolomena turturella , Dolomena taeniata , Dolomena vanikorensis , D. vittata , “Canarium” wilsonorum , Hawaiistrombus scalariformis , Maculastrombus mutabilis , Maculastrombus microurceus .

ATIMO VATAE, AURORA 2007, CONCALIS, CORSICABENTHOS 3, ???msg.security.private???, EXBODI, GUYANE 2014, ILES DU SALUT, INHACA 2011, KANACONO, KARUBENTHOS 2, KARUBENTHOS 2012, KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.1, MADEEP, MADIBENTHOS, MIRIKY, PANGLAO 2004, PAPUA NIUGINI, SANTO 2006, Tuhaa Pae 2013

ABSTRACT The family Turridae, once considered to encompass the entire diversity of Conoidea, excluding only the cone shells (family Conidae) and the auger shells (family Terebridae), has undergone significant redefinition based on both morphological and molecular data. Prior to this study, it included 15 Recent genera, comprising 209 species. However, a recent comprehensive analysis of an extensive dataset featuring 3,159 cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences has unveiled numerous species complexes, new species and previously undiscovered deep lineages. The newly proposed classification of Turridae based on an exon-capture phylogeny recognizes 24 clades, each worthy of genus rank, though only 13 of them had available names. As a result, 11 new genera have been described, namely Thielesyrinx n. gen., Shutogemmula n. gen., Mcleanigemmula n. gen., Pseudogemmula n. gen., Deceptigemmula n. gen., Oliveragemmula n. gen., Powelligemmula n. gen., Kilburnigemmula n. gen., Alisigemmula n. gen., Taylorigemmula n. gen. and Anisogemmula n. gen. With the exception of Thielesyrinx n. gen., species from all of these were previously classified within Gemmula, or Lophiotoma. Notably, some new genera, such as Deceptigemmula n. gen., Kilburnigemmula n. gen., Shutogemmula n. gen. and Taylorigemmula n. gen., cannot be morphologically differentiated, as similar species are found in other genera. Therefore, their distinction relies solely on molecular data. The name Eugemmula is re-instated from the synonymy of Gemmula. Purpuraturris is synonimized with Annulaturris, while Iotyrris with Xenuroturris. In total, we recognize 312 species/primary species hypotheses (PSHs) within the family. Molecular data were obtained for 212 species (among them 15 species complexes comprising in total 45 PSHs), mostly for the first time. A characteristic feature common to the entire family is the position of the relatively narrow anal sinus on the whorl periphery or immediately above it. Radula was examined in representatives of all genera. Although in several cases the radular morphology can aid genus differentiation (e.g. distinguishing Turris from Annulaturris), it is mostly a highly homoplastic structure, with very similar radular types occurring in distantly related genera.

ATIMO VATAE, AURORA 2007, BIOMAGLO, BIOPAPUA, BOA1, CONCALIS, DongSha 2014, EBISCO, EXBODI, GUYANE 2014, INHACA 2011, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KARUBENTHOS 2, KARUBENTHOS 2012, KOUMAC 2.1, MADEEP, MADIBENTHOS, MAINBAZA, MUSORSTOM 9, NORFOLK 2, NanHai 2014, PAKAIHI I TE MOANA, PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMON 2, SALOMONBOA 3, TAIWAN 2004, TAIWAN 2013, TARASOC, TERRASSES, ZhongSha 2015

According to a recent taxonomic revision by Kantor et al. (2001), the neogastropod genus Exilia Conrad, 1860, comprises ten mostly rare species that live at depths between 200 and 2000 m. Adult Exilia measure between 30 and 90 mm in shell length, and the genus is mostly represented in museum collections by empty shells. The abundance of this genus is low in the wild, but recent expeditions organized by the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle have yielded several dozen specimens. These new collections include samples preserved for molecular studies. Here, we present the results of the first molecular systematic study of Exilia. Our aim was to investigate the species limits proposed by Kantor et al. (2001) on the basis of shell and anatomical characters. Analysis of DNA sequence data for the cytochrome c oxidase I gene suggests that Exilia hilgendorfi, previously considered to be a single, polymorphic and broadly distributed species, is a complex of at least six species (four of which we sequenced). Two of these species, Exilia cognata n. sp. and E. fedosovi n. sp., are described as new to science. Exilia gracilior, E. claydoni and E. prellei are resurrected from the synonymy of Exilia hilgendorfi; of these three, only the last was sequenced. Exilia vagrans is a welldefined taxon, but our molecular systematic data shows that it consists of two distinct species, which occur sympatrically off Taiwan and are strikingly similar in shell and radular morphology; due to the absence of DNA sequence data from the type locality of E. vagrans (Vanuatu), it is unclear to which of these two species the name would apply. Exilia karukera n. sp., which is conchologically very similar to E. vagrans, was discovered off Guadeloupe, represents the first record of the genus from the Atlantic. For E. elegans, which was previously known only from a single shell, we provide new data including new distributional records (South Africa and the Mozambique Channel), details of the radula and DNA sequence data.

ATIMO VATAE, AURORA 2007, BORDAU 2, CONCALIS, DongSha 2014, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KARUBENTHOS 2, MAINBAZA, MIRIKY, MUSORSTOM 8, NORFOLK 2, NanHai 2014, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMON 2, SALOMONBOA 3, TAIWAN 2013, TARASOC, TERRASSES

Abstract The superfamily Buccinoidea is distributed across the oceans of the world from the Arctic Ocean to the Antarctic and from intertidal to abyssal depths. It encompasses 3351 recent species in 337 genera. The latest taxonomic account recognized eight full families. For the first time, the monophyly of the superfamily and the relationships among the families are tested with molecular data supplemented by anatomical and radula data. Five genetic markers were used: fragments of mitochondrial COI, 16S rRNA, 12S rRNA and nuclear Histone 3 (H3) and 28S rRNA genes (for 225 species of 117 genera). Our analysis recovered Buccinoidea monophyletic in Bayesian analyses. The relationships between the formerly recognized families and subfamilies are drastically revised and a new classification of the superfamily is here proposed, now including 20 taxa of family rank and 23 subfamilies. Five new families (Chauvetiidae, Dolicholatiridae, Eosiphonidae, Prodotiidae and Retimohniidae) and one subfamily of Nassariidae (Tomliniinae) are described. Austrosiphonidae and Tudiclidae are resurrected from synonymy and employed in a new taxonomical extension. All but 40 recent genera are reclassified. Our results demonstrate that anatomy is rather uniform within the superfamily. With exceptions, the rather uniform radular morphology alone does not allow the allocation of genera to a particular family without additional molecular data.

ATIMO VATAE, AURORA 2007, BIOPAPUA, BOA1, CEAMARC-AA, CHALCAL 2, CONCALIS, CORSICABENTHOS 1, ???msg.security.private???, ???msg.security.private???, DongSha 2014, EBISCO, GUYANE 2014, ILES DU SALUT, INHACA 2011, KANACONO, KARUBENTHOS 2, KARUBENTHOS 2012, KAVALAN 2018, KOUMAC 2.1, KOUMAC 2.3, MADIBENTHOS, MAINBAZA, MIRIKY, MUSORSTOM 4, ???msg.security.private???, NORFOLK 2, NanHai 2014, PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005, PAPUA NIUGINI, ???msg.security.private???, SALOMON 2, SALOMONBOA 3, SANTO 2006, TAIWAN 2000, TAIWAN 2004, TARASOC, TERRASSES, Tuhaa Pae 2013, ???msg.security.private???, ZhongSha 2015

The genus Pseudolatirus Bellardi, 1884, with the Miocene type species Fusus bilineatus Hörnes, 1853, has been used for 13 Miocene to Early Pleistocene fossil species and eight Recent species and has traditionally been placed in the fasciolariid subfamily Peristerniinae Tryon, 1880. Although the fossil species are apparently peristerniines, the Recent species were in their majority suspected to be most closely related to Granulifusus Kuroda & Habe, 1954 in the subfamily Fusininae Wrigley, 1927. Their close affinity was confirmed by the molecular phylogenetic analysis of Couto et al. (2016). In the molecular phylogenetic section we present a more detailed analysis of the relationships of 10 Recent Pseudolatirus-like species, erect two new fusinine genera, Okutanius gen. nov. (type species Fusolatirus kuroseanus Okutani, 1975) and Vermeijius gen. nov. (type species Pseudolatirus pallidus Kuroda & Habe, 1961). Five species are described as new for science, three of them are based on sequenced specimens (Granulifusus annae sp. nov., G. norfolkensis sp. nov., Okutanius ellenae gen. et sp. nov.) and two (G. tatianae sp. nov., G. guidoi sp. nov.) are attributed to Granulifusus on the basis of conchological similarities to sequenced species. New data on radular morphology is presented for examined species.

ATIMO VATAE, AURORA 2007, BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, BERYX 11, BIOCAL, BIOGEOCAL, BORDAU 1, BORDAU 2, CHALCAL 2, CONCALIS, ???msg.security.private???, DongSha 2014, EBISCO, EXBODI, GEMINI, GUYANE 2014, HALICAL 1, HALIPRO 1, KANACONO, KARUBAR, KARUBENTHOS 2012, KAVIENG 2014, LAGON, LIFOU 2000, LITHIST, MADEEP, MD32 (REUNION), MIRIKY, MUSORSTOM 10, MUSORSTOM 2, MUSORSTOM 3, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 7, MUSORSTOM 8, NORFOLK 1, NanHai 2014, PAKAIHI I TE MOANA, PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMON 1, SALOMON 2, SANTO 2006, SMIB 2, SMIB 3, SMIB 4, SMIB 5, SMIB 6, SMIB 8, TAIWAN 2000, TARASOC, TERRASSES, VAUBAN 1978-1979, VOLSMAR, ???msg.security.private???

In the ancillariid genus Amalda, the shell is character rich and 96 described species are currently treated as valid. Based on shell morphology, several subspecies have been recognized within Amalda hilgendorfi, with a combined range extending at depths of 150–750 m from Japan to the South-West Pacific. A molecular analysis of 78 specimens from throughout this range shows both a weak geographical structuring and evidence of gene flow at the regional scale. We conclude that recognition of subspecies (richeri Kilburn & Bouchet, 1988, herlaari van Pel, 1989, and vezzaroi Cossignani, 2015) within A. hilgendorfi is not justified. By contrast, hilgendorfi-like specimens from the Mozambique Channel and New Caledonia are molecularly segregated, and so are here described as new, as Amalda miriky sp. nov. and A. cacao sp. nov., respectively. The New Caledonia Amalda montrouzieri complex is shown to include at least three molecularly separable species, including A. allaryi and A. alabaster sp. nov. Molecular data also confirm the validity of the New Caledonia endemics Amalda aureomarginata, A. fuscolingua, A. bellonarum, and A. coriolis. The existence of narrow range endemics suggests that the species limits of Amalda with broad distributions, extending, e.g., from Japan to Taiwan (A. hinomotoensis) or even Indonesia, the Strait of Malacca, Vietnam and the China Sea (A. mamillata) should be taken with caution.

ATIMO VATAE, BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BIOCAL, BIOPAPUA, CHALCAL 1, CONCALIS, EBISCO, EXBODI, HALIPRO 1, INHACA 2011, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KARUBENTHOS 2012, KAVIENG 2014, LAGON, MADEEP, MAINBAZA, MIRIKY, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, NORFOLK 1, NORFOLK 2, NanHai 2014, PANGLAO 2005, PAPUA NIUGINI, ???msg.security.private???, SALOMON 2, SALOMONBOA 3, SANTO 2006, SMIB 1, SMIB 2, SMIB 3, SMIB 4, SMIB 5, SMIB 8, TERRASSES, VAUBAN 1978-1979, ???msg.security.private???, ZhongSha 2015

The genus Sibogasyrinx has to date included only four species of rare deep-water Conoidea, each known from few specimens. In shell characters it strongly resembles three distantly-related genera, two of which, Comitas and Leucosyrinx, belong to a different family, the Pseudomelatomidae. A molecular phylogenetic analysis of a large amount of material of Conoidea has revealed the existence of much additional undescribed diversity within Sibogasyrinx from the central Indo-Pacific and temperate Northern Pacific. Based on partial sequences of the mitochondrial cox1 gene and morphological characters of 54 specimens, 10 species hypotheses are proposed, of which six are described as new species: S. subula sp. nov., S. lolae sp. nov., S. maximei sp. nov., S. clausura sp. nov., S. pagodiformis sp. nov. and S. elbakyanae Kantor, Puillandre & Bouchet sp. nov. One of the previously described species was absent in our material. Most of the new species are very similar and are compared to Leucosyrinx spp. Species of Sibogasyrinx are unique among Conoidea on account of the high intrageneric variability in radular morphology. Three distinct radula types are found within Sibogasyrinx, two of which are confined to highly supported subclades.

AURORA 2007, BIOPAPUA, BOA1, EBISCO, EXBODI, GUYANE 2014, KANADEEP, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, MIRIKY, PANGLAO 2005, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMON 2, SALOMONBOA 3, SANTO 2006, TERRASSES

The new replacement name Takashius nom. nov. is proposed to solve the homonymy between the fasciolariid genus Okutanius Kantor et al., 2018 and the hymenopteran genus Okutanius D.R. Smith, 1981.

KANACONO

KANACONO

The taxonomic status of Korrigania Sanders et al., 2020, of the family Bursidae Thiele, 1925, is reviewed. Prior to the present work, the genus included five recent species that demonstrate considerable morphological variation. Herein, the new species Korrigania stefanoelisa n. sp., from New Caledonia and Vanuatu, is added, and K. vianelloi Cossignani, 2023, so far only known from the Philippines, is designated as synonym of K. awatii (Ray, 1950) n. syn. The main morphological characters of Korrigania are described, together with those of the species included. Bursa humilis Beu, 1981 and Bursa natalensis Coelho & Matthews, 1970 are accepted as Tritonoranella humilis (Beu, 1981) n. comb. and Tritonoranella natalensis (Coelho & Matthews, 1970) n. comb.

BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, BENTHAUS, BIOCAL, BIOMAGLO, CONCALIS, EBISCO, EXBODI, HALICAL 1, KANACONO, KANADEEP, MADEEP, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 8, NORFOLK 1, NORFOLK 2, PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005, SAYA, TERRASSES, VAUBAN 1978-1979, VOLSMAR

Introduction Host-parasite associations provide very useful models to study adaptive processes. We investigated the interaction between carnivorous marine gastropods, the Ovulidae or egg-cowries, and their cnidarian food targets. Ovulidae (Fleming, 1828), is a family of specialized carnivorous caenogastropods that feed by browsing on octocorals (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Malacalcyonacea and Scleralcyonacea) or, to a much lesser degree, on antipatharians (Anthozoa: Hexacorallia: Antipatharia) and Stylasteridae (Hydrozoa: Hydroidolina: Anthoathecata). Very scanty information is available on the phylogenetic relationships and the degree of specificity of the relationship with the cnidarians of this corallivorous lineage, especially for deep-water taxa. Methods To assess taxonomic identifications and investigate cnidarian/ovulid relationships in the context of their evolution, we generated an extensive molecular dataset comprising two mitochondrial ( cox1 and 16S rDNA ) and one nuclear gene ( 28S rDNA ) from 524 specimens collected worldwide. The coral hosts of the ovulid species have been identified by integrating literature data with new records, employing morphological and/or molecular (the mitochondrial 16S rDNA and mtMSH , and the nuclear ITS2) markers. Results We obtained a molecular phylogenetic framework for the Ovulidae, time-calibrated with nine reliable fossil records. An ancestral state reconstruction allowed to identify Hexacorallia or Hydroidolina as the most likely ancestral cnidarian host for the Ovulidae. Discussion Our phylogenetic hypothesis revealed the existence of groups that do not completely correspond to the currently employed subfamilial arrangement. Concerning trophic ecology, while only pediculariines ( Pedicularia and allied) are associated with hydrozoans (Stylasteridae), our results suggest that some ovulid lineages shifted independently between octocorals and hexacorals.

ATIMO VATAE, AURORA 2007, BIOMAGLO, CORSICABENTHOS 1, CORSICABENTHOS 2, CORSICABENTHOS 3, EBISCO, EXBODI, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KARUBENTHOS 2, KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.3, MADEEP, MADIBENTHOS, MAINBAZA, MIRIKY, NORFOLK 2, NanHai 2014, PAKAIHI I TE MOANA, PANGLAO 2004, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMONBOA 3, SANTO 2006, SPANBIOS, ZhongSha 2015

ATIMO VATAE, AURORA 2007, BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 4, BENTHAUS, BENTHEDI, BIOGEOCAL, BIOMAGLO, BIOPAPUA, BORDAU 1, BORDAU 2, CORAIL 2, CORINDON 2, EBISCO, EXBODI, INHACA 2011, KANACONO, KARUBAR, KAVIENG 2014, LAGON, LIFOU 2000, MADEEP, MAINBAZA, MD32 (REUNION), MIRIKY, MONTROUZIER, MUSORSTOM 10, MUSORSTOM 2, MUSORSTOM 3, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 7, MUSORSTOM 8, MUSORSTOM 9, NORFOLK 2, PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMON 1, SALOMON 2, SALOMONBOA 3, SANTO 2006, ???msg.security.private???, ???msg.security.private???, TAIWAN 2002, TARASOC, ZhongSha 2015

New molecular phylogenies of the chemosymbiotic bivalve family Lucinidae, using 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and cytochrome b genes, include species from genera not previously analysed. Notable additions from Myrteinae are sequences from Rostrilucina, Solelucina and Taylorina species, species of Ustalucina, Gonimyrtea from Leucosphaerinae and additional species of Ctena, Codakia, Lucinoma and Divalucina from Codakiinae. New sequences of Lucininae include the type species of Parvilucina (P. tenuisculpta), Liralucina, Falsolucinoma, Easmithia, Jallenia, Radiolucina and Cardiolucina as well as samples of Loripes orbiculatus from multiple localities. Five major clades, defined as subfamilies, are recognized: Pegophyseminae, Myrteinae, Leucosphaerinae, Codakiinae and Lucininae. Two branches, Fimbriinae and Monitilorinae, are represented by single species. Pegophyseminae are an extremely long-branched group with a sister-group relationship to Leucosphaerinae, while Codakiinae are a sister clade to the Lucininae. In various gene trees, the position of Myrteinae is unstable in relation to Pegophyseminae + Leucosphaerinae, Monitilorinae and Fimbriinae. The Myrteinae are not well resolved, with an ambiguous correlation of molecular and morphological characters. Codakiinae now include Divalucina cumingi, shown to be related to Lucinoma rather than Divaricella and Divalinga of the Lucininae. Leucosphaerinae are a well-supported clade but morphologically disparate, with the positions of Gonimyrtea and Callucina unresolved. Several molecularly distinct subclades are recognized within the Lucininae, especially the Lucinisca, Loripes and Parvilucina groups. Parvilucina species are paraphyletic with P. tenuisculpta, the type species, distinct from the western Atlantic species. Codakia, Ctena and Pegophysema have pan-tropical distributions with former connections disrupted by vicariant events of the closure of the eastern Tethyan and Central American Seaways. Species of Radiolucina, Pleurolucina and Lucinisca are present on either side of the Isthmus of Panama. A new classification of the 96 living lucinid genera is presented, providing a framework for future studies of systematics, ecology, biogeography and bacterial symbioses.

ATIMO VATAE, BIOPAPUA, DongSha 2014, EBISCO, EXBODI, GUYANE 2014, ILES DU SALUT, INHACA 2011, KARUBAR, KARUBENTHOS 2012, KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.3, LAGON, MADEEP, MIRIKY, PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMON 1, SALOMON 2, SALOMONBOA 3, SANTO 2006, TERRASSES, ZhongSha 2015

BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, BERYX 11, BIOCAL, BIOGEOCAL, CALSUB, CHALCAL 1, CHALCAL 2, CONCALIS, CORAIL 2, EBISCO, EXBODI, HALICAL 1, HALIPRO 1, KANACONO, KANADEEP, LAGON, LITHIST, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 8, NORFOLK 1, NORFOLK 2, SMIB 10, SMIB 2, SMIB 3, SMIB 4, SMIB 5, SMIB 6, SMIB 8, SMIB 9, TERRASSES, VAUBAN 1978-1979, VOLSMAR

New records of 50 Calliotropis species from various western Pacific localities are listed, extending their distribution. A synthetic diagnosis is given for each species, with possibly a survey of new conchological variations. 7 new species are described from Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, and compared with similar species: Calliotropis stethos n. sp., C. prionote n. sp., C. tavmaste n. sp., C. achantodes n. sp., C. siopele n. sp., C. chrypte n. sp. and C. myriamae n. sp. 5 new synonymies are established: Calliotropis enantioserrata Hickman, 2016 is synonymized with C. excelsior Vilvens, 2007; C. tominiensis Hickman, 2016 is synonymized with C. conoeides Vilvens, 2007; C. bukabukaensis Hickman, 2016 is synonymized with C. cynee Vilvens, 2007; C. annonaformis Lee & Wu, 2001 and C. stellaris Lee & Wu, 2001 are synonymized with C. calcarata (Schepman, 1908).

KANADEEP

New records of 21 known Calliostomatidae species from New Caledonia and neighbouring areas are listed, extending the distribution area of some of them. The depth ranges of these species have been completely recalculated based on all the data available for 30 years.

BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, BIOGEOCAL, CONCALIS, EBISCO, EXBODI, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KANADEEP 2, KOUMAC 2.2, MONTROUZIER, NORFOLK 1, NORFOLK 2, TERRASSES

For over a decade now, High Throughput sequencing (HTS) approaches have revolutionized phylogenetics, both in terms of data production and methodology. While transcriptomes and (reduced) genomes are increasingly used, generating and analyzing HTS datasets remain expensive, time consuming and complex for most nonmodel taxa. Indeed, a literature survey revealed that 74% of the molecular phylogenetics trees published in 2018 are based on data obtained through Sanger sequencing. In this context, our goal was to identify the strategy that would represent the best compromise among costs, time and robustness of the resulting tree. We sequenced and assembled 32 transcriptomes of the marine mollusk family Turridae, considered as a typical non-model animal taxon. From these data, we extracted the loci most commonly used in gastropod phylogenies (cox1, 12S, 16S, 28S, h3 and 18S), full mitogenomes, and a reduced nuclear transcriptome representation. With each dataset, we reconstructed phylogenies and compared their robustness and accuracy. We discuss the impact of missing data and the use of statistical tests, tree metrics, and supertree and supermatrix methods to further improve phylogenetic data acquisition pipelines. We evaluated the overall costs (time and money) in order to identify the best compromise for phylogenetic data sampling in non-model animal taxa. Although sequencing full mitogenomes seems to constitute the best compromise both in terms of costs and node support, they are known to induce biases in phylogenetic reconstructions. Rather, we recommend to systematically include loci commonly used for phylogenetics and taxonomy (i.e. DNA barcodes, rRNA genes, full mitogenomes, etc.) among the other loci when designing baits for capture.

KANACONO, KAVIENG 2014

Abstract The practice of species delimitation using molecular data commonly leads to the revealing of species complexes and an increase in the number of delimited species. In a few instances, however, DNA-based taxonomy has led to lumping together of previously described species. Here, we delimit species in the genus Cryptogemma (Gastropoda: Conoidea: Turridae), a group of deep-sea snails with a wide geographical distribution, primarily by using the mitochondrial COI gene. Three approaches of species delimitation (ABGD, mPTP and GMYC) were applied to define species partitions. All approaches resulted in eight species. According to previous taxonomic studies and shell morphology, 23 available names potentially apply to the eight Cryptogemma species that were recognized herein. Shell morphometrics, radular characters and geographical and bathymetric distributions were used to link type specimens to these delimited species. In all, 23 of these available names are here attributed to seven species, resulting in 16 synonymizations, and one species is described as new: Cryptogemma powelli sp. nov. We discuss the possible reasons underlying the apparent overdescription of species within Cryptogemma, which is shown here to constitute a rare case of DNA-based species lumping in the hyper-diversified superfamily Conoidea.

ATIMO VATAE, AURORA 2007, BIOMAGLO, BIOPAPUA, CONCALIS, DongSha 2014, EBISCO, EXBODI, GUYANE 2014, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, MAINBAZA, MIRIKY, NORFOLK 2, NanHai 2014, PANGLAO 2004, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMON 2, SALOMONBOA 3, TAIWAN 2013, TARASOC, TERRASSES, ZhongSha 2015

ATIMO VATAE, AURORA 2007, BIOMAGLO, BIOPAPUA, BOA1, CONCALIS, CORSICABENTHOS 1, DongSha 2014, EBISCO, EXBODI, GUYANE 2014, INHACA 2011, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KARUBENTHOS 2, KARUBENTHOS 2012, KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.1, KOUMAC 2.3, MADEEP, MADIBENTHOS, MAINBAZA, MIRIKY, MUSORSTOM 9, NORFOLK 2, NanHai 2014, PAKAIHI I TE MOANA, PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMON 2, SALOMONBOA 3, SANTO 2006, TAIWAN 2004, TAIWAN 2013, TARASOC, TERRASSES, ZhongSha 2015

Siliceous spicules in demosponges exist in a variety of shapes, some of which look like minute spheres of glass. They are called “sterrasters” when they belong to the Geodiidae family (Tetractinellida order) and “selenasters” when they belong to the Placospongiidae family (Clionaida order). Today, the Geodiidae represent a highly diverse sponge family with more than 340 species, occurring in shallow to deep waters worldwide, except for the Antarctic. The molecular phylogeny of Geodiidae is currently difficult to interpret because we are lacking morphological characters to support most of its clades. To fill this knowledge gap, the surface microornamentations of sterrasters were compared in different genera. Observations with scanning electron microscopy revealed four types of surfaces, which remarkably matched some of the Geodiidae genera: type I characteristic of Geodia, type II characteristic of Pachymatisma, Caminus, and some Erylus; type III characteristic of other Erylus; type IV characteristic of Caminella. Two subtypes were identified in Geodia species: warty vs. smooth rosettes. These different microornamentations were mapped on new Geodiidae COI (Folmer fragment) and 28S (C1–D2) phylogenetic trees. The monophyly of the Geodiidae was once again challenged, thereby suggesting that sterrasters have evolved independently at least three times: in the Geodiinae, in the Erylinae and in Caminella. Surface microornamentations were used to review the fossil record of sterrasters and selenasters through the paleontology literature and examination of fossils. It was concluded that “rhaxes” in the literature may represent mixes of sterrasters and selenasters: while Rhaxella spicules may belong to the Placospongiidae, Rhaxelloides spicules belong to the Geodiidae. The putative Geodiidae fossil genera, Geoditesia, and Geodiopsis, are reallocated to Tetractinellida incertae sedis. Isolated Miocene-Pliocene fossil sterrasters Hataina (Huang, 1967), Silicosphaera (Hughes, 1985) and Conciliaspongia (Robinson and Haslett, 1995) become junior synonyms of Geodia (Lamarck, 1815). Overall, the fossil record suggested that Geodiidae was present at least since the Middle Jurassic (163–166 Mya), while Geodia sterrasters were present since the Santonian/Campanian boundary, Late Cretaceous (83.6 Mya). ZooBank Article Registration: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:91B1B3AC-8862-4751B272-8A3BDF4DEE77.

BIOMAGLO, KANACONO, KANADEEP 2

Three new species of carnivorous sponges of the genus Abyssocladia (Demospongiae, Cladorhizidae), A. kanaconi, A. microstrongylata and A. mucronata, are described from the bathyal zone of the Tropical Southwestern Pacific, south of New Caledonia. They were collected in 2016 and 2019 during the KANACONO and KANADEEP 2 expeditions of the Tropical Deep-Sea Benthos program of the French Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle. A new record is reported for the cladorhizid Cercicladia australis Rios, Kelly & Vacelet, 2011, and the spicules of the holotype of the type species of Abyssocladia, A. bruuni Lévi, 1964 are illustrated.

KANACONO, KANADEEP 2

BIOCAL, KANACONO, KANADEEP 2

The deep marine bottoms around New Caledonia have been explored for forty years. The Kanacono (2016) and Kanadeep (2019) campaigns organized jointly by the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (MNHN) and the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) are the complement of this investigation. They are a part of the program “La Planète Revisitée” in New Caledonia. Among the deep sea benthos twenty two ascidian species were collected and three represent new species showing the characteristic adaptations to an abyssal life. The high diversity of the tropical deep sea benthos is enhanced by these new results. No relations are found between littoral ascidians and forms living in the bathyal or abyssal areas.

KANACONO, KANADEEP

Two new symbiotic species of decapod crustaceans, a palaemonid shrimp and a porcellanid crab, are described from the same type locality situated on the campus of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thuwal, on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. The palaemonid shrimp Palaemonella jamila sp. nov. is described based on one male and one female, whereas the porcellanid crab Enosteoides habibi sp. nov. is described based on three males and two females. Unfortunately, the originally collected and studied specimens were lost shortly after study. However, subsequent recollection of one specimen of P. jamila sp. nov. and one specimen of E. habibi sp. nov. enabled to deposit a holotype of each new species in the collections of the Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, USA. Both species inhabit burrows of goby-associated snapping shrimps, Alpheus spp., in the shallow subtidal areas, at depths less than 1 m. In addition, a single female specimen of Palaemonella aliska Marin, 2008 collected at Al Fahal reef off KAUST represents the first record of the species in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, and a considerable range extension of its previously known distribution range. This species may be a close relative of P. jamila sp. nov., to which it is also ecologically similar. The present study highlights the necessity of prospecting the largely neglected and still undersampled shallow subtidal habitats of the Red Sea, and the Indo-West Pacific in general.

KOUMAC 2.1

A new alpheid shrimp, Salmoneus ngae sp. nov., is described based on two specimens collected on a near-shore, seagrassrubble sandflat on the north-eastern coast of New Caledonia. The material from Lombok, Indonesia, previously reported as S. alpheophilus Anker & Marin, 2006, is reidentified as S. ngae sp. nov. The new species is a member of the informal S. gracilipes Miya, 1972 species group and appears to be a symbiont of spacious and complex burrows of the snapping shrimp Alpheus rapax Fabricius, 1798. Thus, S. ngae sp. nov. joins an ecological guild within the genus Salmoneus, which is composed of seven species associated with burrows of Alpheus spp. in various parts of the world and in different habitats.

KOUMAC 2.1, KOUMAC 2.2

The present study deals with several species of goby-associated snapping shrimp in the taxonomically challenging Alpheus brevirostris (Olivier, 1811) species group. Alpheus djeddensis Coutière, 1897 is redescribed based on two specimens from the original type series and material recently collected on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. Alpheus djiboutensis De Man, 1909, a species without extant type material, is removed from the synonymy of A. djeddensis after a careful analysis of the original description by De Man (1909). A cryptic species, morphologically undistinguishable from A. djeddensis, but with a significant divergence in the COI gene sequence and several consistent differences in colour pattern, is described as A. shukran sp. nov., based on material from Oman and Saudi Arabia. Both A. djeddensis and A. shukran sp. nov. are closely related to A. macellarius Chace, 1988, another potential species complex. Two species previously confused with A. djeddensis or A. djiboutensis in ecological literature and underwater field guides are described as A. tigrinus sp. nov. and A. berumeni sp. nov., based on material from the Red Sea, mainly Saudi Arabia. Each of them has a unique and diagnostic colour pattern and differs from A. djeddensis and A. djiboutensis by a few subtle morphological characters. The identity of the material preliminarily identified as A. cf. tigrinus and A. cf. berumeni from localities outside of the Red Sea needs to be confirmed by molecular analyses. Finally, three specimens from the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia are preliminarily identified as A. cf. djiboutensis; their true taxonomic identity, however, remains to be clarified further. All available information on goby associations for the herein treated species is provided.

KOUMAC 2.1, KOUMAC 2.3, PAPUA NIUGINI

The deep-water alpheid shrimp Batella praecipua De Grave, 2004 was originally described based on two incomplete specimens, both with their first chelipeds missing, collected at 400–440 m off New Caledonia. During the recent KANADEEP 1 expedition in the Coral Sea in 2017, the first complete specimen of B. praecipua was collected at a depth of 370–380 m. The morphology of this specimen is presented in detail, with emphasis on the highly diagnostic chelipeds, which are described and illustrated for the first time. A slight intraspecific variation of B. praecipua is reported and a DNA barcode (CO1) is provided for this species. The main differences between the three presently known species of Batella Holthuis, 1955 are discussed.

KANADEEP

The present study deals with the intricate phylogenetic relationships within an important clade of the caridean shrimp family Alpheidae, which includes the genera Salmoneus, Deioneus, and Triacanthoneus. Using molecular data from four genes (16S, 18S, COI, and H3), we herein provide the most comprehensive phylogenetic hypothesis for this alpheid clade, with 161 terminals representing 117 ESUs, i.e. genetically distinct species. Our analysis reveals four well-supported larger Clades, as well as 25 smaller clades, corresponding to species groups or species complexes. The results also show that the symbiotic lifestyle evolved multiple times within this clade, in some instances promoting convergent evolution. Ancestral character state analysis unveils extreme plasticity and independent shifts in the minor cheliped types. Furthermore, the impact of different lifestyles on the evolution of each minor cheliped type is discussed. Finally, we address the resulting paraphyly of Salmoneus and the intergeneric relationships between Salmoneus, Deioneus and Triacanthoneus.

KARUBENTHOS 2012, KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.3, MADIBENTHOS, PAPUA NIUGINI

Batellopsis paula gen. et sp. nov., a new hexactinellid-associated alpheid shrimp, is described based on a single specimen collected at a depth of 477–503 m north of Île des Pins, New Caledonia. Batellopsis gen. nov. is part of a clade of four genera all containing hexactinellid-associated species, for which a molecular phylogeny is presented. The evolution of several morphological characters, including orbital teeth, a bulge- fossa system on the fingers of the first pereiopod chela, and groups of microserrulate setae on the second pereiopod chela, is discussed in light of phylogenetic results.

EXBODI, KANACONO, KARUBAR, KOUMAC 2.1, MADIBENTHOS, TAIWAN 2002

Snapping shrimps of the genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 exhibit remarkable diversity, with over 300 described species. The genus is well-known for its prevalence of species complexes, necessitating the need of new tools to facilitate species discrimination. Traditional taxonomic methods in Alpheus have primarily relied on the examination of morphological traits or comparative morphometric measurements, with an emphasis on variation in the major chela and rostro-orbital region. We applied an integrated approach that combines molecular genetics and geometric morphometrics to investigate the A. gracilipes Stimpson, 1860 species complex. We additionally applied geometric morphometric techniques to study the major chela and the rostrum across different species, and used three mitochondrial genes (12S, COI, and 16S) to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships of this complex. Our results demonstrate the first application of geometric morphometric techniques to Alpheus snapping shrimps, and highlight the significance of the major chela and rostrum as taxonomically informative traits. Furthermore, we use DNA barcodes and geometric morphometric techniques to the A. gracilipes species complex to reveal two previously unidentified cryptic species. We present the first phylogenetic reconstruction of this species complex, with new localities and expanded distribution ranges reported for many species.

KOUMAC 2.3, PAPUA NIUGINI

KANACONO, KARUBAR, KOUMAC 2.1, PAPUA NIUGINI

The pantropical genus Palaemonella Dana, 1852 (Caridea: Palaemonidae) currently includes 27 species of free-living and symbiotic marine shrimps. The monophyly of Palaemonella with respect to several closely related genera, however, has been questioned by recent analyses. We tested the monophyly of Palaemonella based on multigene phylogenetic analysis and the genus was revealed to be a paraphyletic assemblage by inclusion of species of the genera Eupontonia Bruce, 1971 and Vir Holthuis, 1952, and two genetic lineages of the western Atlantic Cuapetes americanus (Kingsley, 1878). We recognise one of the latter lineages as the previously described Periclimenes rhizophorae Lebour, 1949. Eupontonia and Vir are synonymised with Palaemonella. We also transfer Cuapetes americanus and Periclimenes rhizophorae to Palaemonella. Species previously assigned to Vir were revised; V. colemani Bruce, 2003, V. orientalis (Dana, 1852), V. philippinensis Bruce & Svoboda, 1984 and V. smiti Fransen & Holthuis, 2007 are regarded as valid species of Palaemonella; Vir longidactylus Marin, 2008 is synonymised with P. smiti; and the status of V. euphyllius Marin & Anker, 2005 remains unresolved. Palaemonella is currently regarded as a taxon with variable states of two main diagnostic characters, i.e. the plesiomorphic mandibular palp (fully reduced in P. americana) and the hepatic tooth (fully reduced in former species of Vir and Eupontonia – evidently due to symbiotic modes of life).

ATIMO VATAE, BORDAU 1, GUYANE 2014, KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.1, KOUMAC 2.3, MADEEP, MADIBENTHOS, PAKAIHI I TE MOANA, PAPUA NIUGINI, PROTEUS-GUYANE, SANTO 2006

The pantropical genus Palaemonella Dana, 1852 (Caridea: Palaemonidae) currently includes 27 species of free-living and symbiotic marine shrimps. The monophyly of Palaemonella with respect to several closely related genera, however, has been questioned by recent analyses. We tested the monophyly of Palaemonella based on multigene phylogenetic analysis and the genus was revealed to be a paraphyletic assemblage by inclusion of species of the genera Eupontonia Bruce, 1971 and Vir Holthuis, 1952, and two genetic lineages of the western Atlantic Cuapetes americanus (Kingsley, 1878). We recognise one of the latter lineages as the previously described Periclimenes rhizophorae Lebour, 1949. Eupontonia and Vir are synonymised with Palaemonella. We also transfer Cuapetes americanus and Periclimenes rhizophorae to Palaemonella. Species previously assigned to Vir were revised; V. colemani Bruce, 2003, V. orientalis (Dana, 1852), V. philippinensis Bruce & Svoboda, 1984 and V. smiti Fransen & Holthuis, 2007 are regarded as valid species of Palaemonella; Vir longidactylus Marin, 2008 is synonymised with P. smiti; and the status of V. euphyllius Marin & Anker, 2005 remains unresolved. Palaemonella is currently regarded as a taxon with variable states of two main diagnostic characters, i.e. the plesiomorphic mandibular palp (fully reduced in P. americana) and the hepatic tooth (fully reduced in former species of Vir and Eupontonia – evidently due to symbiotic modes of life). ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7EEBC655-7EDE-4E46-BCB2-2A3BA16ED7DD

ATIMO VATAE, BORDAU 1, KOUMAC 2.1, KOUMAC 2.3, MADEEP, MADIBENTHOS, PAKAIHI I TE MOANA, PANGLAO 2004, PAPUA NIUGINI, PROTEUS-GUYANE, SANTO 2006

Introduction Since its introduction about a decade ago, target enrichment sequencing of ultraconserved elements (UCEs) has proven to be an invaluable tool for studies across evolutionary scales, and thus employed from population genetics, to historical biogeography as well as deep-time phylogenetics. Here, we present the first probe set targeting UCEs in crustaceans, specifically designed for decapods and tested beyond decapods in other malacostracan lineages. Methods Probes were designed using published genomes of nine decapod and one peracarid species, as well as raw Nanopore long reads of one additional brachyuran species. The final probe set consists of about 20,000 probes, targeting 1,384 unique UCE loci. We compiled a dataset across Malacostraca,as well as datasets of a deep-sea squat lobster genus, and an intertidal mangrove crab species, to test the probe set at different phylogenetic levels (i.e., class, order, genus, within species). Results Final mean UCE recovery from fresh samples across Malacostraca was 568 loci, with up to 847 and 658 loci recovered from decapod and non-decapod species, respectively. Final mean recovery from fresh samples in the genus- and within species-level datasets was 849 and 787 loci, respectively. Up to several hundreds of UCEs were recovered from historical museum specimens (10 to > 150 years old), that were included in all datasets. UCE-based phylogenies largely reflected the known relationships of the included taxa, and we were able to infer population differentiation based on >600 SNPs extracted from the species-level dataset. Discussion Our results showcase the versatility of this UCE probe set, yielding informative data from phylogenetic as well as population-genetic datasets. They demonstrate once more that UCEs are a promising technique for leveraging museum specimens for genomic studies, and overall highlight the probe set's potential for crustacean evolutionary studies.

BIOMAGLO, ???msg.security.private???, KANACONO, KARUBAR

Chelarctus Holthuis, 2002 is widely distributed throughout the Indo-West Pacific, but its biogeographic patterns are unknown because Southern Hemisphere areas, such as the Coral Sea, remained poorly explored. Recent cruises organized by the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle of Paris and the Australian Institute of Marine Science allowed the molecular identification of Crenarctus crenatus (Whitelegge, 1900), Chelarctus aureus (Holthuis, 1963) and Chelarctus crosnieri Holthuis, 2002 phyllosomae. The Coral Sea C. crenatus larvae are identical to stages IX and X of Scyllarus sp. Z, described in detail by Webber and Booth (2001). Descriptions of phyllosoma stages VI, IX and X of Ch. aureus and stages IX and X of Ch. crosnieri are also presented here. Morphological differences between Crenarctus and Chelarctus larvae are established for the first time and previous misidentifications in the literature are re-assessed.

BIOPAPUA, KANADEEP, PAPUA NIUGINI, SANTO 2006

Studies of non-indigenous species (NIS) often tend to focus on medium and large-sized taxa with potential for remarkable ecological and/or economic impact, whereas the early detection of small invertebrates is often delayed due to taxonomic challenge, lack of consistent, standardised monitoring efforts and limited funding. This study represents the first records of the marine amphipod Laticorophium baconi (Shoemaker, 1934) in Morocco, Tunisia, Corsica (France), Italy, Greece, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and New Caledonia (France). Furthermore, it reports an expansion of its known distribution in Portugal (earliest and northernmost record for the country and first record for Macaronesia), Spain (earliest record for Atlantic and Mediterranean European waters), and Australia (first record for Indian Ocean). Recreational boating and commercial shipping, mainly through hull fouling and secondarily ballast waters, are proposed as vectors for introduction and secondary spread of L. baconi. The following traits, analysed during the present study, could contribute to its invasive potential: (i) quick and extensive spread of the species worldwide, (ii) high densities in marinas, harbours, hull fouling and other artificial habitats, including aquaculture facilities and floating debris, (iii) high ability for short-term colonisation of empty artificial niches, (iv) diet based on detritus suggesting an opportunistic feeding behaviour, and (v) population survival during seasonal fluctuations in different regions. Taxonomic expertise and scientific collaboration, based on multidisciplinary networks of experts, are crucial for the early detection, distribution updates, and risk assessment of small and overlooked stowaways in marine environments.

CORSICABENTHOS 1, CORSICABENTHOS 2, CORSICABENTHOS 3, KOUMAC 2.3

Salmoneus cristatus (Coutière, 1897) is one of the first described species in the alpheid genus Jousseaumea Coutière, 1897, a name later invalidated and replaced by Salmoneus Holthuis, 1955. The species was described based on material from Djibouti and was initially characterised by the presence of a pronounced, posteriorly extending carina on the mid-dorsal line of the carapace, a shoulder-like elevation of the orbital hoods, and a red-banded colour pattern. Relying mainly on morphological features, various authors reported S. cristatus from several localities in the Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea to southern China and Australia. However, recently collected material attributable to S. cristatus on morphological grounds allowed for the combination of morphological characters, molecular data and colour patterns, demonstrating the existence of at least four species under the name of S. cristatus, including three species that are morphologically similar to, but phylogenetically distant from S. cristatus s. str. Therefore, S. cristatus is redescribed herein based on recent material from Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as older material from Israel and Madagascar, with designation of a neotype from the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. Three new species, viz. S. paracristatus sp. nov., S. franseni sp. nov., and S. alius sp. nov., are described based on recent material from Papua New Guinea for the former two species, and New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands for the latter species. However, at least two of these new species seem to have wider distributions in the Indo-West Pacific.

KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.1, KOUMAC 2.3, MADIBENTHOS, PAPUA NIUGINI

Unravelling the evolutionary history of taxa requires solid delimitation of the traits characterising these. This can be challenging especially in groups with a highly complex taxonomy. The squat lobster family Munididae contains more than 450 species distributed among 21 genera, Munida being the most speciose (~300 species). Previous phylogenetic studies, based on a small part of the diversity of the group, have suggested polyphyletic origins for Munida and the paraphyly of Munididae. Here, we use an integrative approach based on multi-locus phylogenies (two mito­ chondrial and three nuclear markers) paired with 120 morphological characters, to resolve taxonomic and evolutionary relationships within Munididae. Our study covers ~60% of the family’s known diversity (over 800 specimens of 291 species belonging to 19 of the 21 genera collected from the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans). Using this information, we confirm the validity of most genera, proposing new ones in cases where the genetic analyses are compatible with morphological characters. Four well-defined munidid clades were recovered, suggesting that new genera should be erected in the currently recognised Munididae (three for the genus Agononida and eleven in Munida), and the genus Grimothea is resurrected. A key to all genera of the family is presented. Molecular clock estimates and ancestral biogeographic area recon­ structions complement the taxonomic profiles and suggest some explosive diversification within Munididae during the Cretaceous and the Palaeogene. Further anagenetic events and narrow sympatry accounting for changes in distribution indicate a more limited dispersal capacity than previously considered. Our study unravels how diversification may occur in deep waters and further highlights the importance of the integrative approach in accurately delineating species in understanding the history of a family and the factors driving the evolution.

CALSUB, KANACONO, KANADEEP, MAINBAZA, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 8, SANTO 2006, SMCB, SMIB 5, TERRASSES

Examination of numerous specimens of squat lobsters of the genus Eumunida Smith, 1883 collected by French cruises along the coasts of New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands and Papua-New Guinea revealed the presence of six species, including a new species. The collection data of all of these species are recorded. The new species, E. turbulenta n. sp., is described and illustrated from New Caledonia and Chesterfield Islands.

BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BERYX 11, BIOPAPUA, CHALCAL 2, EBISCO, EXBODI, HALIPRO 1, HALIPRO 2, KANACONO, KANADEEP, MADEEP, NORFOLK 1, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMON 1, SMIB 10, SMIB 8, TERRASSES

More than 5000 specimens of squat lobsters belonging to the families Munididae and Munidopsidae were collected during four cruises along the coasts of Papua New Guinea. The study of these specimens revealed the presence of 13 new species (one Babamunida, one Crosnierita, eight Munida, one Paramunida and two Munidopsis). Overall, 109 species of Munididae and 37 of Munidopsidae are recognized. We include the records of all species, describing and illustrating the new species. Furthermore, we provide some new data on the colour patterns for some species. We have also included molecular data from two mitochondrial markers (16S rRNA and COI) to support the taxonomic status of different new species.

BIOPAPUA, EBISCO, EXBODI, KANADEEP, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMONBOA 3

Specimens of munidid squat lobsters belonging to the genera Heteronida Baba & de Saint Laurent, 1996 and Torbenella Baba, 2008 were collected in scientific expeditions made by several French cruises along the southwestern Pacific. These specimens were identified as two species (one new) of Heteronida and six species (four new) of Torbenella. The present paper provides systematic accounts of the five new species, along with new locality records of known species shown by this material and color information where available. Molecular data is provided to support the systematic status of each new species. A key to species for each of the genera is also presented.

BIOPAPUA, BORDAU 2, EBISCO, EXBODI, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, MUSORSTOM 7, PAPUA NIUGINI, SPANBIOS

Specimens of squat lobsters belonging to the family MunididaeAhyong et al., 2010, representing the genera Garymunida Macpherson & Baba, 2022, Trapezionida Macpherson & Baba, 2022 and Typhlonida Macpherson & Baba, 2022, were collected during several cruises around New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea, Southwest Pacific. The integrative study of these specimens revealed the presence of one new species in Garymunida , five in Trapezionida and one in Typhlonida . We describe and illustrate these new species, providing some new data on the taxonomy of several rare or scarcely studied species of Trapezionida . Molecular data from different markers (mitochondrial and nuclear) was also included, based on data availability, to support the taxonomic status of different species. Finally, a key to species for each genus is also provided.

BIOPAPUA, EBISCO, EXBODI, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, NORFOLK 2, PAPUA NIUGINI, SPANBIOS, TARASOC, TERRASSES

Specimens of squat lobsters belonging to the family Galatheidae, representing the genera Galathea and Nanogalathea, were collected during several cruises carried out in New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Phoenix Islands. The study of these specimens integrating molecular and morphological data revealed the presence of eight new species in Galathea and one in Nanogalathea. We describe and illustrate these new species. Molecular data from mitochondrial markers were also included to support the taxonomic status of the species. Finally, a key to species for the genus Galathea from the Indian and Pacific Oceans is also provided.

BIOPAPUA, KANACONO, KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.3, MUSORSTOM 3, MUSORSTOM 8, PAPUA NIUGINI, SPANBIOS

Here we analyze available recorded occurrences for species of Neotanaoidea, a deep-sea peracarid superfamily, in the frame of biogeographic bathyal, abyssal, and hadal provinces. In addition, we provide the first phylogeny based on molecular data for this group. Despite the existence of large knowledge gaps, the observed patterns reveal levels of connectivity across biogeographic provinces, oceans, and depths higher than initially expected for a superfamily consisting of relatively small deep-sea benthic invertebrates without a pelagic larval stage, and therefore hypothetically low mobility capabilities. We have detected neotanaid species with closely related populations across the Pacific Ocean or able to overpass a geographical barrier as significant as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Additionally, the molecular analyses expose the need for a taxonomic review of the four genera within Neotanaoidea. A search for better suited morphological and possibly ecological characters as diagnostic traits for genera and species should be undertaken, aiming at a better definition of the existing taxa and the description of new ones.

KANADEEP 2, SAYA

A new species of spider crab of the genus Leptomithrax Miers, 1876, is described from New Caledonia. Leptomithrax lowryi sp. nov. belongs to a group species that includes L. bifidus (Ortmann, 1893) and L. sinensis Rathbun, 1916, but differs in the structure of the carapace spines and teeth, ischium of the third maxilliped, male thoracic sternal structure, shape of the male telson and the first gonopod.

BATHUS 2, SPANBIOS

Four species of Seiitaoides Griffin & Tranter, 1986 (Majoidea: Majidae) are now known from the Indo-West Pacific. A fifth species, Seiitaoides sandyi n. sp., is described here from deeper waters in New Caledonia. This tiny species is most similar to S. orientalis (Sakai, 1961) from the western Pacific, but differs markedly by the shape and armature of the supraorbital eave, carapace regions and plates, as well as structure and proportions of the male thoracic sternum, ambulatory legs and male first gonopod.

SPANBIOS

ATIMO VATAE, BENTHAUS, BIOMAGLO, BIOPAPUA, CALSUB, CHALCAL 1, CHALCAL 2, CORAIL 2, EBISCO, EXBODI, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KARUBAR, KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.3, LAGON, LIFOU 2000, MD08 (BENTHOS), MD32 (REUNION), MONTROUZIER, MUSORSTOM 1, MUSORSTOM 2, MUSORSTOM 3, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 8, MUSORSTOM 9, PAKAIHI I TE MOANA, PALEO-SURPRISE, PAPUA NIUGINI, RAPA 2002, SANTO 2006, TARASOC, Walters Shoal

Seamounts in the Central Pacific Ocean remain largely unexplored. Squat lobsters, a major deep-sea invertebrate group, are poorly known in this area, whereas recent sampling efforts in the Western Pacific have resulted in a populated database of Galatheoidea Samouelle, 1819. Material recently collected by the E/V Nautilus during several expeditions to Central Pacific seamounts is reviewed herein, revealing the presence of 16 species. Ten species constitute geographic range expansions, and five are new taxa: Trapezionida hercules sp. nov., T. tapina sp. nov., Typhlonida annieae sp. nov., Munidopsis giribeti sp. nov., and M. nemo sp. nov. Using 3D imaging via micro-CT scanning and molecular phylogenetic analysis of COI and 16S mitochondrial genes, these species are described and illustrated, and their phylogenetic positions are revealed. Several of the new species represent highly divergent lineages not closely related to known species, indicating a need to continue exploring the deep ocean in the Central Pacific. The study herein also describes the habitats and biological associations of these species, ranging from corals to chemosynthetic environments. The new data fill an important geographic gap in the distribution of squat lobster species and contribute to understanding the speciation processes and connectivity among seamounts in the Pacific Ocean.

EBISCO, KANADEEP, KANADEEP 2

The genus Leiogalathea Baba, 1969 currently contains only two benthic species both occurring on the continental shelves and slope: L. laevirostris (Balss, 1913), widely reported in the Indo-Pacific region, and L. agassizii (A. Milne Edwards, 1880), from both sides of the Central Atlantic. A certain degree of morphological variability linked to their geographic distributions was previously noticed, mostly in L. laevirostris. In the present study, we revise numerous specimens collected from the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, analysing morphological and molecular characters (COI and 16S rRNA). We found 15 new species; all of them are distinguished from L. laevirostris and L. agassizii by subtle but constant morphological differences and show clear genetic separation. Furthermore, L. imperialis (Miyake & Baba, 1967), previously synonymized with L. laevirostris, was found to be a valid species. All species are described and illustrated. Species of the genus Leiogalathea are morphologically distinguishable on the basis of the spinulation of the carapace, the shape and the armature of the rostrum, the shape of the propodi of the walking legs, and the pattern of the setae covering on rostrum, carapace and chelae. Some species are barely discernible on the basis of these characters but are highly divergent genetically.

BATHUS 3, BERYX 11, BIOGEOCAL, BIOMAGLO, BIOPAPUA, BOA1, BORDAU 2, CHALCAL 2, EBISCO, HALIPRO 2, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KARUBAR, KARUBENTHOS 2, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 7, MUSORSTOM 8, MUSORSTOM 9, NORFOLK 1, NORFOLK 2, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMON 1, SANTO 2006, SMIB 3, SMIB 4, TARASOC, VOLSMAR

The genus Phylladiorhynchus Baba, 1969 currently contains 11 species, all occurring in the shallow waters and on the continental shelf of the Indian and Pacific oceans. Recent expeditions in these oceans have resulted in the collection of numerous new specimens in need of analysis. We have studied this material using an integrative approach analysing both morphological and molecular (COI and 16S) characters. We describe 41 new species and resurrect three old names: P. integrus (Benedict, 1902) and P. lenzi (Rathbun, 1907), previously synonymized with P. pusillus (Henderson, 1885), and P. serrirostris (Melin, 1939), previously synonymized with P. integrirostris (Dana, 1852). Most species of the genus are described and illustrated. Some species are barely discernible on the basis of morphological characters but are highly divergent genetically. Species of Phylladiorhynchus are mainly distinguishable by the number of epigastric spines and lateral spines of the carapace, the shape and the armature of the rostrum, the number and pattern of the ridges on the carapace and pleon, the shape of thoracic sternite 3 and the armature of the P2–4 dactyli. A dichotomous identification key to all species is provided.

ATIMO VATAE, BENTHAUS, BIOMAGLO, BIOPAPUA, CALSUB, CHALCAL 1, CHALCAL 2, CORAIL 2, EBISCO, EXBODI, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KARUBAR, KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.1, KOUMAC 2.3, LAGON, LIFOU 2000, MD08 (BENTHOS), MD32 (REUNION), MONTROUZIER, MUSORSTOM 1, MUSORSTOM 2, MUSORSTOM 3, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 8, MUSORSTOM 9, PAKAIHI I TE MOANA, PALEO-SURPRISE, PAPUA NIUGINI, RAPA 2002, SANTO 2006, TARASOC, Walters Shoal

Munidopsid squat lobsters are among the most abundant decapods at abyssal depths and the most diverse squat lobster group in the East Pacific region. During recent cruises along the East Pacific, many deep-sea squat lobsters were collected. Among these, we described five new munidopsid species supported both by morphological characters and molecular phylogenetics: Munidopsis girguisi sp. nov., M. nautilus sp. nov., M. testuda sp. nov., M. cortesi sp. nov. and M. hendrickxi sp. nov. We also report new records of several Munidopsis species across the East Pacific that increase the species distribution ranges. Here, we reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of the East Pacific species in relation to other Galatheoidea using one nuclear and two mitochondrial gene fragment(s); we also performed single locus species delimitation analyses to explore the species status of various East Pacific munidopsid taxa. The new taxa were photographed, illustrated and imaged with micro-computed tomography. The phylogenetic results show that: (1) Janetogalathea californiensis, previously included in the family Galatheidae, nests within Munidopsidae; (2) the phylogenetic position of Phylladiorhynchus and Coralliogalathea as belonging in Galatheidae is not supported; and (3) Munidopsis is paraphyletic, agreeing with recent systematic hypotheses. Short genetic distances and species delimitation analyses suggested that a clade mostly constituted by abyssal species might include fewer species than currently considered, as species show a wider geographic range than previously considered, conforming with traditional hypotheses of cosmopolitanisms in abyssal species.

BIOMAGLO, GUYANE 2014, HALIPRO 2, KANACONO, KARUBAR, KARUBENTHOS 2, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, MUSORSTOM 9, NORFOLK 2, TARASOC

The ecology, abundance and diversity of galatheoid squat lobsters make them an ideal group to study deep-sea diversification processes. Here, we reconstructed the evolutionary and biogeographic history of Leiogalathea, a genus of circum-tropical deep-sea squat lobsters, in order to compare patterns and processes that have affected shallow-water and deep-sea squat lobster species. We first built a multilocus phylogeny and a calibrated species tree with a relaxed clock using StarBEAST2 to reconstruct evolutionary relationships and divergence times among Leiogalathea species. We used BioGeoBEARS and a DEC model, implemented in RevBayes, to reconstruct ancestral distribution ranges and the biogeographic history of the genus. Our results showed that Leiogalathea is monophyletic and comprises four main lineages; morphological homogeneity is common within and between clades, except in one; the reconstructed ancestral range of the genus is in the Atlantic and Indian oceans (Tethys). They also revealed the divergence of the Atlantic species around 25 million years ago (Ma), intense cladogenesis 15–25 Ma and low levels of speciation over the last 5 million years (Myr). The four Leiogalathea lineages showed similar patterns of speciation: allopatric speciation followed by range expansion and subsequent stasis. Leiogalathea started diversifying during the Oligocene, likely in the Tethyan. The Atlantic lineage then split from its Indo-Pacific sister group due to vicariance driven by closure of the Tethys Seaway. The Atlantic lineage is less speciose compared with the Indo-Pacific lineages, with the Tropical Southwestern Pacific being the current centre of diversity. Leiogalathea diversification coincided with cladogenetic peaks in shallow-water genera, indicating that historical biogeographic events similarly shaped the diversification and distribution of both deep-sea and shallow-water squat lobsters.

BATHUS 3, BERYX 11, BIOGEOCAL, BIOMAGLO, BIOPAPUA, BOA1, BORDAU 2, CHALCAL 2, ???msg.security.private???, EBISCO, EXBODI, HALIPRO 2, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KARUBAR, KARUBENTHOS 2, KAVIENG 2014, LAGON, MADEEP, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 7, MUSORSTOM 8, MUSORSTOM 9, NORFOLK 1, NORFOLK 2, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMON 1, SALOMON 2, SANTO 2006, SMIB 3, SMIB 4, ???msg.security.private???, TARASOC, VOLSMAR

The phylogeny of sea spiders has been debated for more than a century. Despite several molecular studies in the last twenty years, interfamilial relationships remain uncertain. In the present study, relationships within Pyc­ nogonida are examined in the light of a new dataset composed of 160 mitochondrial genomes (including 152 new sequences) and 130 18S rRNA gene sequences (including 120 new sequences), from 141 sea spider mor­ phospecies representing 26 genera and 9 families. Node congruence between mitochondrial and nuclear markers was analysed to identify the most reliable relationships. We also reanalysed a multilocus dataset previously published and showed that the high percentages of missing data make phylogenetic conclusions difficult and uncertain.

ATIMO VATAE, BICOSE, BIOCAL, BIOMAGLO, BIOPAPUA, CEAMARC-AA, EXBODI, GUYANE 2014, ILES DU SALUT, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KARUBENTHOS 2012, KAVIENG 2014, MADIBENTHOS, MAINBAZA, MIRIKY, MONTROUZIER, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 8, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMONBOA 3, TARASOC, Walters Shoal

A single specimen of a new genus and species of marine palaemonid shrimp was collected from the outer slope of the barrier reef of Koumac, northwest New Caledonia. The new shrimp is remarkable due to its unique series of diagnostic characters, i.e., the presence of compressed supraorbital teeth, a well-developed orbital cavity, closely set antennal and hepatic teeth on the carapace, swollen eyestalks, fully reduced endites on the maxilla, an anteriorly produced lobe on the fourth thoracic sternite, relatively small second chelipeds, and strongly biunguiculate ambulatory dactyli. This specimen occupies an isolated phylogenetic position among the symbiotic palaemonid shrimp analyzed, only demonstrating a feeble morphological inclination towards the “gnathophyllid” section of these. However, neither the main diagnostic characters nor genetic data allow for further clarification of a closer relationship between this new shrimp and any currently known palaemonid genus as of yet. The new genus and species is described in this report, and its phylogenetic position is discussed based on molecular and morphological characters.

KANADEEP 2, KOUMAC 2.3, MADIBENTHOS

Multigene molecular revision of a series of specimens of the rare spongobiotic palaemonid shrimp genus, Onycocaridella Bruce, 1981, collected predominantly from Papua New Guinea, has doubled the known species diversity to six. Of the previously known species, O. monodoa (Fujino & Miyake, 1969) and O. stenolepis (Holthuis, 1952) were analysed in the present study, whereas sequenceable specimens of the type species, O. prima Bruce, 1981, were not available. The present molecular analysis (combined COI, 16S, H3 markers) recovered six separate genetic lineages, indicating the presence of four undescribed species. Three of the latter are described in the present study. Remarkably higher known species diversity of Onycocaridella is thus recorded from a single geographic region – Papua New Guinea. The increased diversity reported here was discovered by application of complementary collecting techniques (hand picking, stone brushing, dead-coral sorting, suction sampling). One of the present new species is also reported from Australia, and O. monodoa is newly recorded from New Caledonia. A revised diagnosis of the genus and a key to identification of all known species of Onycocaridella are provided.

KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.3, PAPUA NIUGINI

BIOCAL, EBISCO, EXBODI, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KANADEEP 2, NORFOLK 2, SEDLAB, SPANBIOS