Neocancilla baeri, a new species of the Mitridae from deep water off the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia: Muricoidea)

Abstract

Neocancilla haeri n. sp. is described on the basis of 33 specimens collected at a depth of 1 00-200 m off the southern and central Phil ippines, Taiwan and Japan on a substrate composed of sand, broken coral, stones and sponges. The new species differs from other s imi lar species of the Mitridae in having a produced, constricted and recurved siphonal canal . The species is provisionally assigned to Neocancilla, although it differs from other species of this genus-group in having a sculpture of close-set, flat spiral threads. The radula has narrow rachidians bearing four slender cusps and 2 minute denticles, and the laterals are c. three times the width of the rach idians and bearing six cusps. The larger main cusp is s i tuated on the inner margin of the lateral tooth, adjacent to the rachidian.