Aleutijapelion aleuticus

Aleutijapelion aleuticus (Dall, 1895)

Figures 6 B–E

Beringius aleuticus Dall, 1895:711, pl. 29, fig. 2.

Type locality: Amutka Pass, Aleutian Is., Alaska (52°15.00 N, 171°40.00 W), 454 m (R/ V Albatross Station # 3481). Type material: Holotype, USNM 106999, 66 mm.

Referred material: LACM 181446, 1 sp., 73.2 mm. S of Kodiak Island, 118 m; RNC 4631, 1 sp., 72.16 mm. S of Kodiak Island (56°29.85 N, 152°30.06 W), 297 m (NMFS 57-200101 - 146); LACM 181447, 1 sp., 50.5 mm. ESE of Chirikov Island, SW of Kodiak Id., 122 m; CASIZ 149898, 67.4 mm. Samalga Pass, Islands of Four Mountains (52º55.8 N, 169º20.4 W), 401 m (NMFS 23-200001 - 33); RNC 4611, 1 sp., 66.4 mm. Shumagin Is., SE of Alaska Peninsula (54°41.13 N, 158°00.15 W), 440 m (NMFS 57-200101 - 92); RNC 4646, 1 sp., 59.5 mm. Shumagin Is., Shumagin Is., SE of Alaska Peninsula (54°30.70 N, 158°52.02 W), 361 m (NMFS 159-200901 - 73); RNC 4705, 1 sp., 81.5 mm. S of Unalaska Island, Fox Ids. (53°06.2 N, 166°58.66 W), 294 m (NMFS 57-200101 - 8); RNC 4772, 1 sp., 74.34 mm. S of Umnak Id., Fox Ids. (53°27.12 N, 168°29.93 W), 86 m (NMFS 143-200601 - 23); RNC 4880, 1 sp., 63.25 mm. W of Carlisle Island, Islands of Four Mountains (52°55.86 N, 170°24.58 W), 228 m (NMFS 143- 200601 - 29); RNC 4881, 1 sp., 80.14 mm. S of Yunaska Island, Islands of Four Mountains (52°31.75 N, 170°33.55 W), 220 m (NMFS 143-200601 - 40); RNC 4689, 1 sp., 78.9 mm. W of Tanaga Island, Andreanof Ids. (51°39.68 N, 178°25.57 W), 373 m (NMFS 143-201201 - 125).

Description: Relatively large shells (largest examined 81 mm, RNC 4705); whorls rounded; periostracum thin, adherent, olive green to brown, shiny, not flaking in dry shells; color pattern two-tone, lighter on sharply defined basal area. protoconch with 2.5 whorls extended (but not nearly as much as in Beringius), scarcely if at all increasing in size; seven or eight teleconch whorls; axial lacking (except for growth lines), spiral sculpture absent, or if present, consisting of a few low, faint, irregular cords, or faint oblique ridges on upper part of whorl; siphonal canal short, base deeply notched near pillar; anterior lip extending below anterior tip of pillar. Lip of mature shell thickened and slightly flaring; lip continuous across anal sinus, connecting to narrow parietal shield in mature shells. Operculum (fig. 6 D) large, nearly filling aperture, narrowing anteriorly, concave on exterior surface.

Radula: (fig. 12 E) Typical of this subfamily. Rachidian tooth reduced to a simple, chevron shaped, acuspate plate. Lateral teeth rather narrow, tricuspid, the outer cusp long curved, inner two cusps much smaller.

Distribution: Western Gulf of Alaska, S of Kodiak Island (152°29 W) to central Aleutian Islands, west to Tanaga Pass, Andreanof Ids. (178°25 W), at depths of 86– 454 m.

Habitat: Black sand and gravel or muddy sand and gravel with pebbles. Water temperatures of 3.7–5.0°C.

Remarks: This species differs from Aleutijapelion mirandus n. sp. in having a broader profile, and in lacking the narrow, channeled shoulder Also resembles Boreancistrolepis excelsus (see remarks under that species).