Beringius amliensis Mclean & Clark 2023, n. sp.

Beringius amliensis n. sp.

Figures 9 A–C urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 3B012D06-E9A7-4CB7-9B2C-7AC68130F4BF

Type locality: N side of Amlia Island, Andreanof Ids., Aleutian Is., Alaska (52°25.04 N, 173°45.42 W), 149 m (NMFS 148-201001 - 65).

Type material. Holotype: LACM 3572, 120.7 mm (leg. 25 June, 2010, trawled, R/ V Ocean Explorer); Paratypes: Pt 1 & 2, SBMNH 169002, 72.1 & 56.2mm, S of Atka Island, Andreanof Ids. (51°52.62 N, 174°33.61 W), 147 m. (NMFS 23-199701 - 95); Pt 3, LACM 3657, 67.5 mm, (94-199401-75) Pt 3, RNC 4502, 116.6 mm, N of Amlia Island, Andreanof Ids. (51°17.05 N, 173°58.18 W), 72 m. (NMFS 94-199401 - 65).

Description: Shell large Height to 120.7 mm (holotype), pyriform, white to pinkish-tan, periostracum thin, brown, adherent. Protoconch with three whorls; teleconch whorls shouldered, suture deeply impressed. Axial sculpture of rounded, strongly projecting ribs, 10 on the final whorl, interspaces broader than ribs, ribs not extending across base. Spiral sculpture of strong cords (14 on penultimate whorl), each cord sharply bifurcate or trifurcate, interspaces narrower. Aperture broad, less than half of shell height, lip flared and thickened, canal, short, broad.

Radula (Fig. 9 C). Rachidian tooth oval, flattened anteriorly and posteriorly. Lateral teeth large, thick, tricuspid, outer cusp thick, broad, tapering, to a curved tip, central and inner cusps much smaller, about 1/3 as long as the outer one, sub-equal in length, inner one slightly broader and flattened on the anterior edge.

Remarks: This species resembles Beringius incisus (Dall, 1907) (Fig. 9 D–G), but differs in being larger, and having coarse, bifurcated and trifurcated spiral cords as opposed to fine spiral lirae. The radula of B. incisus, has a smaller, rounder rachidian tooth, and the lateral teeth have a much more pronounced notch, which cuts into the base of the outer cusp (Fig. 9 G).

Etymology: The name is derived from Amlia Island, the type locality.

Distribution: Central Aleutian Islands, known only from the vicinity of Amlia and Atka Islands, Andreanof Ids. (173° to 175° W). at depths of 72– 147 m. A short-range endemic.

Habitat: Found on black sand bottoms with temperatures of 3.7–4.4°C.