Laevisipho galaxaios Mclean & Clark 2023, n. sp.

Laevisipho galaxaios n. sp.

Figure 18 A–D urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 7FC3F92F-0EBF-4851-B71B-F92A63FC287C

Type locality: Amutka Pass, Aleutian Islands, Alaska (52°14.9 N, 171°41.88 W); 406 m. (NMFS 94-200001 - 79).

Type material: Holotype CASIZ 141123, 122.4 mm. (leg. E. Kools, 11 June, 2000, trawled, R/ V Vesteraalen); Paratypes: Pt 1, CASIZ 141125, 110.1 mm. Amutka Pass (52°06 N, 171°8 W), 324 m (NMFS 94-200001 - 78); Pt 2, LACM 3634, 110 mm. Samalga Pass, (52°56.39 N, 169°19.58 W), 401 m (NMFS 57-200201 - 25); Pt 3, RNC 4627, 115.8 mm. Samalga Pass, (52°53.78 N, 169°27.8 W), 337 m (NMFS 143-200401 - 28).

Description: Shell large (to 122 mm, holotype), fusiform; pillar straight, whorls rounded, suture impressed; uniformly whites; spiral and axial sculpture absent. Protoconch large, extended, with 2 whorls, diameter 5.4–5.6 mm. Teleconch with 4–5 whorls, first teleconch whorl extended. Mature lip thickened, but not flared, canal of moderately long, narrow.

Radula: Typical for this subfamily, Rachidian tooth broad, excavated anteriorly, bearing three small, equal-sized cusps; Lateral teeth large, tri-cuspid, cusps well-spaced, outer cusp much larger than inner two, strongly curved; central and inner cusps sub-equal, inner cusp very slightly shorter and more strongly curved than inner one.

Remarks: This species differs from L. kessleri in 1) larger size, 2) more inflated whorls, 3) uniformly white coloration, and 3) lack of any spiral sculpture.

Etymology: The name is derived from the Greek word for “milky white” rather than a latin root, reflects the solid white color of the shell.

Distribution: Central Aleutian Islands, from Amutka Pass (171°48 W) to the Islands of Four Mountains (169°53 W), at depths of 324– 406 m.

Habitat: Sand and gravel bottoms, with bottom temperatures of 3.9–4.2°C.