Antalis maestratii Scarabino 2008, n. sp.

Fig. 1h

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype (dd) MNHN 20083 and 5 paratypes (dd) MNHN 20084-20088.

TYPE LOCALITY. — Tonga, 23°23’S, 176°18’W, 407-443 m [BORDAU 2: stn DW1631].

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — North of New Caledonia. BATHUS 1546, 21°18’S, 175°18’ W, 430-441 m, 1 dd (paratype MNHN 4: stn DW 908, Grand Passage, 18°58’S, 163°11’E, 502-527 m, 20086); stn CP 1628, 23°22’S, 176°18’ W, 400-416 m, 1 dd 1 dd (paratype MNHN 20088). (paratype MNHN 20087); stn DW 1631, 23°23’S, 176°18’W, Tonga. BORDAU 2: stn CP1545, southwest Tongatapu, 21°17’S, 407-443 m, 2 dd (holotype MNHN 20083 and paratype MNHN 175°17’W, 444-447 m, 1 dd (paratype MNHN 20085); stn CP 20084).

DISTRIBUTION. — North of New Caledonia, in 502-527 m, and Tonga, in 416-444 m (shells only).

DESCRIPTION. — Shell up to 78.7 mm long, regularly curved, shiny, light orange. Ten ribs hardly observable at apex, absent on ventral side, obvious on dorsal side until the middle of shell, all vanishing towards mouth. Growth lines are dense and irregular, sligthly wavy not straight. Section very slightly depressed dorsoventrally. Apical thin, circular in section, with a shallow notch on ventral side.

Measurements of holotype: L 78.9, W 4.2-4.1, w 0.6, arc 6.

REMARKS. — Compared to A. alis (described above) A. maestratii is more curved and tapering, colored and almost translucent. Antalis maestratii seems to represent an extreme form within Antalis, in which the ribs are present only on the dorsal side, vanishing early before the middle of shell.

ETYMOLOGY. — Named after Philippe Maestrati (MNHN), who dedicatedly processed most of the material described here, and offered continuous support during the author’s visits to the MNHN.