Xenophora neozelanica kermadecensis Ponder, 1983

LETERRIER Franck a écrit:encore un xeno bizarre à identifier
il a l'air de ressembler à X. neozelanica kermadecensis mais moins coloré
pêché -120m N-C vivant T:36mm

quand je vois celui de Nappus j'ai un doute que le miens soit X. NZ kermadecensis!!    

Voici un Xeno récupéré il y a une quinzaine d'années dans un lot d'oursins dragués en Calédonie. S'agit-il du X. NZ kermadecensis? Lieu de pêche et profondeur inconnus.
Taille hors attachements: 51mm

Oui je pense. La couleur de la base est caractéristique. La profondeur moyenne en NC pour cette espèce est 60-80m.

D'ailleurs les attachements présents dessus rappellent la faune du lagon, hormis la radiole d'oursin.

+1
Il est superbe et pas trouvé à la bourse de Paris donc ... J'ai toujours pas

Après moult recherches
j'ai pu etre en contact avec Dr. Kraig Derstler
après lui avoir envoyés plusieurs spécimens 
voila ce qu'il dit:
Welcome back. Yes, but it is not a simple answer. It is a local unnamed variant of Xenophora torrida, apparently endemic to New Caledonia.

First point -- the name Xenophora cerea is currently used for two different species - one is the proper X. cerea and the other is a widespread species that apparently was first named X. torrida, so that is the name I will use.

Second point - proper X. cerea has an acute angle to the spire, medium heavy basal growth lines, heavy spiral cords on the base which show up between the growth lines, slightly concave shell base, and the base has a raised peripheral rim. 

Second point -- presently, the name X. torrida is used to refer to specimens with dark brown/black/purple-black base. By priority, it should be used for all specimens of this species no matter what the color of the shell's base. The species has an obtuse angle to the spire, a flat base, very heavy basal growth lines, and only minor spiral cords on the base of the shell.

Third point -- The Caledonian variant of X. torrida is usually pure white or slighty tinted. 

Fourth point -- Some specimens of the Caledonian variant of X. torrida have a apertural scar that is dark brown. This form is sometimes identified as "X. neozelandica kermadacensis". I'm pretty sure that it is a hybrid between the normally-white Caledonian variant of X.torrida and another species in the Complex that includes X. peroniana/neozealandica/neozealandica-kermadacensis. 

(Fifth point - I do not believe that X.neozealandica kermadacensis is a valid subspecies. To me, the types look like nothing more than a hybrid between X. peroniana and X. neozealandica.)

Sorry that the answer is kind of messy. But basically, the most common Xenophora in the waters around New Caledonia is a distinctive endemic variant of X. torrida. This is the second carrier shell endemic to New Caledonia (the other being X. lamberti). 


Perhaps the best way to refer to the New Caledonian shells: 

1.)  Xenophora torrida, white New Caledonian form - fairly common (often misidentified as X. cerea;
                                                                                                  includes the live one you collected earlier this year)
2.) Xenophora torrida, brown New Caledonia form - uncommon (sometimes misidentified as X. neozealandica kermadecensis)
3.) Xenophora lamberti - extremely rare
4.) Xenophora konoi - very rare
5.) Xenophora solaroides - rare (occasionally misidentified as X. tenuis or X. japonica)
6.) Xenophora cerea - uncommon (usually lumped together with #1,2)
7.) Xenophora granulosa - fairly common

I would not be surprised if several other Xenophora eventually show up in New Caledonian waters. Mostly likely would be X. gigantea and X. calculifera. Less likely are X. peroniana or X. neozealandica.

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