Profundiconus vaubani (R̂ckel & Moolenbeek, 1995) Figs 2, 17–19 Conus vaubani R̂ckel & Moolenbeek in R̂ckel et al., 1995a: 587, figs 3, 14–15, 56. Profundiconus vaubani – Tucker & Tenorio 2013: 409. — Monnier et al. 2018a: 131. Material examined 91 lots (417 specimens). See Supp. file 1. Type material Holotype NEW CALEDONIA • 25.7 mm; Norfolk Ridge, off New Caledonia, stn DW77; 23°38′ S, 167°43′ E; 435 m depth; 30 Oct. 1986; CHALCAL 2 expedition; MNHN -M-2000-3455 (Fig. 17A). Figured material NEW CALEDONIA • 21.8 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Banc Stylaster, off New Caledonia, stn DW2035; 23°40′ S, 167°40′ E; 515‒540 m depth; 22 Oct. 2003; NORFOLK 2 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 17B) • 29.5 mm; Grand Passage, off New Caledonia, stn DW04; 18º55′ S, 163º24′ E; 350–365 m depth; 28 Nov. 1994; HALICAL 1 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 17C) • 29.1 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Banc Stylaster, off New Caledonia, stn DW1659; 23º37′ S, 167º41′ E; 449‒467 m depth; 20 Jun. 2001; NORFOLK 1 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 17D) • 29.8 mm; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN (Fig. 17E) • 22.4 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Stylaster, off New Caledonia, stn DW3059; 23°40′ S, 167°44′ E; 440‒450 m depth; 21 Oct. 2008; TERRASSES expedition; MNHN (Fig. 17F) • 26.7 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Banc Stylaster, off New Caledonia, stn DW05; 23º38′ S, 167º42′ E; 433‒500 m depth; 10 Aug. 1999; LITHIST expedition; MNHN (Fig. 17G) • 23.7 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Stylaster, off New Caledonia, stn DW3060; 23°39′ S, 167°44′ E; 440‒450 m depth; 21 Oct. 2008; TERRASSES expedition; MNHN (Fig. 17H) • 25.6 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Banc Stylaster, off New Caledonia, stn DW05; 23º38′ S, 167º42′ E; 433‒500 m depth; 10 Aug. 1999; LITHIST expedition; MNHN (Fig. 17I) • 25.5 mm; off S New Caledonia, stn DW27; 23º37′ S, 167º41′ E; 460‒470 m depth; 18 Oct. 1992; BERYX 11 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 17J) • 11.4 mm; off New Caledonia, stn DW46; 22º53′ S, 167º17′ E; 570‒610 m depth; 30 Aug. 1985; BIOCAL expedition; MNHN (Fig. 17K) • size unknown; off New Caledonia, stn DW48; 23º00′ S, 167º29′ E; 775 m depth; 31 Aug. 1985; BIOCAL expedition; MNHN (Fig. 17L) • 20.6 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Banc Stylaster, stn DW1666; 23°42′ S, 167°43′ E; 469‒860 m depth; 20 Jun. 2001; NORFOLK 1 expedition (Fig. 17M) • 19.8 mm; off S New Caledonia, S Île des Pins, stn DW10; 22°54′ S, 167°16′ E; 490‒495 m depth; 18 Sep. 1986; SMIB 2 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 18A) • 17.4 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Île des Pins, off New Caledonia, stn DW2157; 22º56′ S, 167º19′ E; 553‒575 m depth; 5 Nov. 2003; NORFOLK 2 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 18B, M) • 19.2 mm; off S New Caledonia, stn DW721; 22º54′ S, 167º17′ E; 525‒547 m depth; 11 May 1993; BATHUS 2 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 18C) • 20.9 mm; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN (Fig. 18D) • 20.7 mm; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN (Fig. 18E) • 19.2 mm; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN (Fig. 18F) • 19.3 mm; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN (Fig. 18G) • 21.8 mm; off S New Caledonia, stn DW720; 22º52′ S, 167º16′ E; 530‒541 m depth; 11 May 1993; BATHUS 2 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 18H) • 20.6 mm; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN (Fig. 18I) • 20.8 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Île des Pins, off New Caledonia, stn DW2147; 22º50′ S, 167º16′ E; 496 m depth; 4 Nov. 2003; NORFOLK 2 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 18J) • 13.5 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Banc Stylaster, off New Caledonia, stn DW2031; 23º39′ S, 167º44′ E; 440 m depth; 22 Oct. 2003; NORFOLK 2 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 18K) • 11.5 mm; off S New Caledonia, stn DW21; 22º59′ S, 167º19′ E; 525 m depth; 24 May 1987; SMIB 3 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 18L). Geographical distribution and bathymetry Most specimens come from Norfolk Ridge, but it has been also sampled in N New Caledonia (Grand Passage area), Loyalty Ridge, Hunter Island in the New Hebrides Arc, and the Coral Sea (Plateau des Chesterfield and Bellona Plateau), at depths between 400 and 800 m. This species can be considered endemic. Remarks Shell small to moderately small (maximum length 29 mm), narrowly conical with a paucispiral protoconch of 1.75 whorls (Fig. 17L). Shoulder angulate with characteristic axial costae. Radular tooth (Fig. 17M) rather large. Anterior portion of tooth shorter than posterior section. Barb and pointed, well-defined blade approximately one half of apical portion of tooth. External cusp present, laterally widened and serrated, with 6–7 denticles. Characteristic fringe of closely spaced projections pointing towards the apex located immediately below the waist. Shaft fold present. Large and prominent basal spur on top of slanted base of tooth. The shell of typical P. vaubani (i.e., matching the holotype) exhibits a pattern of light brown axial streaks from the base to the last spire whorl on a white ground color. However, the type series and the original description also makes reference to pure white conical to slightly pyriform shells having a smooth, angulate or carinate shoulder instead of axially oriented ribs (Fig. 18A). These specimens, occasionally referred to as “white” vaubani, exhibit a radular tooth essentially identical to that of patterned forms. They have often been misidentified as P. loyaltiensis due to the plain white color, but the shell shape is different (more conical with a concave spire in P. loyaltiensis), and they lack the strong cords present on top of the spire whorls. Furthermore, the typical specimens of P. vaubani and the white ones (often mislabeled as P. loyaltiensis) share the same haplotype, and form a clade which also includes P. kanakinus (Fig. 2). Until further evidence is found, we hereby consider both typical and white specimens as representatives of the same species, namely P. vaubani.

Published as part of Tenorio, Manuel J. & Puillandre, Nicolas, 2023, Revision of the deep-water cone snail fauna from New Caledonia (Gastropoda, Conoidea), pp. 1-134 in European Journal of Taxonomy 896 on pages 26-30, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.896.2291, http://zenodo.org/record/8405510