Integrative taxonomy reveals new Australian species of the deep-water snail genera Comispira (Conoidea: Cochlespiridae) and Leucosyrinx (Conoidea: Pseudomelatomidae)

Abstract

ABSTRACT A series of deep-sea expeditions in southeastern Australia has produced a considerable amount of conoidean (Gastropoda: Neogastropoda) material suitable for molecular and morpho-anatomical study. Previous and ongoing studies have revealed the Raphitomidae to be particularly diverse in the deep waters of this region. Here, we continue our conoidean investigation, focussing on the genera Comispira (Cochlespiridae) and Leucosyrinx (Pseudomelatomidae). We subjected two cytochrome oxidase subunit DNA sequence datasets of Conoidea to Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD), which recognised a total of 18 primary species hypotheses (PSHs) among our target genera as well as from the cochlespirid genera Sibogasyrinx and Aforia. Following additional evaluation of shell and radular features, as well as examination of geographic and bathymetric ranges (conducted for PSHs of Australian waters), eight of these PSHs were converted to secondary species hypotheses (SSHs). Of these, three SSHs (one Comispira species, two Leucosyrinx spp.) were recognised as new to science and their full systematic descriptions are provided herein. While we discuss the relatively low diversity of Cochlespiridae compared to most conoidean families, two Comispira species and one species of Aforia are here recorded for the first time from Australian waters. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0D342202-1901-4379-9EA8-6E7C1A4AAD7B