Neoancistrocrania norfolki Laurin, 1992

Fig. 2A–B

This species, represented only by young individuals, was found only in two Exbodi stations at depths of 388–520 m. N. norfolki differs from other craniids by its massive ventral valve and internally by two erect divergent processes on the dorsal valve (Laurin 1997; Bitner 2009). Originally described from the Norfolk Ridge (Laurin 1992), it seems to be restricted to the Western Pacific (Cohen et al. 2014).

Figure 2. 

A–B Neoancistrocrania norfolki Laurin, 1992, dorsal and lateral views of complete specimen (IB-2013–600), SEM, cruise Exbodi, stn DW 3925, 388 m C–D Basiliola lucida (Gould, 1862), dorsal and anterior views of complete specimen (IB-2013–542), cruise Exbodi, stn DW 3900, 366–357 m E–F Basiliolella grayi (Woodward, 1855), dorsal and anterior views of complete specimen (IB-2013–188), cruise Terrasses, stn DW 3062, 300–320 m G–H Basiliola beecheri (Dall, 1895), dorsal and anterior views of complete specimen (IB-2013–215), cruise Terrasses, stn DW 3083, 470–570 m.

Novocrania sp.

The second craniid brachiopod is very rare and too poorly preserved to permit identification to species level. It was found in two stations (600–802 m). Morpho-species identification of Novocrania is uncertain and previous specimens from the region of New Caledonia have been described as N. reevei Lee & Brunton, 1986 (see Bitner 2010). In the opinion of Robinson and Lee (2011) this is a synonym of N. japonica (Adams, 1863).

Basiliola beecheri (Dall, 1895)

Fig. 2G–H

This is one of three rhynchonellide species recognized in the studied material. B. beecheri is relatively common, found in 10 samples, with a depth range of 400–990 m and was already reported from the New Caledonian region (Laurin 1997; Zezina 2005; Bitner 2009). It also occurs in the Hawaii and Fiji regions (Dall 1895; Bitner 2006b, 2008).

Basiliola lucida (Gould, 1862)

Fig. 2C–D

This species, already noted from New Caledonia (Laurin 1997; Bitner 2009), is rare, being found in 5 stations. Its depth range in the studied area is 300–510 m. Originally described from off Japan (Hatai 1940), B. lucida also occurs in the Fiji region (Bitner 2008).

Basiliolella grayi (Woodward, 1855)

Fig. 2E–F

This is one of the most common species (nearly 500 specimens). It was found in 13 Terrasses stations and 12 Exbodi stations (see Appendix), with a depth range of 150–584 m. Basiliolella grayi is restricted to the SW Pacific (Laurin 1997; Logan 2007; Bitner 2009).

Ebiscothyris bellonensis Bitner & Cohen, 2015

Fig. 3E–J

This species, recently described from the Coral Sea by Bitner and Cohen (2015), is common only in the material collected during the Exbodi cruise. Its depth range is very great, from 70 to 1180 m. Externally, E. bellonensis is very similar to Abyssothyris wyvillei (Davidson, 1878), but it differs internally in the character of the loop; in A. wyvillei the loop has a narrow, anteriorly convex transverse band (see Cooper 1983; Bitner 2006b, 2008), while in E. bellonensis the transverse band is broad and medially folded. Molecular analysis confirms this separation (Bitner and Cohen 2015).

Figure 3. 

A–B Xenobrochus africanus (Cooper, 1973), dorsal view of complete specimen (IB-2013–236), and enlargement of the posterior part to show details of the beak, SEM, cruise Terrasses, stn DW 3109, 150–180 m C–D Xenobrochus indianensis (Cooper, 1973), dorsal view of complete specimen (IB-2013–602), and enlargement of the umbonal part to show details of the beak, SEM, cruise Exbodi, stn DW 3925, 388 m E–J Ebiscothyris bellonensis Bitner & Cohen, 2015, cruise Exbodi, E–G dorsal and anterior views of complete specimens (IB-2013–262), stn CP 3844, 815–970 m H–I interior and tilted (I) views of dorsal valve (IB-2013–262), SEM, stn CP 3844 J interior of dorsal valve (IB-2013–254), SEM, stn CP 3791, 750–863 m K–L Stenosarina globosa Laurin, 1997, dorsal and lateral views of complete specimen (IB-2013–227), cruise Terrasses, stn DW 3102, 410–430 m M–N Kanakythyris pachyrhynchos Laurin, 1997, dorsal and lateral views of complete specimen (IB-2013–231), cruise Terrasses, stn DW 3107, 380–440 m O–P Stenosarina crosnieri (Cooper, 1983), dorsal and lateral views of complete specimen (IB-2013–175), cruise Terrasses, stn DW 3041, 800–840 m.

Stenosarina crosnieri (Cooper, 1983)

Fig. 3O–P

This short-looped terebratulide is a relatively common species in the investigated material, being already recorded from New Caledonia (Laurin 1997; Bitner 2009). About 50 specimens were found in 17 stations, with a depth range of 340–951 m. S. crosnieri was originally described from the south-western Indian Ocean (Cooper 1983).

Stenosarina globosa Laurin, 1997

Fig. 3K–L

The second Stenosarina species in the studied material is much rarer, being found in only five samples (386–570 m). Stenosarina globosa is smaller than S. crosnieri and characterized by a strongly convex shell. So far known only from the New Caledonia area (Laurin 1997), this species can be considered as endemic to this region.

Kanakythyris pachyrhynchos Laurin, 1997

Fig. 3M–N

This species is very characteristic with its thick shell, strongly incurved beak and very small foramen. It is relatively rare, being found in six samples (150–510 m). It is known only from the New Caledonian region (Laurin 1997; Bitner 2009) and can be regarded as endemic to this area.

Xenobrochus africanus (Cooper, 1973)

Fig. 3A–B

A single specimen of this species was found in one Terrasses station at 150–180 m but it was earlier recorded from New Caledonia (Laurin 1997; Bitner 2010). X. africanus was originally described from South Africa (Cooper 1973).

Xenobrochus indianensis (Cooper, 1973)

Fig. 3C–D

This second species of Xenobrochus is also very rare, found in one Exbodi station at a depth of 388 m. Laurin (1997) already noted this species from New Caledonia. It was originally described from South Africa (Cooper 1973). Xenobrochus indianensis can be distinguished from X. africanus by a more convex shell, incurved beak with a partly concealed symphytium, and internally by the presence of a distinct cardinal process (Cooper 1973, 1983; Laurin 1997).

Terebratulina pacifica Yabe & Hatai, 1934

Fig. 4D

This is a relatively common species, found in 12 stations (180–790 m). Its presence in the studied area was already noted (Laurin 1997; Bitner 2009), and it is common off Japan (Hatai 1940). This wide distribution suggests that a careful molecular analysis of a wide range of Pacific Ocean samples might lead to the recognition of multiple forms that have not been distinguished morphologically (e.g. Lüter and Cohen 2002).

Figure 4. 

A–C Eucalathis murrayi (Davidson, 1878), cruise Exbodi, SEM A–B dorsal view of complete specimen (IB-2013–601), and enlargement (B) of posterior part to show details of the beak, stn DW 3925, 388m C dorsal view of complete specimen (IB-2013–588), stn CP 3911, 680–802 m D Terebratulina pacifica Yabe & Hatai, 1934, dorsal view of complete specimen (IB-2013–214), cruise Terrasses, stn DW 3082, 290 m E Campages mariae (Adams, 1860), dorsal view of complete specimen (IB-2013–259), cruise Exbodi, stn CP 3834, 27–258 m F–G Frenulina sanguinolenta (Gmelin, 1791) F interior of dorsal valve (IB-2013–525), SEM, cruise Exbodi, stn 3872, 159–756 m G dorsal view of complete specimen (IB-2013–192), cruise Terrasses, stn DW 3063, 430–480 m H–I Septicollarina zezinae Bitner, 2009, cruise Terrasses, stn DW 3040, 750–780 m (IB-2013–173) H dorsal view of complete specimen I exterior of ventral valve, visible randomly distributed, small pustules J–K Fallax neocaledonensis Laurin, 1997, dorsal and anterior views of complete specimen (IB-2013–210), cruise Terrasses, stn DW 3077, 420–540 m.

Eucalathis murrayi (Davidson, 1878)

Fig. 4A–C

This species is very rare and was found in only two Exbodi stations (388–802 m). Although known from the nearby New Zealand region (MacFarlan et al. 2009), this is the first report of E. murrayi from the vicinity of New Caledonia. Originally described from off the Kermadec Islands (Davidson 1880) it has a wide distribution in the south-western Pacific (Bitner 2006a) and is known from the western Indian Ocean (Zezina 1987).

So far the only representative of the family Chlidonophoridae reported from New Caledonia has been Eucalathis rugosa Cooper, 1973 (see Laurin 1997; Bitner 2009, 2010), which is characterized by strong ornamentation of single, coarse ribs, while in E. murrayi ribs are numerous, finer, and bifurcating. DNA sequences of these species have not yet been compared (B.L. Cohen, pers. communication).

Fallax neocaledonensis Laurin, 1997

Fig. 4J–K

This long-looped brachiopod is one of the most common (more than 250 specimens) and was identified in 20 stations (260–840 m). F. neocaledonensis was originally described from New Caledonia by Laurin (1997; see also Bitner 2009) and was also recognized in material from Fiji (Bitner 2006b, 2008).

Septicollarina zezinae Bitner, 2009

Fig. 4H–I

This rare species was found in one station of each cruise (680–802 m). Originally described from the Norfolk Ridge (Bitner 2009) it was also identified around Fiji and French Polynesia (Bitner 2008, 2014).

Frenulina sanguinolenta (Gmelin, 1791)

Fig. 4F–G

This easily recognizable species was found in 20 stations but was abundant only in the Exbodi material where it appears to have a very wide bathymetric range (110 to 1100 m). However this range probably is the result of the wide depth-range of the DW3932 dredge haul (500 to 1100 m), the specimens of this generally shallow-water form probably having been collected only in the shallower water.

Frenulina sanguinolenta is one of the most widely distributed species of living brachiopods, known from Japan, Australia, New Caledonia, Fiji, French Polynesia and Hawaii (Hatai 1940; Emig 1987; Saito 1996; Laurin 1997; Bitner 2006a, 2006b, 2007a, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014). Recently this species has also been identified in the western Indian Ocean (Bitner and Logan in press).

Campages mariae (Adams, 1860)

Fig. 4E

In the studied material this species was found in 16 stations in the material of both cruises at depths of 180–790 m. Originally described from off Japan (Hatai 1940), C. mariae occurs in the Western Pacific (Logan 2007; Bitner 2009, 2010).

Annuloplatidia richeri Bitner, 2009

Fig. 5F–J

This species was originally described from the Norfolk Ridge where it was very common (see Bitner 2009). Here, A. richeri is rare, found in one Terrasses station and two Exbodi stations (622–802 m). It is characterized by numerous, transversely elongate pustules that cover the ventral valve (Fig. 5H–J). A. richeri can be treated as endemic to the New Caledonian region as it has not yet been recognized in other areas.

Figure 5. 

A–E Thecidellina maxilla (Hedley, 1899), cruise Exbodi, stn DW 3905, 300 m, (IB-2013–549) A–B dorsal view of complete specimen and enlargement of the posterior part to show flat pseudodeltidium (planodeltidium) C–E inner, posterior (D) and oblique (E) views of dorsal valve to show bridge, median lobe of cardinal process and median septum F–J Annuloplatidia richeri Bitner, 2009 F–G dorsal view of complete specimen (IB-2013–616), and enlargement of the umbonal part, cruise Terrasses, stn DW 3040, 750–780 m H–I ventral view of complete specimen (IB-2013–592), and enlargement of shell surface to show nodes, cruise Exbodi, stn DW 3913, 622 m J dorsal view of complete specimen (IB-2013–590), cruise Exbodi, stn DW 3911, 680–802 m K–L Annuloplatidia curiosa Bitner, 2014, ventral and dorsal views of complete specimen (IB-2013–522), cruise Exbodi, stn DW 3862, 400–520 m. All SEM.

Annuloplatidia curiosa Bitner, 2014

Fig. 5K–L

This species is very rare, found in only one Exbodi station at depths of 400–520 m. It was already reported from New Caledonia by Laurin (1997), but was wrongly assigned by him to Megerlia echinata (Fischer & Œhlert, 1890) (see discussion in Bitner 2014: 256). It has a very wide distribution, being known from New Zealand, Wallis and Futuna Islands, and French Polynesia (Bitner 2007b, 2008, 2014).

Thecidellina maxilla (Hedley, 1899)

Fig. 5A–E

This is the only thecideide brachiopod in the investigated material. This species was found in 10 Exbodi stations with a very wide depth range (159 to 1100 m) but as noted before (see Frenulina sanguinolenta above) this may be an artefact. Already noted from New Caledonian waters (Laurin 1997; Bitner 2007a, 2009, 2010), Thecidellina maxilla is widely distributed in the SW Pacifc, from New Zealand to French Polynesia (Lee and Robinson 2003; Bitner 2007b, 2008, 2014; Logan 2007; MacFarlan et al. 2009).