Deep-water Columbellidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from New Caledonia

Eighty-one species of Columbellidae are recorded from the New Caledonia region from depths in excess of 100 meters, with a majority occurring in the 200-600 m interval, and none recorded from deeper than 900 m. Eight are previously known, and 73 are described as new species. Most are small to very small, with 23 species (28%) smaller than 5 mm, the smallest measuring 1.9 mm. Most species have paucispiral protoconchs indicating non-planktotrophic larval development: 6 (75%) of the known species, but only 9 (12%) of the new species, have multispiral larval shells. Up to eight species co-occur at the same station, however most stations have only two or three species. Regional heterogeneity within the New Caledonia EEZ is high: Loyalty Ridge has 15 species (3 endemics), the Coral Sea has 18 (3 regional endemics), the Far North has 26 (7 endemics), Norfolk Ridge has 34 (13 endemics), and mainland New Caledonia and satellite Ile des Pins have 44 (15 endemics)