2250
Author
Franklin, J. Benjamin
Author
Subramanian, K. A.
Author
Fernando, S. Antony
Author
Krishnan, K. S.
text
Zootaxa
2009
2009-10-08
2250
1
63
journal article
11755334
55.
Conus tuticorinensis
Röckel & Korn, 1990
(Figure 56)
Conus tuticorinensis
Röckel & Korn, 1990: 277–291
, pl. 2, fig. 2, pl. 2, fig. 1 (
holotype
, SMF (26 x 16.5 mm) (
Röckel
et al.
1995
); "Tuticorin, South East
Indien
").
Material examined.
MBMCS155
,
1 specimen
, SL
24 mm
; SW
14 mm
.
Description.
Shell small, moderately solid. Body whorl broadly conical, outline convex adapically. Shoul- der angulate. Spire low, outline straight. Body whorl with flat spiral ribbons from base to shoulder.
Ground colour white, suffused with pale violet on last whorl. Body whorl with orange-brown “brick wall pattern” of about twelve spiral lines and irregular axial lines; similarly coloured irregular flecks spirally aligned below shoulder and each side of centre. Apex white. Aperture reddish white.
Distribution.
Kohn (1978)
first reported this species from
India
with reference to museum specimens collected by Winckworth from Tuticorin (at BMNH) and by Sukherwala from Tuticorin and Rameswaram (at AMNH).
Röckel & Korn (1990)
reported on
three specimens
from Tuticorin.
The specimen described herein was collected from the dumped by-catch at Tuticorin fishing harbour (
Table 6
). The exact depth of occurrence and nature of bottom is not known.
Remarks.
This species is extremely rare in the
TamilNadu
Coast
.
Röckel & Korn (1990)
described
C. tuticorinensis
as
C. boschi
(
Clover 1972
)
. The shell shape of
C. boschi
and intergrading colour pattern of the
holotype
specimen of
C. melvilli
Sowerby III
are similar, thus,
C. boschi
and
C. melvilli
were considered as conspecific.
Röckel
et al
. (1995)
considered
C. boschi
as invalid species and placed it with
C. melvilli
.
C. tuticorinensis
is similar to
C. melvilli
. The latter species differs in its wider sutures and absence of spiral grooves from its sutural ramps. Also,
C. melvilli
has a dark violet aperture, less angulate shoulder and narrow last whorl.