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
52.
Conus terebra
Born, 1778
(Figure 53)
Conus terebra
Born, 1778: 145
(
lectotype
, NMW (55.5 x
25 mm
) (
Kohn 1964
); "
Fiji Islands
").
Conus terebellum
Gmelin, 1791: 3390
, no. 44 (representation of
lectotype
,
Martini 1773
: pl. 52, fig. 577 (48 x
22 mm
) (Kohn 1976); "Indian Ocean").
Conus fusus
Gmelin, 1791: 3390
, no. 45 (representation of
lectotype
,
Martini 1773
: pl. 52, fig. 576 (19 x
10 mm
); locality unknown).
Cucullus albeolus
Röding, 1798: 47
, no. 594/91 (
lectotype
same as of
C. terebellum
Gmelin (Kohn 1975)
; locality unknown).
Conus coelebs
Hinds, 1843: 256
(
holotype
,
Coll. Belcher
; "Ambow,
Feejee Islands
").
Conus thomasi
Sowerby III, 1881: 625–636
, pl. 56, fig. 4 (
Holotype
, BMNH (72.5 x
36 mm
); "
Red Sea
").
Material examined:
MBMCS152
,
52 specimens
, SL
58–92 mm
; SW
24–40 mm
.
Description.
Shell moderately small to large with low gloss. Body whorl conical to narrowly conical; outline convex at shoulder, straight below, sometimes concave centrally. Shoulder rounded to roundly angled, not distinct from spire. Spire of moderate height, outline convex. Body whorl with variably spaced and variably fine spiral ribs from base to shoulder. The spiral ribs are generally closer near shoulder. Aperture narrow, slightly wider anteriorly; outer lip straight.
Ground colour white to pale cream. Body whorl with a broad spiral band on each side of the centre varying from light grey to light brown. Base tinged with violet in adult specimens. Aperture white, in adult pale or dull violet. Periostracum is persistent; dark brown, thick, opaque and axially ridged; darker and rough in large specimen.
Distribution.
Kohn (1978)
reported
C. terebra
off Krusadai Island. He also mentioned specimens collected from Tuticorin and Madras by Winckworth and Steiner respectively.
Röckel
et al.
(1995)
reported a single specimen from Pamban.
The specimens described herein were collected from Keelakarai (
Table 6
) by diving in
5–10 m
around coral reefs. In Vembar and Tuticorin (
Table 6
), specimens were collected by trawling in
20–
50 m
.
Remarks.
The present and previous records of this species are all from
Gulf
of Mannar. Thirty-two specimens were collected at shallow depths of sand bottoms at Keelakarai and Vembar. However, at Tuticorin they were collected at a maximum depth of
50 m
.
This species was often collected together with
C. leopardus
,
C. virgo
and
C. araneosus
.