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
31.
Conus leopardus
Röding, 1798
(Figure 32)
Conus leopardus
Röding, 1798: 41
, no. 520 (representation of
lectotype
,
Martini 1773
: pl. 60, fig. 666 (78 x
43 mm
) (Kohn 1975); locality unknown).
Conus millepunctatus
Lamarck, 1822: 461–462
, no. 45 (representation of
lectotype
,
Cuvier 1798
: pl. 323, fig. 5 (137 x
75 mm
) (
Walls 1979
); "Océan asiatique").
Conus millepunctatus
var.
aldrovandi
Dautzenberg, 1937: 171–172
representation of
lectotype
,
Cuvier 1798
: pl. 324, fig. 4 (119 x
66 mm
) (
Coomans
et al.
1980
); locality unknown).
Material examined:
MBMCS 131
,
48 specimens
, SL
60–147 mm
; SW
32–90 mm
.
Description.
Shell large and heavy. Body whorl usually conical, outline almost straight. Shoulder broad, angulate, and occasionally sub-angulate. Spire very low or flat, sometimes moderate height, outline slightly concave to slightly convex. Body whorl with weak spiral ribs above base, obsolete in larger specimens.
Ground colour white to cream, body whorl with spiral rows of rounded or squarish, reddish brown spots or sometimes short axial streaks from base to shoulder, these sometimes in alternating large and small series; shoulder and spire with many narrow revolving dark brown broader lines on white. Aperture relatively narrow, slightly wider anteriorly. Periostracum greenish-brown, smooth and very thick. Siphon ends with a black band on a white background.
Distribution.
The only report of
C. leopardus
from
India
is that of
Röckel
et al.
(1995)
. The specimens from Gulf of Mannar (
Table 6
) were collected by trawling in
9 to 40 m
and from lobster cages laid at depths of
3 to
5 m
.
Remarks.
The restricted distribution of
C. leopardus
to the
Gulf
of Mannar agrees with earlier reports of its preference for vast subtidal stretches of sand and reef flats (
Cernohorsky, 1964
;
Kohn & Nybakken 1975
). We collected a large number of specimens from lobster cages at Vedhalai and Keelakarai. Fishermen engaged in diving and lobster fishing reported the occurrence of
C. leopardus
within the rocky crevices.