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
24.
Conus frigidus
Reeve, 1848
(Figure 25)
Conus frigidus
Reeve, 1848
: pl. 3, no. 284 (
type
, BMNH (26 x
15 mm
) (
Röckel
et al.
1995
); locality unknown).
Conus maltzanianus
Weinkauff, 1873: 204–205
, pl. 32, figs. 3–6 (
two syntypes
, LMD (51 x 29; 41.5 x
23 mm
) (
Röckel
et al.
1995
); "Tahiti und andere Südsee-Inseln").
Material examined:
MBMCS 124
,
14 specimens
, SL
38–42 mm
; SW
15–20 mm
.
Description.
Shell small to medium sized, solid. Body whorl conical; outline almost straight. Shoulders sub-angulate; spire of moderate height, outline straight. Body whorl usually with variably spaced generally granulose spiral ribs from base to centre or shoulder, surface seldom smooth.
Shell tan, with paler transverse bands at shoulder and centre, base violet. Aperture purple. Exterior colour band visible as a band along interior border of lip. Periostracum yellowish brown, thick, opaque with numerous axial ridges.
Distribution.
Kohn (1978)
first reported
C. frigidus
from
India
with precise locality data. He has also reported museum specimens collected from Dwarka,
Gujarat
(at ZSI) and Tuticorin (at BMNH).
The specimens reported herein were collected from Keelakarai (
Table 6
) by diving in
3–8 m
on sand bottom around rock boulders and within rock crevices and by trawling in
10–30 m
.
Remarks.
The previous record by
Kohn (1978)
and the present observations of this species at Keelakarai suggests that its distribution is limited to the
Gulf
of Mannar. This is the second record of
C. frigidus
from the east coast and the largest (
38 mm
).