Taxonomic revision of West African cone snails (Gastropoda: Conidae) based upon mitogenomic studies: implications for conservation Author Tenorio, Manuel J. 24B3DC9A-3E34-4165-A450-A8E86B0D1231 Departamento CMIM y Química Inorgánica - Instituto de Biomoléculas (INBIO), Facultad de Ciencias, Torre Norte, 1 ª Planta, Universidad de Cadiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Cadiz, Spain. manuel.tenorio@uca.es Author Abalde, Samuel C72D4F45-19A1-4554-9504-42D1705C85A3 Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain. saabalde@gmail.com Author Pardos-Blas, José R. 1CAB2718-4C97-47EE-8239-0582C472C40E&C55129E8-7FF7-41B2-A77C-4097E61DDD2E Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain. & Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain. joserrapblas@gmail.com&rafaz@mncn.csic.es Author Zardoya, Rafael C55129E8-7FF7-41B2-A77C-4097E61DDD2E Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain. rafaz@mncn.csic.es text European Journal of Taxonomy 2020 2020-06-10 663 663 1 89 journal article 10.5852/ejt.2020.663 5a7c4049-6179-47df-8537-a81f307a7dc2 2118-9773 3890442 78E7049C-F592-4D01-9D15-C7715119B584 Varioconus guinaicus (Hwass in Bruguière, 1792 ) comb. nov. Fig. 10 L–P Conus guinaicus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792: 697 . Conus adansonii Lamarck, 1810: 424 . Conus taslei Kiener, 1850: 360 , pl. 110, fig. 3. Conus luridus A. Adams, 1854: 118 . Conus pineaui Pin & Leung Tack in Pin, 1989b: 66 , figs 17, 32, 38. Lautoconus wolof Petuch & Berschauer, 2018: 169 , figs 3D–F. syn. nov. Conus guinaicus – Monteiro et al. 2004: 51 , pls 40–42. Conus taslei – Monteiro et al. 2004: 73 , pl. 44. Conus pineaui – Monteiro et al. 2004: 65 , pl. 43. Material examined Lectotype “ GUINEA ” • 43 mm ; MHNG-MOLL-52638 ( Fig. 10L ). Other material SENEGAL • 1 spec. , 50.2 mm ; Ndayane , Petite Côte ; 14º33ʹ59ʺ N , 17º8ʹ3ʺ W ; 2 Jul. 2015 ; MNCN exped.; GenBank mitochondrion, partial genome: KY801861 ; MNCN 15.05/78443 ( Fig. 10M ) • 1 spec. ; Fann , Terrou-Bi , Dakar ; 14º40ʹ28ʺ N , 17º28ʹ9ʺ W ; 4 Jul. 2015 ; MNCN exped.; GenBank mitochondrion, partial genome: KY801848 ; MNCN 15.05/78511 • 1 spec. ; Joal-Fadiouth ; 14º8ʹ20ʺ N , 16º48ʹ57ʺ W ; 2 Jul. 2015 ; MNCN exped.; GenBank mitochondrion, partial genome: KY801855 ; MNCN 15.05/78476 • 1 spec. ; Ndayane , Petite Côte ; 2016; L. Tamagnini leg.; GenBank mitochondrion, partial genome: MT240805 ; MNCN 15.05/78541 • 1 spec. , 28.7 mm , holotype of C. pineaui ; Cap de Naze , Popenguine , south of Dakar ; 20–30 m depth ; MNHN IM-2000-2528 ( Fig. 10O ) . GAMBIA • 1 spec. , 21.1 mm , holotype of Lautoconus wolof ; off Tanji Beach ; MNHN IM-2000- 2528 ( Fig. 10N ) • 1 spec. ; same locality as for holotype; 19 Feb. 2019 ; L. Tamagnini leg.; GenBank mitochondrion, partial genome: MT240811 ; MNCN 15.05/90434 . Geographical distribution Senegal , Gambia , Guinea-Bissau , and Guinea . Also reported from Ghana . Conservation status in IUCN Red List Vulnerable. Status revision required. Remarks This is the most representative taxon of a very compact clade, which includes a number of very closely related species, and certain populations with minimal differences in mitogenome sequences that are now considered synonyms (forms), such as taslei or pineaui ( Fig. 10O ). All these taxa share the same radular tooth morphology: narrow and elongated radular tooth with the anterior section longer than the posterior section, rounded blade covering less than half of the anterior section, and more than 40 denticles in the serration ( Abalde et al. 2017b ). The population from Gorée Island , characterized by its dark brown shell, does not correspond to the taxon guinaicus but to its sister species V. franciscanus . The distribution range of V. guinaicus is quite large, from Dakar area south to Guinea including Gambia , and also reported from Ghana . The taxon V. wolof ( Fig. 10N ), recently described from Gambia , has been sequenced. The sequence of its mitogenome is essentially identical to that of V. guinaicus ( Fig. 2 ). Therefore, this name represents a mere local form of V. guinaicus and is hereby considered a synonym.