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
56.
Conus vexillum
Gmelin, 1791
(Figure 57)
Conus vexillum
Gmelin, 1791: 3397
, no. 68 (representation of
lectotype
,
Rumphius 1705
. pl. 31, fig. 5 (68 x
39 mm
) (
Kohn 1966
); locality unknown).
Conus sumatrensis
Hwass
in
Bruguière, 1792: 655–656
, no. 54 (representation of
lectotype
, n
Chemnitz 1788
: pl. 144a, figs. a, b (71 x
45 mm
) (
Walls 1979
); "Isle
de Sumatra
").
Cucullus canonicus
Röding, 1798: 43
, no. 535/54 (representation of
lectotype
,
Martini 1773
: pl. 57, fig. 629 (63 x
35 mm
); locality unknown).
Conus princeps
Holten, 1802: 34
, no. 440 (
lectotype
same as that of
C. sumatrensis
Hwass (
Kohn 1981
)
; locality unknown).
Conus leopardus
Dillwyn, 1817: 364
, no. 20 (
lectotype
same as that of
C. sumatrensis
Hwass (
Walls 1979
)
; "East Indian Seas,
Sumatra
").
Conus sulphuratus
Kiener, 1845
: pl. 66, fig. 3, pl. 78, fig. 4.
Conus robillardi
Bernardi, 1858: 182–183
, pl. 7, figs. 2, 3 (
holotype
, MNHN (27 x
14 mm
) (
Röckel
et al.
1995
); locality unknown).
Material examined:
MBMCS156
,
8 specimens
, SL
40–108 mm
; SW
22–52 mm
.
Description.
Shell medium sized to large, solid to heavy. Body whorl conical to broadly conical, outline convex adapically, straight below. Shoulder angulate to rounded. Spire of low to moderate height, outline straight to slightly convex, weak spiral ribs on base. Aperture uniformly wide, interior white, outer lip thin sharp and straight.
Ground colour white. Body whorl brown except for variably broad white spiral bands at centre and shoul- der, often interrupted and sometimes absent. Overlying, dense wavy dark-brown streaks, and closely spaced coarse to fine lines extend from base to shoulder. Spire white, flecked with brown. Base dark-brown. Periostracum olive-brown, thick and ridged.
Distribution.
Conus vexillum
has been reported from the Malabar coast (
Bruguière 1792
;
Mawe 1823
;
Melvill & Standen 1898
), west coast of
India
.
Kohn (1978)
referred to museum specimens collected at Tuticorin (at ZSI and MGM) and an unlabelled specimen in the Krusadai Island Museum.
The specimens reported herein were collected from Keelakarai and Tuticorin (
Table 6
) by trawling in
10– 40 m
, mainly on sand bottoms.
Remarks.
An uncommon species probably restricted to
Gulf
of Mannar.