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 Africonus antoniaensis Cossignani & Fiadeiro, 2014 Fig. 3A Africonus antoniaensis Cossignani & Fiadeiro, 2014a: 16 . Africonus padarosae Cossignani & Fiadeiro, 2018a: 18 . syn. nov. Material examined Holotype CABO VERDE • 15.6 mm ; Boa Vista Island , Baía Antónia ; 0.5 to 5 m depth on rocky bottom ; MMM . Other material CABO VERDE • 14.5 mm ; Boa Vista Island , Água Doce ; 16º12′29″ N , 22º44′7″ W ; 19 Apr. 2015 ; MNCN exped.; GenBank mitochondrion, partial genome: MF491587 ; MNCN 15.05/79889 ( Fig. 3A ) • 13.4 mm , holotype of Africonus padarosae ; Boa Vista Island , Baixa de Padaroso ; MMM . Geographical distribution North of Boa Vista Island, Cabo Verde Archipelago, from Ponta do Sol towards the east, including Derrubado area. Conservation status in IUCN Red List Not evaluated. Remarks The specimen sequenced from this recently described taxon appears closely related to A. damottai , but at a genetic distance consistent with its consideration as a valid species. The shell of the recently described A. padarosae is morphologically very close to that of A. antoniaensis , and separation at the species level is unsupported, as it falls within the morphological variability of the latter. As it happens with many other recently named cone snails endemic to the Cabo Verde Archipelago, the species separation criterion was based mainly on the type locality, and on subtle conchological differences, which were never statistically tested. In this particular case, the authors claimed that the A. padarosae could be separated from A. antoniaensis based upon “different spire profile and more elongated shape” without any statistically supported morphometric analysis. We therefore propose to consider A. padarosae as a mere form of A. antoniaensis .