Conus quercinus

Franklin, J. Benjamin, Subramanian, K. A., Fernando, S. Antony & Krishnan, K. S., 2009, 2250, Zootaxa 2250, pp. 1-63 : 43-44

47. Conus quercinus [Lightfoot], 1786 (Figure 48)

Conus quercinus [Lightfoot], 1786: pl. 67, no. 1501 (representation of lectotype, Martini 1773: pl. 59, fig. 657 (54 x 38 mm) ( Kohn 1964); locality unknown).

Conus cingulum Gmelin, 1791: 3378 , no. 72 ("Insulas amicas").

Conus quercinus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792: 681–682, no. 71 (lectotype, MHNG (82.5 x 55 mm) (Kohn 1968); "des Indes orientales").

Conus buxeus Link, 1817: 99 (representation of holotype, Martini 1773: pl. 59, fig. 657 (72 x 50 mm) ( Röckel et al. 1995); locality unknown).

Conus akabensis Sowerby III, 1887: 273 , sp. 528, pl. 36, figs. 752, 753 (holotype, BMNH (44 x 23 mm) ( Röckel et al. 1995); "Akaba (Red Sea)").

Conus egregious Sowerby III, 1914: 475–476 , pl. 19, fig. 9 (holotype in BMNH (3.5 x 2 mm); " New Caledonia ").

Conus quercinus var. albus Shaw, 1915: 210 (holotype, BMNH (58 x 34 mm); "Aden").

Conus fulvostriatus Fenaux, 1942: 2 , fig. 4 ("Bourbon").

Conus albonerosa Garrard, 1966: 11–12 , pl. 1, fig. 1 (holotype, AMS (110 x 62 mm) ( Röckel et al. 1995); "off Wide Bay, southern Queensland ").

Material examined: MBMCS 147 , 4 specimens, SL 48–53 mm; SW 32–34 mm .

Description. Shell moderately large, heavy, low gloss. Body whorl broadly conical; outline slightly convex adapically, straight below. Body whorl with few low spiral ridges above base, continuing as spiral threads above centre. Shoulder broad, sub-angulate. Spire of moderate height; outline slightly concave. Aperture wide, slightly flaring at base; outer lip straight and thick.

Ground colour pale yellow; a paler mid-body band visible. Spire uniformly yellowish white, early whorls dark brown. Aperture white.

Distribution. Melvill & Standen (1898) reported this species from the east coast of India (as ‘ C. ponderosus Beck’) without providing precise locality data. Kohn (1978) reported a museum specimen (in BMNH) collected by Winckworth from Tuticorin.

The specimens reported herein were collected from Vembar ( Table 6) by trawling in 20–30 m, mainly on the sandy bottom. Few specimens were also collected from the trash discards at Tuticorin fishing harbour ( Table 6).

Remarks. The earlier and present records suggest that C. quercinus is restricted to the east coast of India and appears to be rare along the TamilNadu Coast.