Monteiroconus bellocqae ( van Rossum, 1996 )

Tenorio, Manuel J., Abalde, Samuel, Pardos-Blas, José R. & Zardoya, Rafael, 2020, Taxonomic revision of West African cone snails (Gastropoda: Conidae) based upon mitogenomic studies: implications for conservation, European Journal of Taxonomy 663 (663), pp. 1-89 : 61-62

Monteiroconus bellocqae ( van Rossum, 1996)

Fig. 10B

Conus bellocqae van Rossum, 1996: 59 , figs 1–6.

Conus bellocqae – Monteiro et al. 2004: 28, pl. 45, figs 5–6.

Material examined

Holotype

GUINEA • 60.5 mm; off Conakry; 50–60 m depth; NBC.

Paratype

GUINEA • 1 spec., 60 mm; same collection data as for holotype; F. Gubbioli coll., Marbella, Spain ( Fig. 10B ) .

Geographical distribution

Off Guinea Conakry.

Conservation status in IUCN Red List

Data deficient.

Remarks

This is a rare species, first obtained from fishing nets of trawlers operating in waters off Guinea Conakry in the 1980s. Since the fishing activities ceased, no more specimens have been brought to surface. Hence, it has not been molecularly examined. Its radular morphology is also unknown. The shell of this species is very similar to that of M. ambiguus , but it is characterized by the presence of numerous irregular reddish axial lines. It might represent just a mere patterned form of M. ambiguus from a particular geographic area. We hereby consider it as a provisionally valid species, pending future studies that might eventually validate its status as such, or alternatively demonstrate its conspecificity with M. ambiguus .

Figures

Fig. 10 (opposite page). A. Conus ambiguus Reeve, 1844, neotype, 39.3 mm (NBC). B. Conus bellocqae van Rossum, 1996,paratype,60 mm(F.Gubbiolicoll.,Marbella, Spain).C. Monteiroconustabidus (Reeve, 1844), 33.6 mm (MNCN 15.05/78864). D. Conus belairensis Pin & Leung Tack in Pin, 1989, holotype, 36.7 mm (MNHN IM-2000-32668). E. Varioconus bruguieresi (Kiener, 1846) comb. nov., 32.1 mm (MNCN 15.05/78497). F. Varioconus cloveri (Walls, 1978) comb. nov., 23.2 mm (MNCN 15.05/78457). G. Varioconus echinophilus (Petuch, 1975b) comb. nov., 22.0. mm (MNCN 15.05/90430). H. Conus franciscanus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792, lectotype, 56.6 mm (MHNG-MOLL-52625). I. Varioconus franciscanus (Hwass in Bruguière, 1792) comb. nov., 53.6 mm (MNCN 15.05/78491). J. Varioconus franciscanus f. hybridus (Kiener, 1847), 40.0 mm (MNCN 15.05/78427). K. Conus guanche Lauer, 1993, holotype, 34.0 mm (MNHN IM-2000-2553). L. Conus guinaicus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792, lectotype, 43.0 mm (MHNG-MOLL-52638). M. Varioconus guinaicus (Hwass in Bruguière, 1792) comb. nov., 50.2 mm (MNCN 15.05/78443). N. Lautoconus wolof Petuch & Berschauer, 2018, holotype, 21.1 mm (MNHN IM-2000-34015). O. Conus pineaui Pin & Leung Tack in Pin, 1989, holotype, 28.7 mm (MNHN IM-2000-2528). P. Conus dorotheae Monnier & Limpalaër, 2010, holotype, 26.8 mm (MNHN IM-2009-8702). Scale bars = 10 mm.