Conus (Lautoconus) ictini, Psarras & Merle & Koskeridou, 2022

Psarras, Christos, Merle, Didier & Koskeridou, Efterpi, 2022, Late Miocene Conidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of Crete (Greece). Part 2, European Journal of Taxonomy 816, pp. 1-70 : 10-13

Conus (Lautoconus) ictini sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AF2A4A6E-63F0-4FC1-AE80-1C94537E2E4A

Figs 4–5 , 20 , 40B ; Table 2

Conus (Varioconus) pelagicus – Landau et al. 2013: pl. 82 fig. 2a–b (non Conus (Lautoconus) pelagicus Brocchi, 1814 ).

Diagnosis

A species with smooth, low angled, conical spire whorls and bricked-wall-like colour pattern.

Etymology

Name taken after Ictinus (Latin translation of the ancient Greek Ἰκτῖνος), one of the two architects of the Parthenon.

Material examined

Holotype GREECE – Crete • Tefeli; Messara Basin , Tortonian ; Efterpi Koskeridou leg.; AMPG(IV) 3719 .

Paratypes GREECE – Crete • 1 spec.; same collection data as for holotype; AMPG(IV) 3720 • 1 spec.; same collection data as for holotype; AMPG(IV) 3718 .

Other material GREECE – Crete • 1 spec.; Filippi ; 35.035° N, 25.250° E; 2017; Christos Psarras leg.; AMPG(IV) 3717 • 2 specs; Achladhia ; 1964; Nikolaos Symeonidis leg.; AMPG(IV) 3715 to AMPG(IV) 3716 .

Shell description

Moderately small to medium-sized (H. max: 42.68 mm), oval to olive-like shells, with smooth spire whorls. Spire conical, smooth, slightly elevated in some specimens. Early spire whorls coeloconoid in outline, individual sutural ramps straight to slightly convex. Late spire whorls convex, with straight outline. Suture incised. Subsutural flexure shallow, moderately curved, moderately asymmetrical ( Fig. 40B ). Shoulder rounded to slightly angulated. Maximum diameter right below shoulder. Last whorl elongated, smooth. Spiral cords on anterior part of last whorl. Fasciole twisted distinct, swollen.

Description of colour pattern

The residual colour of the last whorls consists of three levels of colouration. The first vivid colouration is made up of horizontally arranged, densely packed, evenly spaced, continuous spiral lines ( Fig. 5 ) and vertical to diagonal, narrow, short lines that connect the spiral lines, creating a bricked-wall-like pattern ( Fig. 5 ). This pattern is faded in many parts of the shell ( Fig. 4B ). Under natural light, though, the colour pattern is visible even without the help of UV light on the holotype as parallel, closely arranged lines ( Fig. 4A 1 , A 3 ). A second level of colour consists of fluorescent blotches on the last whorl and irregular flammulae on the spire whorls. The fluorescent blotches are often filling the rectangular areas between the spiral lines of the first level of colour ( Fig. 4C–D ). The third level consists of a non-fluorescent pattern bearing irregular blotches that overlaps the other patterns ( Fig. 5 ).

Remarks

Morphologically ( Table 2), this species is very similar to Conus (Lautoconus) pelagicus Brocchi, 1814 . It differs slightly in the smoother spire whorls and a more inflated appearance ( Fig. 4 ). The occurrence of this morphotype, at multiple localities and ages (Serravallian, Turkey ( Landau et al. 2013) and Tortonian, Greece (this work)), is evidence for the existence of a separate species. Conus (Lautoconus) ictini sp. nov. has a distinct brick-like colour pattern, making it possible to distinguish it safely from other species under UV light. Conus (Lautoconus) eschewegi ( Landau et al. 2013: pl. 82 fig. 1a–b, see Remarks above) displays multiple spiral dots and dashes, while Conus (Lautoconus) ictini sp. nov. bears multiple continuous spiral lines and vertical brick-like patterns. The colour pattern of Conus (Lautoconus) ictini sp. nov. is very similar to that of the extant Conus (Quasiconus) melvilli Sowerby, 1879 , a species inhabiting the Arabian Peninsula ( Moolenbeek & Coomans 1993).

Stratigraphic range

Serravallian of Turkey (Karaman Basin) ( Landau et al. 2013) and Tortonian of Greece (Achladhia, Sitia Basin and Messara Basin, Crete).

Figures

Fig. 4. Conus (Lautoconus) ictini sp. nov. from the Tortonian of Crete (Greece) on apertural, abapertural and apical views, under natural (A1, A3, A4, B1) and UV light. A. Holotype AMPG(IV) 3719, Tefeli. B. Paratype AMPG(IV) 3720, Tefeli. C. Paratype AMPG(IV) 3718, Tefeli. D. Specimen AMPG(IV) 3716, Achladhia. Scale bar = 1 cm.

Fig. 5. Elements constituting the colour pattern ofConus (Lautoconus) ictinisp. nov, holotypeAMPG(IV) 3719 from Tefeli Crete (Greece). Notice the axially arranged lines that connect the spiral lines. Scale bar = 1 cm.

Fig. 20. PCA graph with nine species of Conus (Lautoconus) found in late Miocene localities of Crete (Greece). Conus (Lautoconus) sp. 1 is broken and cannot be included in the graph. Yellow dots = Conus (Lautoconus) eschewegi (Pereira da Costa, 1866); grey dots = Conus (Lautoconus) ictini sp. nov.; red dots = Conus (Lautoconus) sp. 2; blue dot = Conus (Lautoconus) sp. 3; black dot = Conus (Lautoconus) lauriatragei sp. nov.; brown dots = Conus (Lautoconus) damianakisi sp. nov.; purple dot = Conus (Lautoconus) cf. baldichieri Borson, 1820; green dots = Conus (Lautoconus) sp. 4; light blue dot = Conus (Lautoconus) sp. 5. Abbreviations: LW = length width ratio; PMD = position of maximum diameter; RD = relative diameter; RSH = relative height of spire.

Fig. 40. Examples of subsutural flexures. A. Conus (Lautoconus) eschewegi Pereira da Costa, 1866 (MNHN.F.A82976). B. Conus (Lautoconus) ictini sp. nov. (AMPG(IV) 3719). C. Conus (Lautoconus) sp. 1 (MNHN.F.A82982). D. Conus (Lautoconus) sp. 2 (AMPG(IV) 3756). E. Conus (Lautoconus) sp. 3 (MNHN.F.A83012). F. Conus (Lautoconus) cf. baldichieri Borson, 1820 (MNHN.F.A83013). G. Conus (Lautoconus) lauriatragei sp. nov. (MNHN.F.A83014). H. Conus (Lautoconus) damianakisi sp. nov. (AMPG(IV) 3802). I. Conus (Lautoconus) sp. 4 (MNHN.F.A83015). J. Conus (Lautoconus) sp. 5 (AMPG(IV) 3861). K. Conus (Stephanoconus) cf. taurinensis Bellardi & Michelotti, 1841 (AMPG(IV) 3808). L. Conus (Stephanoconus) moissettei sp. nov. (MNHN.F.A83071). M. Conus davolii sp. nov. (MNHN.F.A83091). N. Conus fuscocingulatus Hörnes, 1851 (AMPG(IV) 3858). O. Conus (Plagioconus) elatus Michelotti, 1847 (AMPG(IV) 3862). P. Conus (Plagioconus) sp. (AMPG(IV) 3890). Q. Conus (Plagioconus) sp. (AMPG(IV) 3898). R. Conus (Plagioconus) aquensis d’Orbigny, 1852 (AMPG(IV) 3907). Not to scale.

Fig. 1. General map Crete, showing the localities where the material was collected: 1 = Tylissos; 2 = Keramoutsi; 3 = Panassos; 4 = Apomarma; 5 = Psalidha; 6 = Adhraktia; 7 = Tefeli; 8 = Partira; 9 = Filippi; 10 = Makrilia; 11 = Achladhia; 12 = Voleones.

Fig. 3. Elements constituting the colour pattern of Conus (Lautoconus) eschewegi Pereira da Costa, 1866 (MNHN.F.A82974) from the Tortonian of Crete (Greece). Scale bar = 1 cm.