Conus (Stephanoconus) cf. taurinensis Bellardi & Michelotti, 1841

Figs 21–25, 40K; Table 11

Conus sp. 1 – Caze 2010: p. 61 fig. 33c.

Conus aff. clavatus – Erünal-Erentöz 1958: pl. 19 fig. 5 [non Conus clavatus Lamarck, 1810].

Varioconus taurinensis – Landau et al. 2013: 251–252, pl. 41 figs 5–6, 10, pl. 42 fig. 13, pl. 82 figs 6–7.

Material examined

GREECE – Crete • 4 specs; 1990; Action spécifique du Muséum project (1989–1990) exped.; MNHN.F.A83016 to MNHN.F.A83019 • 4 specs;same collection data as for preceding; MNHN.F.A83020 to MNHN.F.A83023 • 8 specs; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN.F.A83024 to MNHN.F.A83031 • 1 spec.; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN.F.A83032 • 3 specs; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN.F.A83033 to MNHN.F.A83035 • 2 specs; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN.F.A83036 to MNHN.F.A83037 • 1 spec.; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN.F.A83038 • 1 spec.; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN.F.A83039 • 1 spec.; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN.F.A83040 • 3 specs; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN.F.A83041 to MNHN.F.A83043 • 3 specs; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN.F.A83044to MNHN.F.A83046 • 3 specs;same collection data as for preceding; MNHN.F.A83047 to MNHN.F.A83049 • 1 spec.; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN.F.A83050 • 1 spec.; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN.F.A83051 • 1 spec.; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN.F.A83052 • 6specs;same collection data as for preceding; MNHN.F.A83053to MNHN.F.A83058 • 1 spec.; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN.F.A83059 • 1 spec.; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN.F.A83060 • 1 spec.; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN.F.A83061 • 6 specs; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN.F.A83062 to; MNHN.F.A83067 • 2 specs; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN.F.A83068 to MNHN.F.A83069 • 1 spec.; Psalidha; 35.085° N, 24.962° E; MNHN.F.A83070 • 1 spec.; Filippi; 35.035° N, 25.250° E; Efterpi Koskeridou leg.; AMPG(IV) 3808 • 5 specs; same collection data as for preceding; AMPG(IV) 3809 to AMPG(IV) 3813 • 1 spec.; same locality; 2017; Christos Psarras leg.; AMPG (IV) 3814 • 1 spec.; same collection data as for preceding; AMPG (IV) 3815 • 2 specs; same collection data as for preceding; AMPG (IV) 3816 to AMPG (IV) 3817 • 1 spec.; same locality; AMPG (IV) 3818 • 1 spec.; same collection data as for preceding; AMPG (IV) 3819 • 2 specs; same collection data as for preceding; AMPG (IV) 3820 to AMPG (IV) 3821 • 1 spec.; same collection data as for preceding; AMPG (IV) 3822 • 1 spec.; same locality; 2017; Christos Psarras leg.; AMPG (IV) 3823 • 1 spec.; Partira; Efterpi Koskeridou leg.; AMPG(IV) 3824 • 1 spec.; Tefeli; Efterpi Koskeridou leg.; AMPG(IV) 3825 • 2 specs; same collection data as for preceding; AMPG (IV) 3826 to AMPG (IV) 3827 • 4 specs; same collection data as for preceding; AMPG (IV) 3828 to AMPG (IV) 3831 .

Shell description

Usually small to rarely medium-sized shells (SL max.: 52.5 mm) (Fig. 22). Spire elevated, conical. Outline of spire whorls variable in shape, with height, ranging from medium to high (Fig. 22). Early spire whorls elevated, convex, striate, creating straight to highly conical outline, tuberculated, with faint spiral cords on early sutural ramps. Later spire whorls smooth, elongate, convex, not always in symmetry to surrounding spire whorls, with late spire whorls usually inflated and more robust. Suture incised, slightly undulated. Subsutural flexure shallow, moderately curved, moderately asymmetrical (Fig. 40K). Shoulder smooth to weakly angular, with maximum diameter just below shoulder. Last whorl elongated, curved. Aperture narrow, widening slightly towards fasciole. Siphonal canal short, straight. Siphonal fasciole indistinct. Faint spiral grooves visible on one fifth anterior part of body.

Description of colour pattern

The colour pattern consists of two levels of colouration. The first one is a pattern of irregular blotches (Fig. 23) of variable size, sometimes with zig-zag boundaries (Fig. 22B) or non-continuous spiral bands on the middle and anterior parts of the shell (Fig. 22C, F, H). The pattern might continue on spire whorls as irregular, thin, flammulated blotches (Fig. 24). The second level consists of evenly arranged, spiral rows of wavy dashes and dots (Figs 23–24). The spiral rows start at the shoulder of the shell, continuing spirally towards the anterior part. The spiral rows exists in between the spiral grooves. On some specimens of exceptional preservation, the spiral lines of dashes and dots are better displayed as continuous fluorescent wavy lines, with interruptions of grey coloured oval dots (Fig. 24). These dots are visible even under natural light (Figs 21A, C, 23). When the lines cover the first pattern of irregular blotches, the second pattern is seen as bright-fluorescent (Fig. 24), while the grey coloured oval dots are often presumed to be part of the base colour, which is not the case. Spiral rows are often not visible in shells of no exceptional preservation.

Remarks

The Cretan specimens are very similar to Conus taurinensis Bellardi & Michelotti, 1841 . To our knowledge, the type specimens of Conus taurinensis Bellardi & Michelotti, 1841, discussed by Sacco (1893b), Hall (1966) and Ferrero Mortara (1984), are stored in the Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Turin, Italy (Annalaura Pistarino pers. comm.) (syntype MRSN BS.038.05.163), but no colour patterns are preserved. Hall (1966) stated that the type specimens of Conus taurinensis possess spiral cords on their last whorl. However, these specimens are very worn. Due to the bad preservation and the lack of colour patterns of the type material of C. taurinensis, we refrain from attributing with certainty the Cretan specimens to this species until more topotypes with colour patterns are observed.

Erünal-Erentöz (1958) identified similar material from the Tortonian of the Adana Basin (Turkey) as Conus aff. clavatus Lamarck, 1810, a species originally described from the early Miocene (Aquitanian) of Dax, France. The type specimen of Conus clavatus Lamarck, 1810 (MHNG GEPI 46266, Lionel Cavin pers. comm.; Decrouez 1993) differs from the Turkish specimen, by the smooth and conical early spire whorls. Landau et al. (2013: pl. 12 figs 6–7) also figured one Turkish specimen as Varionoconus taurinensis (Bellardi & Michelotti, 1841), this time with a visible colour pattern which is identical to that of the Cretan specimens. We consider the specimens of both Erünal-Erentöz (1958) and Landau et al. (2013) as conspecific to Conus cf. taurinensis .

Stratigraphic range

Serravallian of Turkey (Karaman Basin) (Landau et al. 2013); Tortonian of Turkey (Adana Basin) (Erünal-Erentöz 1958) and Greece (Messara Basin and Heraklion Basin, Crete) (this work).