Conus aristophanes G. B. Sowerby

Ravinesh, Raveendhiran, Kumar, Appukuttannair Biju & Kohn, Alan J., 2018, Conidae (Mollusca, Gastropoda) of Lakshadweep, India, Zootaxa 4441 (3), pp. 467-494 : 473

Conus aristophanes G. B. Sowerby II

( Fig. 1P–S )

Localities: Agatti, Amini, Androth, Bitra, Chetlet, Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kilton and Minicoy

Habitat: Rocky intertidal, lagoons, inner reef platform, sea grass bed, sandy shores

Depth: 0.2– 8 m

Specimens examined, observed: 20, 137

Length: 18–27 mm

Remarks: This is the first report of C. aristophanes from India, and a new distribution record for the central Indian Ocean. The species-level distinction between the largely sympatric C. coronatus and C. aristophanes remains uncertain. Cernohorsky (1964, 1978) pointed out consistent shell morphological differences between them in Fiji. The most striking of these is fewer spiral striae on the sutural ramps: 1–2 vs. 4–7 in C. coronatus (see Fig. 1Q ). Puillandre et al. (2014: Fig. 2 ) reported a genetic distance of about 10% between the two based on three mitochondrial genes, a disparity that usually indicates species-level distinction. Prior to that study, Röckel et al. (1995) and Coomans et al. (1981) had concluded conspecificity based on morphology. We tentatively consider them distinct, but further study remains necessary.

Figures

FIGURE 1. A–C, Conasprella coromandelica (E. A. Smith), 38x14 mm. Minicoy. (DABFUK, No. 31). D–F, C. dictator (Melvill), 29x13 mm. Kalpeni. (DABFUK, No. 32). G–I, Conus achatinus Gmelin, 68x45 mm. Kalpeni. (DABFUK, No. 33). J–L, C. amadis Gmelin, 87x42 mm. Kalpeni. (DABFUK, No. 35). M–O, C. arenatus Hwass in Bruguière, 33x18 mm. Kavaratti. (DABFUK, No. 41). P–S, C. aristophanes G. B. Sowerby II, 27x15 mm. Minicoy. (DABFUK, No. 42).

FIGURE 2. A–C, Conus aulicus Linnaeus, 121x52 mm. Bitra. (DABFUK, No. 46). D–F, C. bayani Jousseaume, 49x22 mm. Kalpeni. (DABFUK, No. 48). G–I, C. betulinus Linnaeus, 92x61 mm. Agatti. (DABFUK, No. 49). J–L, C. biliosus (Röding), 35x18 mm. Bitra. (DABFUK, No. 52). M–O, C. canonicus Hwass in Bruguière, 35x18 mm. Kadmat. (DABFUK, No. 53). P– R, C. canonicus Hwass in Bruguière. 45x22 mm. Bitra. (DABFUK, No. 54).