Kalloconus ateralbus (Kiener, 1850)

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 : 49-50

Kalloconus ateralbus (Kiener, 1850)

Fig. 6N

Conus ateralbus Kiener, 1850: 313 , pl. 108, fig. 4–4a.

Conus ateralbus – Monteiro et al. 2004: 25, pl. 46, pl. 47, figs 1, 3–4, 6.

Material examined

Lectotype

Two syntypes were in collection Lorois, present whereabouts unknown; lectotype representative figure in Kiener (1845 (1850): pl. 108, fig. 4, top and bottom). Type locality not mentioned, designated Sal Island, Cabo Verde ( Coomans et al. 1981) .

Other material

CABO VERDE • 1 spec., 40.1 mm; Sal Island, Calheta Funda ; 16º39ʹ6ʺ N, 22º56ʹ53ʺ W; 5 Apr. 2014; MNCN exped.; GenBank mitochondrion, partial genome: KY864970 ; MNCN 15.05/79649 ( Fig. 6N ) .

Geographical distribution

Calheta Funda and Algodoeiro, southwest coast of Sal Island, Cabo Verde Archipelago.

Conservation status in IUCN Red List

Endangered. Status revision required.

Remarks

This beautiful species is endemic to Sal Island. Its pattern of white triangular or tessellate markings on a black background color seems fairly constant. Its classification as ‘Endangered’ resulted upon considering all the populations of Kalloconus on the island as members of this species. Several phylogenetic studies ( Cunha et al. 2008; Abalde et al. 2017a; Tenorio et al. 2018) have shown that under the apparently same phenotype there are actually two cryptic sister species in Sal Island, namely K. ateralbus and K. marimaris . As a consequence, the distribution range of K. ateralbus has been drastically reduced to the southwest coast of Sal Island, an area that has underwent a large touristic development in the recent years, with subsequent pressure on marine habitats. Although the species seems to be fairly common within its distribution range, the limited geographical area and the human activities indicate that an upgrade in the risk status is most likely required.

Figures

Fig. 6 (opposite page). A. Conus navarroi navarroi Rolán, 1986, holotype, 16 mm (MNCN 15.05/1008). B. Africonus angeluquei Tenorio, Abalde & Zardoya, 2018 (= perrineae Cossignani & Fiadeiro, 2018), holotype, 30.0 mm (MNCN 15.05/78710). C. Conus raulsilvai Rolán, Monteiro & Fernandes, 1998, holotype, 19.7 mm (MNCN 15.05/27230). D. Conus regonae Rolán & Trovão, 1990, holotype, 32.7 mm (MNCN 15.05/1092). E. Conus roeckeli Rolán, 1980, holotype, 13.2 mm (MNCN 15.05/1049). F. Africonus salletae Cossignani, 2014, holotype, 15.5 mm (MMM). G. Africonus santaluziensis Cossignani & Fiadeiro, 2015, paratype, 28.1 mm (Paul Kersten coll.). H. Africonus santanaensisAfonso & Tenorio, 2014, holotype, 17.1 mm (MNCN 15.05/60118). I. Conus saragasae Rolán, 1986, holotype, 21.8 mm (MNCN 15.05/1009). J. Africonus verdensis (Trovão, 1979), 22.5 mm (MNCN 15.05/78864). K. Conus vulcanus Tenorio & Afonso, 2004, holotype, 25.2 mm (MNCN 15.05/46652). L. Chelyconus ermineus (Born, 1778), 54.3 mm (MNCN 15.05/80014). M. Genuanoconus genuanus (Linnaeus, 1758), 50.2 mm (MNCN 15.05/78547). N. Kalloconus ateralbus(Kiener, 1850),40.1 mm(MNCN 15.05/79649). O. Kalloconus byssinus (Röding, 1798), 56.4 mm (MNCN 15.05/90429). Scale bars = 10 mm.