Conus abbotii, magellanicus or cardinalis

[reefnet]

This cone is from Grand Cayman. I have no other information. Suggestions?

-

Les Wilk
www.reefnet.ca

[Marlo]

4/2/11 Poated on Conch-L:

"Well, I thought I’d take a guess on this one. Unusual location, but could it be C. abbotii Clench, 1942?"

John Tucker, Illinois Natural History Survey and contributor to The Cone Collector Newsletter, suggested:

"Looks like a Purpuriconus magellanicus or possibly a P. cardinalis."

Lyle Therriault suggested:

"Your guess of c. abbotii is a pretty good one considering it does resemble such. I have not heard of abbottii from Grand Cayman, usually only from the Bahamas. In my opinion this may be conus hieroglyphus instead."

[wharland]

Many of the "Conus cardinalis" complex have exhibited a high degree of color variation. I have collected specimens from the northern Bahamas to Honduras and found that many island groups have their own "version" of C. cardinalis type conus species. In many case these local variants show distinct enough features to separate them from other island forms. Hence this proliferation of names for what seemingly are very similar conus. However, in defense of some of this liberal naming of new taxa, in many cases, these forms are easily distinguished from one another. ANother factor, IMHO, is that this speciation can be supported by that fact that these islands/groups are separated by substantive distances a very deep (>100 fathoms) water which would preclude travel of pediveliger species like the C. cardinalis complex. The first of the cones submitted for ID from Cayman is almost identical to the ones found in Haiti and Jamaica. The second bears similarities to those found in the central Bahamas and Roatan. For lack of a decent population example, I would agree with Mr. Tucker's suggestion that these both should be identified as Conus cardinalis.

Administrator's note: I hope I've got these correct. I believe the shell on the left is the one Wayne refers to as "The first cone" and the one on the right is "The second."

[reefnet]

Thanks!

Les