Indian Ocean cones

[paul monfils]

While not what I would call a "typical" specimen (which is probably a meaningless term when applied to such a variable species), I believe the first specimen is Conus gubernator.  C. frauenfeldi doesn't have the broadly rounded shoulder and typically has many dark markings.  C. consors likewise doesn't have such a heavy shoulder, and has a much more elevated spire.  C. leehmani (which is a form of C. gubernator anyway, in my opinion) does have the banding seen in this specimen, but also has axial markings of the same color, and typically has a series of axial dark markings as well.  The solitary dark mark on this specimen does look like a reduced form of the type of markings seen on C. leehmani, but I don't think there is sufficient reason to apply that name.  In Manual of the Living Conidae there is a specimen of C. gubernator pictured that is similar to this one (Plate 45, #19).  <span class="petit">--Last edited by Paul Monfils on 2009-05-03 02:15:24 --</span>