Cone with dots (yellow)

[giovanni arusha]

<a href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/3161278" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.badongo.com/t/250/3161278.jpg" alt="http://www.badongo.com/t/250/3161278.jpg" style="border:0" /></a>
Gor this Cone in Zanzibar (Tanzania)
It is about 10cm
Please need Latin and English names.
Many thanks in advance,
Giovanni

[paul monfils]

This appears to be Conus suratensis Hwass, 1792. No common name that is widely used, but the Compendium of Seashells calls it the "Suratan Cone".

[giovanni arusha]

Many thanks Paul.
The same ID applies to this specimen?
<a href="http://www.badongo.com/pic/3167379" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.badongo.com/t/250/3167379.jpg" alt="http://www.badongo.com/t/250/3167379.jpg" style="border:0" /></a>
Also from Zanzibar: about 12cm in size.
Please let me know and many thanks in advance.
Cordially,

Giovanni

[paul monfils]

This specimen is more typical of Conus suratensis. The first picture you posted has rather large spots for suratensis, and I had a hard time deciding between C. suratensis and C. betulinus. The two species are very similar, and while I have seen many specimens that could easily be assigned to one species or the other, I have also see a number of specimens that were ambiguous, having characteristics of both species. The precise axial alignment of the markings is one characteristic of C. suratensis. On the other hand, C. suratensis usually has a flatter spire than your two shells. So, an argument could be made for either C. suratensis or C. betulinus on either of these specimens.  <span class="petit">--Last edited by Paul Monfils on 2008-03-20 05:02:07 --</span>

[dave r]

I would go with betulinus.
Dave