Conus terebra Born, 1778

Franklin, J. Benjamin, Subramanian, K. A., Fernando, S. Antony & Krishnan, K. S., 2009, 2250, Zootaxa 2250, pp. 1-63 : 46-47

52. Conus terebra Born, 1778 (Figure 53)

Conus terebra Born, 1778: 145 (lectotype, NMW (55.5 x 25 mm) ( Kohn 1964); " Fiji Islands ").

Conus terebellum Gmelin, 1791: 3390 , no. 44 (representation of lectotype, Martini 1773: pl. 52, fig. 577 (48 x 22 mm) (Kohn 1976); "Indian Ocean").

Conus fusus Gmelin, 1791: 3390 , no. 45 (representation of lectotype, Martini 1773: pl. 52, fig. 576 (19 x 10 mm); locality unknown).

Cucullus albeolus Röding, 1798: 47 , no. 594/91 (lectotype same as of C. terebellum Gmelin (Kohn 1975) ; locality unknown).

Conus coelebs Hinds, 1843: 256 (holotype, Coll. Belcher; "Ambow, Feejee Islands ").

Conus thomasi Sowerby III, 1881: 625–636 , pl. 56, fig. 4 (Holotype, BMNH (72.5 x 36 mm); " Red Sea ").

Material examined: MBMCS152 , 52 specimens, SL 58–92 mm; SW 24–40 mm .

Description. Shell moderately small to large with low gloss. Body whorl conical to narrowly conical; outline convex at shoulder, straight below, sometimes concave centrally. Shoulder rounded to roundly angled, not distinct from spire. Spire of moderate height, outline convex. Body whorl with variably spaced and variably fine spiral ribs from base to shoulder. The spiral ribs are generally closer near shoulder. Aperture narrow, slightly wider anteriorly; outer lip straight.

Ground colour white to pale cream. Body whorl with a broad spiral band on each side of the centre varying from light grey to light brown. Base tinged with violet in adult specimens. Aperture white, in adult pale or dull violet. Periostracum is persistent; dark brown, thick, opaque and axially ridged; darker and rough in large specimen.

Distribution. Kohn (1978) reported C. terebra off Krusadai Island. He also mentioned specimens collected from Tuticorin and Madras by Winckworth and Steiner respectively. Röckel et al. (1995) reported a single specimen from Pamban.

The specimens described herein were collected from Keelakarai ( Table 6) by diving in 5–10 m around coral reefs. In Vembar and Tuticorin ( Table 6), specimens were collected by trawling in 20– 50 m.

Remarks. The present and previous records of this species are all from Gulf of Mannar. Thirty-two specimens were collected at shallow depths of sand bottoms at Keelakarai and Vembar. However, at Tuticorin they were collected at a maximum depth of 50 m. This species was often collected together with C. leopardus , C. virgo and C. araneosus .