Conus ebraeus Linnaeus, 1758

Franklin, J. Benjamin, Subramanian, K. A., Fernando, S. Antony & Krishnan, K. S., 2009, 2250, Zootaxa 2250, pp. 1-63 : 27

19. Conus ebraeus Linnaeus, 1758 (Figure 20)

Conus ebraeus Linnaeus, 1758: 715 , no. 268 (lectotype, LSL (28 x 19 mm) ( Kohn 1963); " India ").

Conus quadratus Perry, 1811 : pl. 24, fig. 5 (representation of holotype, Perry 1811: pl. 24, fig. 5 (40 x 25 mm) ( Röckel et al. 1995); " Coast of Africa").

Conus judaeus Bergh, 1895: 161–163 , pl. 4, fig. 91; pl. 6, figs. 128–131 (holotype, ZMUC (32 x 21 mm) ( Röckel et al. 1995); "M. philippinense").

Material examined: MBMCS 119 , 8 specimens, SL 25–32 mm; SW 13–15 mm .

Description. Shell moderately small and heavy, broadly conical, sides convex. Body whorl with low spiral ridges, basally these often extend to centre. Shoulder roundly angled, coronated, coronations weak. Spire low, convex and bluntly pointed; spire whorls weakly coronated and with 4–5 heavy spiral ridges on top. Aperture narrower posteriorly; outer lip thick, sharp and convex.

Ground colour white. Body whorl with 3–4 spiral rows of black blotches between base and sub-shoulder; blotches squarish to more or less axially elongate. Shoulder with large squarish black spots, alternating with light background; spire with irregular black blotches. Aperture bluish. Periostracum thin, smooth, translucent and yellowish to olive.

Distribution. The first report of C. ebraeus was by Linnaeus (1758) from India. Subsequent distributional records were from in and around Krusadai Islands of the Gulf of Mannar ( Thurston 1890; [Chennappayya] 1927; Satyamurti 1952).

The specimens described herein were collected from Keelakarai ( Table 6) by diving in 10–15 m on sand and coral rubble substrate and few washed ashore.

Remarks. Conus ebraeus appears to be a very rare species along the TamilNadu Coast, with the distribution restricted to the Gulf of Mannar.