Conidae (Mollusca, Gastropoda) of Lakshadweep, India Ravinesh, Raveendhiran Kumar, Appukuttannair Biju Kohn, Alan J. Zootaxa 2018 2018-06-28 4441 3 467 494 XWXB G. B. Sowerby G. B. Sowerby [151,575,1287,1314] Gastropoda Conidae Conus GBIF Animalia Neogastropoda 6 473 Mollusca species aristophanes   Localities:Agatti, Amini, Androth, Bitra, Chetlet, Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kilton and Minicoy  Habitat:Rocky intertidal, lagoons, inner reef platform, sea grass bed, sandy shores  Depth: 0.2– 8 m  Specimens examined, observed:20, 137  Length: 18–27 mm   Remarks:This is the first report of  C. aristophanesfrom India, and a new distribution record for the central Indian Ocean. The species-level distinction between the largely sympatric  C. coronatusand  C. aristophanesremains uncertain. Cernohorsky (1964, 1978) pointed out consistent shell morphological differences between them in Fiji. The most striking of these is fewer spiral striae on the sutural ramps: 1–2 vs. 4–7 in  C. coronatus(see Fig. 1Q). Puillandre et al. (2014: Fig. 2) reported a genetic distance of about 10% between the two based on three mitochondrial genes, a disparity that usually indicates species-level distinction. Prior to that study, Röckel et al.(1995)and Coomans et al.(1981)had concluded conspecificity based on morphology. We tentatively consider them distinct, but further study remains necessary.