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Conus andremenezi (Olivera & Biggs, 2010)
Remarks (2)
Medium-sized biconical shell (maximum shell length 53 mm) with a high spire of concave outline. Last whorl with raised, often nodulose spiral ribs. Protoconch multispiral of about 3.5 whorls (Fig. 87L). Last whorl off-white ground color with purplish-brown spots, which may cover several spiral ribs and extend into the interspaces. There is a great variability in shell shape and pattern. Radular tooth (Fig. 87M) with the anterior section shorter than the posterior section. Tooth serrated with 8–9 denticles arranged in one row, ending on a very large and pointed cusp. Barb very large, sharp and pointed. Blade reduced, indistinct, restricted to the apical portion. Basal spur absent or vestigial. Base rounded. Conus (Turriconus) andremenezi is most similar to Conus (T.) praecellens A. Adams, 1854, and is difficult to separate from it based on conchological features only. Furthermore, C. (T.) praecellens constitutes a species complex, and at least some of the species have been disentangled using morphological and DNA approaches (Biggs et al. 2010). We have examined 20 lots containing 24 praecellens-like specimens from New Caledonia. Seven of these specimens were sequenced, and they all grouped together in a clade which also contained the holotype of C. (T.) andremenezi. Hence, all these specimens were identified as C. (T.) andremenezi. The non-sequenced or dead collected specimens have been tentatively identified as C. (T.) andremenezi as well, based on shell morphology. However, some of these specimens might actually correspond to another species within the C. (T.) praecellens complex. At this stage we can only confirm the occurrence of C. (T.) andremenezi in New Caledonia.
Geographical distribution and bathymetry (2)
Philippines, eastern Malaysia, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. In New Caledonia it is present along the south-eastern coast, Coral Sea, Norfolk Ridge and Loyalty Islands, at depths between 220‒232 m.
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Bibliografia
