Conus rapunculus (Hoerle, 1976)

Diagnosis ⁽¹⁾:

Shell of medium size, broadly fusiform; eight teleoconch whorls plus three and onehalf nuclear whorls in adult specimens. First three post-protoconch whorls axially costate in front of carinate shoulders. Sutures distinct and adpressed; growth lines deeply arcuate. Spiral sculpture restricted to anterior half of last whorl, consisting of broad bands and narrow, incrementally ornamented grooves; bands becoming narrower and crowded on siphonal fasciole. Base constricted columella with a sharp twist to the left and bent slightly backwards. Anal fasciole flat· anal notch deep; outer lip moderately prosocyrt.

Dimensions of holotype: height 22.5 mm (incomplete), diameter 13.0 mm.

Holotype: USNM 220121.

Type locality: TU 951, Ten Mile Creek, about 1 ¼ miles west of Chipola River ( SE Y4 Sec. 12, T1N, R10W), Calhoun County, Florida.

Occurrence: Chipola Formation, Florida; late lower Miocene.

Figured specimens: Fig. 6, USNM 220121 (Holotype). Fig. 7, USNM 220122; height 19.5mm,diameter 9.8 mm; locality TU 830.

Other occurrences: TU locality nos. 196, 457, 459, 546, 655, 710, 998, 1051.

Discussion: C. rapunculus is distinguished by its pronounced tapered outline and the sharp twist on the anterior portion of the columella. Juvenile specimens of this species do not show this latter feature to a great extent. Some large specimens of C. chipolanus have the canal slightly recurved, but not to the degree that is seen on C. rapunculus.

While there are minor similarities between these two species, the consistent characteristic that differentiates them is the early post-nuclear whorls. Those of C. rapunculus are axially costate and those of C. chipolanus are smooth, the only ornament being the curved-rib stage of the first one-quarter turn. C. rapunculus is another species that occurs almost solely along Ten Mile Creek. Of the total lot of 83 specimens only three were from Chipola River localities and none from Farley Creek. The outer lip is exceedingly fragile and consequently was broken on every individual.