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Conus
gubernator leehmani
in the Seychelles
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Author : David Touitou
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The
Seychelles, one of the last paradise on earth, host many of the
Indian Ocean Sea Shells species. Some particularities occurs there
though. The islands host the beautiful pinkish Cypraea hirundo
francisca, Schilder. & Schilder 1938 and Conus textile
is not present. This archipelago owns Conus gubernator, Hwass
1792 Cone shell specie. Two publications : The
Cone Shells Os Seychelles, A.G. Jarrett & D. Slimming
(G.T. Phillips & Co Ltd., 1970); Marine Shells Of The Seychelles,
A.G. Jarrett (Carole Green Publishing,2000) can be found concerning
local Cone Shell species. The most recent one shows three specimens
of Conus gubernator, Hwass 1792.
None of these 3 shells really look like Conus gubernator
form leehmani, da Motta & Röckel 1979. The Seychelles
are included in form leehmani distribution area though.
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Conus
gubernator, Hwass 1792
Marine Shells Of The Seychelles Book
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I
have the chance to have collected two specimens of Conus gubernator
there recently. They look pretty different from the usual Conus
gubernator and especially from the one shown in A.G. Jarrett's
excellent book. Even if these specimens could be linked to the leehmani
form, I could not confirm.
Recently I had the chance to browse The
Conus Biodiversity Website and I found a picture of the actual holotype
of Conus leehmani, da Motta & Röckel 1979. Eeffectively
the specimens I found there can be easily linked to the leehmani
form. As I have not found yet any classic specimen that could be
closer to the ones illustrated in A.G. Jarrett books, I cannot confirm
the presence of such shells. But as we can trust the author concerning
the data of these 3 specimens, we can write that The Seychelles
owns both Conus gubernator, Hwass 1792 and Conus gubernator
form leehmani, da Motta & Röckel 1979.
Local
Habitat of Conus gubernator form leehmani :
The specie lives deeply buried in the sand during the daytime.
Shell is active at night.
This shell lives usually from shallow water to 20m.
It's a very uncommon specie there.
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Specimens
Shown : Type: Holotype
Repository: MHNG
Catalogue Number: 979/440
Size: 65.5 x 34 mm
Photo Credit: Alan J. Kohn
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Conus
gubernator f.leehmani, Seychelles 48.0 mm
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Conus
gubernator f. leehmani, Seychelles 60.9 mm
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Bibliography
Marine
Shells Of The Seychelles, A.G. Jarrett (Carole Green Publishing,2000)
The
Cone Shells Os Seychelles, A.G. Jarrett & D. Slimming
(G.T. Phillips & Co Ltd., 1970)
Manual
Of The Living Conidaae, Röckel, Korn & Kohn (Verlag
Christa Hemmen,1995)
The
Conus Biodiversity Website : http://biology.burke.washington.edu/conus/index.php |
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