Conus of the Southeastern United States and Caribbean

About this book

Conus is the largest genus of animals in the sea, occurring throughout the world's tropical and subtropical oceans and contributing significantly to marine biodiversity. The shells of these marine mollusks are prized for their amazing variety and extraordinary beauty. The neurotoxic venoms they produce – injected by a hollow, harpoon-like tooth into prey animals that are then paralyzed and swallowed whole – have a range of pharmaceutical applications, from painkillers to antidepressants. This beautifully illustrated book identifies 53 valid species of the southeastern United States and the Caribbean, a region that supports a diverse but taxonomically challenging group of Conus. Introductory chapters cover the evolution and phylogeny of the genus, and notes on methodology are provided. Detailed species accounts describe key identification features, taxonomy, distribution, ecology, toxicology, life history, and evolutionary relationships. "Conus" of the Southeastern United States and Caribbean includes more than 2 100 photos of shells on 109 splendid color plates; more than 100 additional photos, many depicting live animals in color; and 35 color distribution maps.

Contents

Preface ix
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction 1
Abbreviations Used in the Text 7

1 Setting the Stage: Approaches 9

2 Setting the Stage: The Geological Theater and the Evolutionary Play 18

3 This Book and How to Use it 32

4 Behind the Scenes:
Technical Aids to the Species Accounts 44

5 Species Accounts 56
Conus granulatus Linnaeus 56
Conus glenni Petuch 62
Conus ritae Petuch 64
Conus jaspideus Gmelin 67
Conus pealii Green 74
Conus stearnsii Conrad 80
Conus pusio Hwass in Bruguière 84
Conus mindanus Hwass in Bruguière 89
Conus bahamensis Vink and Röckel 95
Conus puncticulatus Hwass in Bruguière 97
Conus mazei Deshayes 106
Conus rainesae McGinty 114
Conus janowskyae (Tucker and Tenorio) 117
Conus armiger Crosse 120
Conus sauros Garcia 126
Conus lenhilli Cargile 129
Conus delessertii Récluz 130
Conus centurio Born 137
Conus cedonulli Linnaeus 146
Conus pseudaurantius Vink and von Cosel 156
Conus aurantius Hwass in Bruguière 160
Conus mappa [Lightfoot] 164
Conus curassaviensis Bruguière 174
Conus regius Gmelin 178
Conus cardinalis Hwass in Bruguière 188
Conus arangoi Sarasua 204
Conus explorator Vink 206
Conus hieroglyphus Duclos 209
Conus ziczac Megerle von Mühlfeld 212
Conus sahlbergi da Motta and Harland 217
Conus daucus Hwass in Bruguière 226
Conus amphiurgus Dall 239
Conus sanderi Wils and Moolenbeek 250
Conus eversoni Petuch 255
C. ceruttii Cargile 257
Conus ignotus Cargile 260
Conus cancellatus Hwass in Bruguière 264
Conus stimpsoni Dall 274
Conus villepinii Fischer and Bernardi 281
Conus attenuatus Reeve 288
Conus flavescens Sowerby I 296
Conus cingulatus Lamarck 302
Conus largillierti Kiener 306
Conus anabathrum Crosse 312
Conus gibsonsmithorum Petuch 324
Conus garciai da Motta 329
Conus harlandi Petuch 334
Conus sunderlandi Petuch 340
Conus spurius Gmelin 345
Conus mus Hwass in Bruguière 358
Conus patae Abbott 363
Conus ermineus Born 367
Conus lightbourni Petuch 379
Nomina dubia 382

6 Synthesis and Conclusions 395
Appendix 1. Molecular Phylogeny of Conus 419
Appendix 2. Morphology-Based Phylogeny of Conus 422
General Glossary 425
Bibliography 431
Index of Species-group Names 449
General Index 453

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Biography

Alan J. Kohn is professor emeritus of biology at the University of Washington. His books include Manual of the Living Conidae: Indo-Pacific Region and Life History and Biogeography: Patterns in Conus.