Conus (Turriconus) excelsus G.B. Sowerby III, 1908

Figs 2, 89–90

Conus excelsus G.B. Sowerby III, 1908: 465 .

Conus nakayasui Shikama & Habe, 1968: 57, pl. 6 figs 1–4.

Asprella tannaensis Cotton, 1945: 270, pl. 4 fig. 3.

Conus pulcherrimus (non C. pulcherrimus Heilprin, 1879) – Brazier 1894: 187.

Conus excelsus – R̂ckel et al. 1995b: no. 112, pl. 26 figs 24–28.

Turriconus excelsus – Tucker & Tenorio 2013: 183.

Turriconus (Turriconus) excelsus – Monnier et al. 2018a: 332.

Material examined

14 lots (16 specimens). See Supp. file 1.

Type material

Holotype NEW CALEDONIA? • 88.5 mm; NHMUK 1908.5.30.1 (Fig. 89A).

Figured material

NEW CALEDONIA • 68.1 mm; SE Terrasses, off New Caledonia, stn DW3090; 22°16′ S, 167°08′ E; 260 m depth; 25 Oct. 2008; TERRASSES expedition; MNHN (Fig. 89B) • 112.5 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Banc Kaimon Maru, off New Caledonia, stn DW1675; 24º45′ S, 168º09′ E; 231‒233 m depth; 22 Jun. 2001; NORFOLK 1 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 89C–D) • 59 mm; Loyalty Ridge, off New Caledonia, stn DW418; 20º42′ S, 167º03′ E; 283 m depth; 16 Feb. 1989; MUSORSTOM 6 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 89E) • 53.8 mm; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN (Fig. 89F) • 71.6 mm; Norfolk Ridge, Banc Munida, off New Caledonia, stn DW2142; 23º01′ S, 168º17′ E; 550 m depth; 3 Nov. 2003; NORFOLK 2 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 89G) • 31 mm; Loyalty Ridge, off New Caledonia, stn DW423; 20º26′ S, 166º41′ E; 280 m depth; 16 Feb. 1989; MUSORSTOM 6 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 89H, L) • 36.4 mm; Loyalty Ridge, off New Caledonia, stn DW391; 20º47′ S, 167º06′ E; 390 m depth; 13 Feb. 1989; MUSORSTOM 6 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 89I) • 24.2 mm; Loyalty Ridge, off New Caledonia, stn DW456; 21º01′ S, 167º26′ E; 240 m depth; 20 Feb. 1989; MUSORSTOM 6 expedition; MNHN (Fig. 89J) • 14.2 mm; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN (Fig. 89K) .

PHILIPPINES • 91 mm; Atheris coll. (Fig. 89M).

Geographical distribution and bathymetry

Japan to Philippines, Solomon Islands and Australia (Queensland). Also present in the Andaman Sea, off Myanmar. In New Caledonia present in Loyalty Islands, Norfolk Ridge, Grand Passage area and Coral Sea, typically at depths between 200–400 m, but also found below 500 m.

Remarks

Biconical shell, moderately large to large (maximum shell length 113 mm), with a very high and stepped spire. Protoconch multispiral of about 3 whorls (Fig. 89L). Last whorl white with irregular brown axial lines and brown spiral bands on each side of center, overlaid with spiral rows of alternating white spots and brown axial dashes. Radular tooth (Fig. 89M) with the anterior section shorter than the posterior section. Tooth serrated with 5–6 denticles arranged in one row becoming 2–3 rows below, ending on a very large pointed, tusk-shaped cusp. Barb very large, with the shape of a sickle. Blade reduced, indistinct, restricted to the apical portion (25–30% of the anterior section of the tooth). Basal spur absent or vestigial. Base rounded. The sequenced specimens of C. (T.) excelsus form a well supported clade within Turriconus (Fig. 2).