Africonus grahami ( Röckel, Cosel & Burnay, 1980 )

Tenorio, Manuel J., Abalde, Samuel, Pardos-Blas, José R. & Zardoya, Rafael, 2020, Taxonomic revision of West African cone snails (Gastropoda: Conidae) based upon mitogenomic studies: implications for conservation, European Journal of Taxonomy 663 (663), pp. 1-89 : 29-30

Africonus grahami ( Röckel, Cosel & Burnay, 1980)

Fig. 4H

Conus grahami Röckel, Cosel & Burnay, 1980b: 130 , figs 1–10.

Conus grahami pseudoventricosus (not C. mediterraneus var. pseudoventricosa Sacco, 1893 ) Röckel et al., 1980a: 83, fig. 54.

Conus grahami luziensis Rolán et al., 1983: 17 (nom. nov. for C. grahami pseudoventricosus ).

Conus grahami grahami – Monteiro et al. 2004: 49, pl. 122.

Conus grahami luziensis – Monteiro et al. 2004: 49, pl. 124, figs 5, 7.

Material examined

Holotype

CABO VERDE • 24 mm; São Vicente Island; NMSF.

Other material

CABO VERDE • 1 spec., 24.0 mm; São Vicente Island, Calhau ; 16º51ʹ7ʺ N, 24º51ʹ59ʺ W; 12 Apr. 2016; MNCN exped.; MNCN 15.05/78552 ( Fig 4H ) • 1 spec.; same collection data as for preceding; GenBank mitochondrion, partial genome: MF491599 ; MNCN 15.05/78552 .

Geographical distribution

Eastern side of São Vicente and southeastern extremity off the neighboring island of Santa Luzia at Praia Francisca, Cabo Verde Archipelago.

Conservation status in IUCN Red List

Least concern.

Remarks

The elongated-ovate aspect of the shell, its greenish color and typical pattern, as well as the high spire and convex profile easily separate A. grahami from most other species from the Cabo Verde Archipelago, with the exception of A. longilineus from Sal Island, which was in fact described initially as a subspecies of A. grahami . However, A. longilineus and A. grahami are two separate species, only distantly related according to the phylogeny. Thus, the similarities in shell morphology are most likely due to convergence. The name A. grahami luziensis (initially introduced as Conus grahami pseudoventricosus Röckel, Rolán & Monteiro, 1980 , and then renamed due to homonymy with Conus mediterraneus var. pseudoventricosa Sacco, 1893 , a fossil) was applied to populations of A. grahami from the island of Santa Luzia. We have not been able to examine molecularly specimens from this population. However, given the lack of clear morphological features separating the populations from São Vicente and Santa Luzia, and the past connectivity between these two islands, we hereby consider A. grahami luziensis as a synonym (form) of A. grahami . The species sister to A. grahami according to the phylogeny is A. decoratus , which however exhibits very distinct shell morphology.

Figures

Fig. 4 (opposite page). A. Conus felitae Rolán, 1990, holotype, 12.7 mm (MNCN 15.05/1099). B. Africonus fernandesi (Tenorio, Afonso & Rolán, 2008), 14.5 mm (MNCN 15.05/78598). C. Africonus freitasi Tenorio, Afonso, Rolán, Pires, Vasconcelos, Abalde & Zardoya, 2018, holotype, 13.7 mm (MNCN 15.05/200008) D. Conus verdensis furnaeRolán, 1990,holotype, 21.1 mm (MNCN 15.05/1097). E. Africonus fuscoflavus (Röckel, Rolán & Monteiro, 1980), 22.3 mm (MNCN 15.05/80407). F. Conus damottai galeao Rolán, 1990, holotype, 21.3 mm (MNCN 15.05/1093). G. Africonus gonsaloi Afonso & Tenorio, 2014, holotype, 19.3 mm (MNCN 15.05/60119).H. Africonus grahami (Röckel, Cosel & Burnay, 1980), 24.0 mm (MNCN 15.05/78549). I. Conus infinitus Rolán, 1990, holotype, 20.8 mm (MNCN, 15.05/1095). J. Conus isabelarum Tenorio & Afonso, 2004, holotype, 22.8 mm (MNCN 15.05/46654). K. Conus josephinae Rolán, 1980, holotype, 25.8 mm (MNCN 15.05/1050). L. Africonus kersteni (Tenorio, Afonso & Rolán, 2008), holotype, 20.8 mm (MNCN 15.05/47051). M. Africonus longilineus (Röckel, Rolán & Monteiro, 1980), 21.7 mm (MNCN 15.05/79738). N. Africonus lugubris (Reeve, 1849), 14.5 mm (MNCN 15.05/90431). O. Africonus maioensis (Trovão, Rolán & Félix-Alves, 1990), 29.5 mm (MNCN 15.05/78689). P. Africonus miruchae (Röckel, Rolán & Monteiro, 1980), 12.9 mm (MNCN 15.05/79789). Scale bars = 10 mm.