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Common Name

"Alabaster Cone"

Status

Regarded as a valid species.

Type Locality

"China Seas"

Distribution

China Sea, W. Indonesia, S. Sulu Sea

Maximum Reported Size

40.8 mm

Description

Moderately small to medium-sized, usually moderately solid. Last whorl ventricosely conical to conical; outline variably convex adapically, less so to straight below; left side constricted at base or concave basally. Siphonal fasciole may be prominent and basal part of columella deflected to left. Shoulder sharply angulate to slightly carinate. Spire of low to moderate height; outline deeply concave, rather flat in late whorls. Larval shell of 2 whorls, maximum diameter 0.7-0.9 mm. First 3- 6 postnuclear whorls tuberculate. Teleoconch sutural ramps flat to slightly concave, with 0-1 increasing to 5-6 spiral grooves. Last whorl with rather widely spaced, narrow and sometimes finely granulose major spiral ribs; interspaces with axial threads crossing spiral threads and sometimes 1-2 additional minor spiral ribs.

Ground colour white. Last whorl immaculate, sometimes with sparse light brown axial lines or streaks adapically. Larval whorls white. Teleoconch spire immaculate, sometimes with small light brown radial markings. Aperture white.

Shell Morphometry

L	27-41 mm
RW	0.09-0.15 g/mm
RD	0.52-0.58
PMD	0.82-0.87
RSH	0.10-0.14

Habitat & Habits

In 20-50 m.

Discussion

C. alabaster is similar to C. mucronatus, C. asiaticus, and C. sculpturatus. For the distinctions, see the Discussions of these species.

References

• Reeve, L. A., 1849. Monograph of the genus Conus. Conchologia Iconica, i. Conus. Suppl.
• Röckel, Korn & Kohn, 1995. Manual of the Living Conidae Vol. 1: Indo-Pacific Region.