Conus (Monteiroconus) ambiguus Reeve, 1844

Common Name

"Ambiguous Cone"

Status

Regarded as a valid species.

Type Locality

Distribution

Senegal, Gambia

Maximum Reported Size

65 mm

Description

Shell moderately large to large (40-65 mm), smooth, with a straight to very slightly convex profile. The spire is low to moderately high, with a straight to slightly convex profile. The shoulder is angulated.

The shell is pale purplish-brown, with dark brown crescent shaped flamules on the spire. The aperture is white in the larger specimens and has a faint violet shading in the smaller ones.

Radula: vermivorous type, long and narrow. The apical portion is longer than half the length of the radular tooth. Blade prominent, far from the illdefined waist. Barb rather long and well patterned. One row of denticles in the serration. Base narrow.

Discussion

C. ambiguus can be separated from C. tabidus by its normally larger size and angulate shoulder (rounder in C. tabidus). C. bellocqae has a different profile and pattern.

References

Reeve, L. A., 1844. Monograph of the genus Conus. Conchologia Iconica, 1.