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Common Name

"Aphrodite Cone"

Status

Regarded as a valid species.

Type Locality

Off Panglao, Bohol Is., Philippines; ca. 250 m

Distribution

Ryukyu Is., Philippines, New Caledonia

Maximum Reported Size

30 mm

Description

Small and light. Last whorl usually conical, outline almost straight; left side slightly concave at base. Shoulder angulate to carinate. Spire usually of moderate height, slightly stepped; outline concave. Larval shell of 3.25-3.5 whorls, maximum diameter 0.8-1 mm. First 2-5 postnuclear whorls tuberculate, following whorls carinate. Teleoconch sutural ramps flat or slightly concave, with arcuate radial threads; spiral striation obsolete or absent. Last whorl glossy, with a few spiral ribs and ribbons at base and 1-2 fine spiral grooves below shoulder.

Ground colour violet-grey or beige. Last whorl variably overlaid with brown axial blotches and numerous variably broad spiral rows of alternating brown and light dots and dashes. A narrow light spiral band located below centre, often a similar but less prominent light band above centre. Larval whorls white to beige. Postnuclear sutural ramps with brown radial blotches and darker brown dots along the outer margin. Aperture violet.

Shell Morphometry

L	15-24 mm
RW	0.03-0.06 g/mm
RD	0.61-0.68
PMD	0.84-0.96
RSH	0.17-0.24

Habitat & Habits

In 120-380 m.

Discussion

C. aphrodite resembles C. memiae and C. dayriti. The latter species differs in its lower spire (RSH 0.07-0.17) and its spirally grooved sutural ramps; only its first 0.25-2 postnuclear whorls are weakly tuberculate or undulate. For comparison with C. memiae, see the Discussion of that species.

References

• Petuch, E. J., 1979. Twelve new Indo-Pacific gastropods. Nemouria: Occasional Papers of the Delaware Museum of Natural History, 23: 1 -6.
• Röckel, Korn & Kohn, 1995. Manual of the Living Conidae Vol. 1: Indo-Pacific Region.