Common Name

Provide us with this information.

Status

Possibly a form of C. philippii (Tucker) or C. largillierti(Filmer).

Type Locality

Off Punto Fijo, Falcon, Gulf of Venezuela

Distribution

N.E. South America: Nicaragua, Venezuela: Falcon

Maximum Reported Size

17 mm

Description

Small turnip-shaped shell, with wide body whorl and prominent constriction around anterior one-third, producing distinct anterior canal; shell shiny, polished; shoulder sharply carinated, with bladelike carina; spire elevated, scalariform; anterior third of shell ornamented with 10 thick, raised spiral cords, each separeated from others by deeply-incised sulci; base colour of the shell white, smoot portion of body whorl with 4 rows of pale yellow-orange dots; spiral cords on anterior end marked with yellow-orange dots; spire whorls smooth, with numerous crescent-shaped orange flammules; interior of aperture white; periostracum brown, thick and smooth.

Habitat & Habits

Dredged at 35 m.

Discussion

This species is similar to C. aureonimbosus is closest to C.sennottorum and C.gibsonsmithorum. C. aureopunctatus is smaller, more slender with stronger, more regular cords on the anterior end than the former. From the sympatric C.gibsonsmithorumthis species differs in being a more slender shell, with a higher , more protracted spire, and by having rows of evenly-spaced, yellow-orange spots. The anterior spiral cords of C.aureopunctatus are also larger and better developed than those of C.gibsonsmithorum.

References

• New Caribbean Molluscan Faunas: p. 110, pl. 25, fig. 5 & 6.