Common Name

"Beatrix’s Cone"

Status

Regarded as a valid species; regarded by Mike Filmer a subspecies of C. praecellens A. Adams, 1853.

Type Locality

Aliguay Island, Philippines

Distribution

Only known from the type locality

Maximum Reported Size

40.13 mm

Description

Shell small to moderately small; light and rather thin. The profile is biconical, with a very high spire consisting of 11 to 13 whorls, of straight to slightly concave outline, occasionally stepped, and with a carinate shoulder. Outline of the last whorl rather pyriform, convex adapically and convex abapically, towards the basal third. Prominent, rather globose larval shell of 2.5-2.75 whorls measuring 0.65 to 0.75 mm, white, smooth and translucent. Early leleoconch sutural ramps tuberculated at the edges. Tubercles become obsolete after the forth whorl, and disappear. Later teleoconch sutural ramps slightly concave to concave, carinated, striated with 3 to 5 spiral grooves and with a well-marked suture. Last whorl with a satin gloss, covered with distinct equally-spaced spiral grooves leaving flat ribbons between. Ground color white or creamy-white. Most shells essentially patternless. However, scarce faint golden brown blotches may be present, specially on the upper part of the spire and near the siphonal channel. Occasionally, diffuse brown streaks often arranged in form of a faint band near the mid-body of the last-whorl, or small brown spots on the shoulder, may also be present. The aperture is pure white.

Shell Morphometry

L	23 mm
RW
RD	0.62
PMD	0.90
RSH	0.38

Habitat & Habits

Between 50 and 150 m on sand.

Discussion

A species within the C. praecellens complex.

References