Common Name

"Bozzetti’s Cone"

Status

Regarded as a valid species.

Type Locality

A few miles off Cape Raas Haafun, North eastern Somalia

Distribution

North Somalia

Maximum Reported Size

60 mm

Description

Medium-sized to moderately large, usually moderately solid. Last whorl conical or ventricosely conical; outline convex at adapical third, less so at central third, and straight (right side) or concave (left side) below. Shoulder subangulate to rounded, usually broadly carinate. Spire of moderate height, outline straight to slightly convex, with projecting, stepped apex. Larval shell of about 3 whorls, maximum diameter about 1.2 mm. First 4-6 postnuclear whorls tuberculate, later whorls carinate. Teleoconch sutural ramps flat or slightly concave, with closely spaced axial threads and almost obsolete spiral striae. Last whorl with punctate or axially striate spiral grooves at base and weak ribs or narrow ribbons between.

Ground colour white. Last whorl usually with an interrupted spiral band of brown axial blotches above centre, sometimes with traces of a similar band below shoulder. Generally sparse spiral rows of variably numerous light brown dots, dashes or bars occur primarily adapically. Completely white shells intergrade with heavily dotted specimens. Larval whorls white. Teleoconch sutural ramps either immaculate or with very sparse brown dots or dashes, often aligned at outer margin in early whorls. Aperture white.

Periostracum olive-brown, rather thin, opaque, with fine interlaced axial ridges on last whorl and separate prominent radial ridges on spire.

Shell Morphometry

L	40-63 mm
RW	0.09-0.17 g/mm (L 40-60 mm)
RD	0.51-0.60
PMD	0.77-0.90
RSH	0.13-0.23

Habitat & Habits

Deep water 150-200 m.

Discussion

C. bozzettii resembles C. ione, C. teramachii and C. gradatulus

. C. ione, attains larger size (to 76 mm), is heavier (RW 0.15-0.35 g/mm), and has a broader last whorl (RD 0.55-0.64). It differs additionally in its slightly pyriform last whorl, more angulate or carinate shoulder, and in its more prominent spiral sculpture on the last whorl. The violet shades often present in C. ione, are absent in C. bozzettii, in the former species, brown blotches form a spiral band on each side of the centre of the last whorl. C. C. teramachii, is a larger species (to 111 mm) and lacks any pattern; its shoulder is more angulate and strongly carinate, and its sutural ramps have a prominent spiral sculpture. C. gradatulus, attains larger size, has a generally broader last whorl (RD to 0.64), its pattern lacks spiral rows of dots, and the pink background shades often seen in this species are absent in C. bozzettii.

References

• Apex 6 (2): p. 33 & figs 1 – 14.