Common Name

"Brian Hayes’s Cone"

Status

Regarded as a valid species.

Type Locality

Port Grosvenor, Transkei, South Africa

Distribution

Transkei, South Africa

Maximum Reported Size

25 mm

Description

Small shell, light to moderately light. Last whorl ventricosely conical to broadly conical. Shoulder subangulate to round. Spire of low to moderate height, profile straight to slightly domed, eventually stepped, with a relatively large protruding white to light brown protoconch. Teleoconch sutural ramps slightly concave to sigmoid or flat, with many spiral striae on late ramps. Basal third to half of last whorl with closely set ribs, becoming finer towards the base. Ground color white to cream. Base brown or violet-brown. The pattern of the last whorl consists of brown spiral lines and/or spiral rows of dashes, which may be combined with or replaced by spots or dots. Sometimes the spiral pattern elements may be fused axially, but more frequently the last whorl appears tinged with creamy brown and then the pattern elements are fused into a darker broad subcentral band and a narrower band below the shoulder, leaving a variably broad white to creamy brown spiral band at the centre. This band could appear overlaid with spiral rows of brown maculae. The spire is usually white, with regularly arranged brown spots, dots or curved streaks. The aperture is white as is the animal.

Habitat & Habits

On sand reef in 70-90 m.

Discussion

C. bairstowi is most similar in shape and color pattern but is significantly larger. The shoulder is more rounded, and the sculpture of the surface of the last whorl is more prominent in specimens of C. brianhayesi.

References

• Conchiglia 33 (299): P. 18 (Conchiglia 32 (297): p. 15, pls 1 & 2).