Conus (Lithoconus) alveatus	(Conrad, 1865)
Conus (Lithoconus) alveatus spiralis	(Dockery, 1984)
Conus (Lithoconus) postalveatus	(Kellum, 1926)

Conus defrancii	(Lesueur, 1829)
Conus nonperditus	(Lesueur, 1829)
Conus peronii	(Lesueur, 1829)
Conus scopularis	(Casey, 1903)

Conus deperditus var. subdiadema	(De Gregorio, )

Conus (Lithoconus) alveatus (Conrad, 1865)

Descrizione e caratteristiche:

Conchiglia oblungo-turbinata, leggera; i fianchi sono rettilinei nella parte inferiore e leggermente convessi superiormente; la sommità di ogni giro, compreso l’ultimo, è profondamente carenata; la spira è molto corta, con un profilo leggermente concavo; alla base sono presenti linee spirali. Questa specie differisce dal Conus sauridens per avere una spira più bassa e maggiormente carenata; le linee spirali sulla superficie delle spire sono meno numerose⁽¹⁾.

Per Meyer, il Conus alveatus sarebbe una varietà del Conus sauridens ⁽²⁾.

La distribuzione del Conus alveatus va dall’Eocene all’Oligocene medio.

Discussion.

This species shows variation in the elevation of its spire, the angulation and nodose or smooth sculpture of its shoulder (compare figures 9 and 10 of Plate 38), and in the number of spiral grooves on the body whorl (compare figures 11 and 12 of Plate 38) ⁽³⁾.

Casey (1903, p. 279) named a new species Conus scopularis in the Red Bluff Formation and stated that it differed from Conus alveatus in its more depressed spire and sculpture. However, specimens of the Red Bluff species show the same variation in the elevation of the spire and angulation of the body whorl (compare figures 5 and 6 of Plate 59) as do those of C. alveatus in the Byram Formation ⁽³⁾.

Lesueur in his unpublished manuscript on the "Walnut Hill fossil shells" gave three different names to various forms of C. alveatus ⁽³⁾.

One form, which he named Conus defrancii (see Dockery, 1982, Appendix II, pl. 8, fig. 18), has a slender shell with a rounded shoulder and evenly sloped, elevated spire. This form has been found to occur in both the upper Forest HillFormation and the Byram Formation (see Plate 59, figures 7-8)⁽³⁾.

Type⁽³⁾:

Lectotype of Conus alveatus Conrad 13446 ANSP and paratype 13494 ANSP both from the Byram Formation judging from the preservation, Vicksburg, Mississippi (Conrad) (Plate 38, figure 26 - lectotype).

Holotype of Conus scopularis Casey 481664 USNM from the Red Bluff Formation, USGS locality 13288 (Plate 9, figures 16-17).

Occurrence⁽³⁾:

Mississippi: Red Bluff Formation, USGS locality 13288, MGS localities 34b, 37, 38; Forest Hill Formation, MGS locality 75a; Mint Spring Formation, USGS localities 7671, 13287, 14162, MGS locality 99; Byram Formation, USGS localities 7941, 13286, MGS localities 93, 106, 109, 112c, 114, 115. Mexico: middle Oligocene sandstone, USGS localities 13539, 141444.

Conus (Lithoconus) alveatus spiralis (Dockery, 1984)

Description:

Shell small, elongate, protoconch with three, highly elevated, smooth whorls; teleoconch with six and one half whorls; spire elevated with cancellate ramp having fine spiral lines and growth lines concave toward aperture, shoulder elevated above suture and strongly noded; body whorl with strong, narrow, spiral grooves continuing to nodes on shoulder ⁽³⁾.

Discussion:

This subspecies can be distinguished from high spired forms of C. alveatus s.s. in that the spiral grooves cover the body whorl. It can be distinguished from C. protractus in having spiral lines on the ramp ⁽³⁾.

Type: Holotype 376678 USNM from the Byram Formation, Mississippi MGS locality 93 (Plate 59, figure 3) ⁽³⁾.

Occurrence: Byram Formation, Mississippi MGS locality 93 ⁽³⁾.

Conus scopularis

Conus alveatus spiralis

Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾

Conus scopularis

Holotype 481664 USNM ⁽³⁾

mm. 28,4 x 16,8

Eocene - Red Bluff Formation

(La spira è molto più bassa)

Conus alveatus spiralis ⁽³⁾

Holotype 376678 USNM

Tav. 59 fig. 3

mm. 14,5 x 6,6

Mississippi

Conus alveatus spiralis ⁽³⁾

1289 MSG

Tav. 59 fig. 4

mm. 11,4 x 5,5

Mississippi

Conus alveatus

Conus nonperditus⁽⁴⁾ (Lesueur, 1829) Conus alveatus⁽³⁾			Conus peronii⁽⁴⁾ (Lesueur, 1829) Conus alveatus⁽³⁾				Conus defrancii⁽⁴⁾ (Lesueur, 1829) Conus alveatus⁽³⁾

Conus alveatus		Conus alveatus			Conus senza nome⁽⁴⁾ (Lesueur, 1829) Tav. 9 figg. 14-20 Conus alveatus⁽³⁾ Tav. 9 Figg. 14-18, 20 – non fig. 19⁽³⁾

Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 498183 USNM Tav. 23 fig. 17 mm. 5,3 x 2,4				Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 498182 USNM Tav. 23 fig. 20 mm. 40,6 x 19,9		Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 376515 USNM Tav. 23 fig. 21 mm. x 28,1			Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 479935 USNM Tav. 23 fig. 28 mm. 47,9 x 23,2

Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 376638 USNM Tav. 38 fig. 4,11 mm. 12,3 x 6,7				Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 376639 USNM Tav. 38 fig. 5,12 mm. 13,0 x 6,6				Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 376640 USNM Tav. 38 fig. 8,9 mm. 10,8 x 5,2

Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 376641 USNM Tav. 38 fig. 10 mm. 11,6 x 5,4				Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 376642 USNM Tav. 38 fig. 13,19 mm. 41,3 x 24,2				Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 376643 USNM Tav. 38 fig. 14,20 mm. 36,7 x 18,4

Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 376645 USNM Tav. 38 fig. 16,21 mm. 37,0 x 19,5				Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 376646 USNM Tav. 38 fig. 17 mm. 21,6 x 10,8				Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ Lectotype 13446 ANSP Tav. 38 fig. 26 mm. 51,0 x 28,5

Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 1290 MSG Tav. 59 fig. 5 mm. 53,3 x 28,1 Red Bluff Fm., MGS locality 37	Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 1291 MSG Tav. 59 fig. 6 mm. 32,6 x 17,8 Red Bluff Fm. MGS locality 38			Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 1292 MSG Conus defrancii Tav. 59 fig. 7 mm. 39,2 x 18,9				Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 1293 MSG Conus defrancii Tav. 59 fig. 8 mm. 40,5 x 20,2

Conus (Lithoconus) postalveatus (Kellum, 1926)

Shell of moderate size, with obtuse or very slightly acute spires of about ten whorls; nucleus destroyed; whorls somewhat excavated on top, spirally sculptured with fine grooves, and bounded by an angular shoulder; early whorls faintly nodulated at the shoulder; sides of outer whorl longitudinally nearly straight, faintly sculptured with fine, spiral striae, which toward the base become distinct grooves; axial growth lines distinct; aperture narrow, elongate, the canal short and wide; outer lip broken; inner lip with a single welldefined plait at the base of the columella.

Height, 38 millimeters; diameter, 19.5 millimeters.

The form closest to this species is Conus alveatus (Conrad), from the Oligocene of Vicksburg, Miss., a shorter cone with a much coarser spiral sculpture near the base of the outer whorl.

Conus alveatus (pag. 148 e Pl. 11 fig.4) ⁽¹⁾

Eocene

Conus postalveatus (Silverdale – North Carolina)

Oligocene Superiore

mm. 38,0 x 19,5

[La spira ha il profilo lineare, non concavo.]

At the time the deposit from which it is found was listed as Lower Miocene Trent Marl. Now considered as Upper Oligocene Haywood Landing Member of the Belgrade Formation.

Locality: Silverdale, Onslow County, N. C. Geologic horizon: Trent marl, of lower Miocene age (now considered as Upper Oligocene).

Conus alveatus mm. 22,7 x 11,9

Oligocene Superiore – Byram – Claiborne – Mississippi

[AZFC N. 301-00]

Conus alveatus

Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 1290 MSG Tav. 59 fig. 5 mm. 53,3 x 28,1 Red Bluff Fm., MGS locality 37	Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 376642 USNM Tav. 38 fig. 13,19 mm. 41,3 x 24,2	Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 376643 USNM Tav. 38 fig. 14,20 mm. 36,7 x 18,4	Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 1291 MSG Tav. 59 fig. 6 mm. 32,6 x 17,8 Red Bluff Fm. MGS locality 38	Conus alveatus mm. 22,7 x 11,9 Oligocene Superiore [AZFC N. 301-00]

Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 376646 USNM Tav. 38 fig. 17 mm. 21,6 x 10,8

Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 376639 USNM Tav. 38 fig. 5,12 mm. 13,0 x 6,6	Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 376638 USNM Tav. 38 fig. 4,11 mm. 12,3 x 6,7	Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 376641 USNM Tav. 38 fig. 10 mm. 11,6 x 5,4	Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 376640 USNM Tav. 38 fig. 8,9 mm. 10,8 x 5,2	Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 498183 USNM Tav. 23 fig. 17 mm. 5,3 x 2,4

Conus alveatus - Conus defrancii

Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 479935 USNM Tav. 23 fig. 28 mm. 47,9 x 23,2 USGS locality 13287	Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 1293 MSG Tav. 59 fig. 8 mm. 40,5 x 20,2 Forest Hill Fm., MGS locality 75a	Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 1292 MSG Tav. 59 fig. 7 mm. 39,2 x 18,9 Byram Fm., MGS locality 114	Conus alveatus ⁽³⁾ 376645 USNM Tav. 38 fig. 16,21 mm. 37,0 x 19,5 USGS locality 13286	Conus defrancii ⁽⁴⁾ (Lesueur, 1829) Dimensioni non indicate

Conus deperditus var. subdiadema

Testa conica, laevigata; anfractibus potius angustis , concavis , ad suturam anticam prominulis, subgradatis, spiraliter funiculatis, filis linearibus ornatis, funiculos clathrantibus ornatis; prope suturam anticam prominulis, cingulatis, subgradatis, angulo in primis anfractibus eleganter crenulato, ultimo anfractu laevigato, majore quam dupla spira, antice spiraliter striato atque attenuato, postice ad perioheriam angulato.

L.30 mm.

La difference entre nos exemplaires et ceux de Paris consiste en ce que l’angle qu'ils forment est lisse, tandis que dans nos exemplaires il est crénelé dans les premiers 7 tours. Ce caractère a un grand poids, parce que il nous persuade à considérer le C. diadema Edw., comme une forme du C. deperditus et à considérer notre variété comme transitoire de l’une à l’autre espèce. Les coquilles, pour lesquelles M. Edwards a proposé le nom de diadema, préalablement avaient été référées par Morris (Cat. Brit. foss. p. 143) et par Dixon (Sussex p. 108, pl. 8, f. 10) au C. diversiformis, mais M. Edwards (Eoc.moll p.190, pl. 74, f. 8) a observé justemtnt que l'angle des tours est pourvu de tubercules qui manquent dans l’espèce de Deshayes dont l'angle est toujours lisse (Desh. Coq. Paris v. 2, p. 747). Nos exemplaires partagent de tous les deux types. Mon ami M.Maur. Cossmann m' a envoyè certainS exemplaires du Villiers, rapportes par lui au C. diversiformis, qui ont aussi les tours creux, ornés de funicules et bordés par un relief semblable de celui de nos exemplaires, mais pas crénelé; on ne voit pas ces carectéres dans les types du diversiformis figurés par Deshayes. mais celui-ci parle aussi de stries spirales le long des tours. Certes les limites entre le diversiformis et le deperditus ne sont pas bien tranches et il y a lieu à croire qu’on dut considerer tout les trois especes (diversiformis, deperditus, diadema) comme des formes dérivéès du méme type.

Le Conus alveatus Conr. (1865. Conrad Descr. of new eoc. sp. Un. Stat. p. 148) appartient sans doute au méme type, et ie ne sais pas en quoi il peu se distinguer de certaines variétés du C. diversiformis Desh. Je ne sais pas comment M. Conrad n’a méme cité cette espèce.— (Coll mon Cabinet).

The difference between our specimens and those of Paris consists in that the angle they form is smooth, while in our examples it is crenulated in the first 7 turns. This character has great weight, because it persuades us to consider C. diadema Edw., as a form of C. deperditus and to consider our variety as transitional from one to the other species. The shells, for which Mr. Edwards proposed the name diadema, had previously been referred by Morris (Cat. Brit. foss. p. 143) and by Dixon (Sussex p. 108, pl. 8, f. 10) to C. diversiformis, but Mr. Edwards (Eoc.moll p.190, pl. 74, f. 8) correctly observed that the angle of the towers is provided with tubercles which are missing in the Deshayes species whose angle is always smooth (Desh. Coq. Paris v. 2, p. 747). Our specimens share both types. My friend Mr. Maur. Cossmann sent me certain examples of Villiers, referred by him to C. diversiformis, which also have hollow towers, decorated with funicles and bordered by a relief similar to that of our examples, but not crenulated; we do not see these characteristics in the types of diversiformis represented by Deshayes. but this one also speaks of spiral streaks along the turns. Certainly the limits between diversiformis and deperditus are not clearly defined and there is reason to believe that all three species (diversiformis, deperditus, diadema) had to be considered as forms derived from the same type.

The Conus alveatus Conr. (1865. Conrad Descr. of new eoc. sp. Un. Stat. p. 148) undoubtedly belongs to the same type, and I do not know how it can be distinguished from certain varieties of C. diversiformis Desh. I don't know how Mr. Conrad even mentioned this species.— (Coll my Cabinet).