Conus (Stephanoconus) moissettei (Psarras, Merle & Koskeridou, 2022)
Shell description
Small shells (SL max.: 24.17 mm). Early
spire whorls elevated, convex to conical, tuberculated. Later spire whorls smooth,
straight to convex, with channelled suture. Spire whorl outline conical to
slightly coeloconoid in early spire whorls, conical to convex in later spire
whorls. Subsutural flexure shallow, moderately curved, moderately asymmetrical
(Fig. 40L). Shoulder smooth, rounded to slightly angulated, with maximum
diameter right below shoulder. Aperture of narrow to medium width, widening
towards shell’s anterior part. Last whorl straight to slightly widened below
shoulder. Fasciole short, slightly twisted. No spiral grooves on last whorl (1).
Description of colour pattern
On the spire whorls, the colour pattern
consists of irregular, bright-fluorescent flammulae. On the last whorls, the
first colour pattern level consists of three, widely spaced, fluorescent spiral
bands. The bands exist near the shoulder, at the middle and anterior parts of
the last whorl. The second level consists of very closely arranged, spiral
lines of dashes, which can vary from very long to dot-like dashes (Fig. 27). In
between the dashes, non-fluorescent dashes exist, usually creating axially to
diagonally spaced, non-fluorescent areas, in the form of blotches. The
intensity of the fluorescent colours is not constant in the levels of patterns
(Fig. 28). The first level is illuminated with a fade-fluorescent colour. The
colour intensity of the second level is axially directed, from fade-fluorescent
to bright-fluorescent in colour, creating axially arranged, bright-fluorescent
areas of dashes, suppressed by non-fluorescent blotches. The non-fluorescent
dashes, between the fluorescent ones, are visible when the second pattern
overlaps the first (1).
Etymology
Species named after Pierre
Moissette, member of the Action spécifique du Muséum project (1989–1990) (1).
Remarks
This species is identifiable
from the rest of the studied specimens in the small size of the shells and the
intricate colour pattern variation of dashes and bands. Conus (Stephanoconus)
cf. taurinensis is distinguishable from this species by the early highly
conical spire whorls, the smoother spire whorl outline, with less inflated
sutural ramps and a different colour pattern. The shell shape of Conus (Stephanoconus)
moissettei sp. nov. resembles a specimen of Conus (sensu lato) vindobonensis
Hoernes & Auinger, 1879 (Harzhauser & Landau 2016: fig. 35e and
discussion), but the Austrian species differs by a more elongated shell shape,
a deeper subsutural flexure and spiral grooves on the anterior part of last
whorl. Its colour pattern is not known (1).
Stratigraphic range
Tortonian of Greece (Crete)
(1).
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Fig. 26. Conus (Stephanoconus) moissettei sp.
nov. from the Tortonian of Adhraktia,
Crete (Greece) shown in apertural view under natural (A1, A4, B1, B4,
C1, C4) and UV light.
Scale bar = 1 cm. |
Bibliografia Consultata