Lithoconus pullulascens (Tenison-Woods, 1879)

Description.

The two cones figured on this plate 1 only name provisionally. They are the same species, but fig 4 is very much worn. The specimens seen by me are all extremely small with a very large conspicuous pullus, the upper angle of the whorls is distinctly and elegantly ribbed, and the whole shell is deeply and distantly spirally grooved. Larger and more numerous specimens may enable me to give better details, and more information as to the relations of the species ⁽³⁾.

Conus pullulascens ⁽³⁾

Plate 1 fig. 3 ??

Plate 1 fig. 4

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The author of the species-name included two different species under it, but both examples represent very young, almost unrecognisable, shells ; however in respect of one (fig. 4), I have been able to trace it up to a shell of moderate size (herewith figured, Plate XI , Fig. 9), to which the specific designation is very applicable. The species is conspicuous by its large turbinated pullus of three smooth tumid whorls.The spire is either flat or very shortly elevated, its whorls narrow, separated by a linear suture ; ornamented with four or five spiral threads and rather slender, close, arched growth-lines. The body-whorl is sharply angled, and is ornamented with flat spiral threads, becoming more or less obsolete with age (except at the front) ⁽¹⁾.

In this article, the name is referred to as pullulescens.

Dimensions. — Length, 32 ; greatest width, 15 ; length of aperture, 27 ; diameter of pullus, 3-5 ⁽¹⁾.

Localities. — Miocene beds at Muddy Creek, Schnapper Point, and River Murray Cliffs ⁽¹⁾.

Conus pullulascens ^(3) Plate 1 fig. 4	Conus pullulascens ^(1) Plate XI fig. 9 mm. 32 x 15

Conus pullulascens mm. 29,6 x 14,1 Middle Miocene (Balcombian) Muddy Creek Formation, Clifton Bank, Muddy Creek 7 km west of Hamilton, Vistoria, Australia [AZFC 558-01]
Conus pullulascens mm. 45 Middle Miocene (Balcombian) Muddy Creek Formastion – Clifton Bank 7 km. West pf Hamilton (Victoria, Austria) [Andrea Petri]	Conus pullulascens mm. 45 [Andrea Petri]

Conus pullulascens mm. 45 Middle Miocene (Balcombian) Muddy Creek Formastion – Clifton Bank 7 km. West pf Hamilton (Victoria, Austria) [Andrea Petri]	Conus pullulascens mm. 29,6 x 14,1 Middle Miocene (Balcombian) Muddy Creek Formation, Clifton Bank, Muddy Creek 7 km west of Hamilton, Vistoria, Australia [AZFC 558-01]

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This species may be distinguished from C. cuspidatus, amongst other things by its extremely characteristic and prominent protoconch (Plate 11. Figs. 7a-b). This is very large, composed of three turns, somewhat turbinate, with deeply canaliculate sutures. The protoconch is oblique with reference to the axis of the shell. The spire of the shell proper is not much elevated, its whorls are narrow, separated by a linear suture, ornamented with a few spiral threads and closely-set sinuous lines of growth. Bodywhorl sharply keeled at the periphery, and covered with fiat spiral threads which become obsolete with age, except anteriorly. The figure accompanying Mr. Tenison-Wood's memoir above cited refers to a young shell, and is practically unrecognizable ⁽²⁾.

The interpretation placed upon it by Professor Tate is here adopted ⁽²⁾.

Dimensions.—Length 39 mm.; breadth 21mm ⁽²⁾.

Form, and Loc.—Eocene : Victoria ⁽²⁾.

Conus pullulascens ⁽²⁾

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Bibliografia Consultata

· (1) - Tate (1890) – “TRANSACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS REPORT OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY Of SOUTH AUSTRALIA”: pag. 199

· (2) - CATALOGUE TERTIARY MOLLUSCAIN THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY BRITISH MUSEUM (NATURAL HISTOHY). PART I. THE AUSTEALASIA TERTIARY MOLLUSCA. GEOEGE F. HARRIS, F.G.S.,

· (3) - On some Tertiary Fossils. By the Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, F.G-.S. 1