Conus schroeckingeri (Hoernes & Auinger, 1879)

Descrizione e caratteristiche:

Small pyriform shell with low conical to coeloconoid spire; early spire whorls angulated, tuberculate; later whorls flat, striate. Subsutural flexure very shallow, weakly curved, moderately asymmetrical. Suture impressed. Last whorl faintly angulated and convex below; constricted. Lower third of last whorl and base covered by wide-spaced, raised spiral cords. Moderately long, weakly reflected siphonal canal. Siphonal fasciole very weak. Aperture narrowing adapically and widening towards siphonal canal. Colour pattern under UV light consisting of regularly spaced, thin spirals on entire last whorl, coinciding with spiral cords on base. Spirals overlain by large, roughly trigonal blotches amalgamating into two irregular bands below shoulder and below midwhorl⁽²⁾.

Although known by just two specimens, this seems to be a distinct species. None of the other Paratethyan cone species develops such a stout pyriform shape with striate spire whorls and raised spiral cords on the base. This sculpture of wide-spaced, prominent spiral cords on the last whorl is reminiscent of Conus sturi (Hoernes & Auinger, 1879) but the strongly constricted base and the low conical coeloconoid spire exclude that P. schroeckingeri is just a juvenile C. sturi. Further, the colour pattern of delicate spirals overlain by large blotches is unknown from any other Paratethyan species⁽²⁾.