Conus of the Southeastern United States and Caribbean

About the Book

Conus is the largest genus of animals in the sea, occurring throughout the world's tropical and subtropical oceans and contributing significantly to marine biodiversity. The shells of these marine mollusks are prized for their amazing variety and extraordinary beauty. The neurotoxic venoms they produce--injected by a hollow, harpoon-like tooth into prey animals that are then paralyzed and swallowed whole--have a range of pharmaceutical applications, from painkillers to antidepressants. This beautifully illustrated book identifies 53 valid species of the southeastern United States and the Caribbean, a region that supports a diverse but taxonomically challenging group of Conus. Introductory chapters cover the evolution and phylogeny of the genus, and notes on methodology are provided. Detailed species accounts describe key identification features, taxonomy, distribution, ecology, toxicology, life history, and evolutionary relationships. The book includes more than 2,100 photos of shells on 109 splendid color plates; more than 100 additional photos, many depicting live animals in color; and 35 color distribution maps. * Identifies 53 valid species--the first reassessment of western Atlantic Conus in more than seventy years* Features more than 2,100 photos of shells on 109 color plates* Blends the traditional shell-character approach to identification with cutting-edge shell and radular tooth morphometrics and molecular genetic analyses* Includes color images of live animals as well as color distribution maps

Table of Contents:
Preface ix Acknowledgments xi Introduction 1 Abbreviations Used in the Text 7 1 Setting the Stage: Approaches 9 2 Setting the Stage: The Geological Theater and the Evolutionary Play 18 3 This Book and How to Use it 32 4 Behind the Scenes: Technical Aids to the Species Accounts 44 5 Species Accounts 56 Conus granulatus Linnaeus 56 Conus glenni Petuch 62 Conus ritae Petuch 64 Conus jaspideus Gmelin 67 Conus pealii Green 74 Conus stearnsii Conrad 80 Conus pusio Hwass in Bruguiere 84 Conus mindanus Hwass in Bruguiere 89 Conus bahamensis Vink and Rockel 95 Conus puncticulatus Hwass in Bruguiere 97 Conus mazei Deshayes 106 Conus rainesae McGinty 114 Conus janowskyae (Tucker and Tenorio) 117 Conus armiger Crosse 120 Conus sauros Garcia 126 Conus lenhilli Cargile 129 Conus delessertii Recluz 130 Conus centurio Born 137 Conus cedonulli Linnaeus 146 Conus pseudaurantius Vink and von Cosel 156 Conus aurantius Hwass in Bruguiere 160 Conus mappa [Lightfoot] 164 Conus curassaviensis Bruguiere 174 Conus regius Gmelin 178 Conus cardinalis Hwass in Bruguiere 188 Conus arangoi Sarasua 204 Conus explorator Vink 206 Conus hieroglyphus Duclos 209 Conus ziczac Megerle von Muhlfeld 212 Conus sahlbergi da Motta and Harland 217 Conus daucus Hwass in Bruguiere 226 Conus amphiurgus Dall 239 Conus sanderi Wils and Moolenbeek 250 Conus eversoni Petuch 255 C. ceruttii Cargile 257 Conus ignotus Cargile 260 Conus cancellatus Hwass in Bruguiere 264 Conus stimpsoni Dall 274 Conus villepinii Fischer and Bernardi 281 Conus attenuatus Reeve 288 Conus flavescens Sowerby I 296 Conus cingulatus Lamarck 302 Conus largillierti Kiener 306 Conus anabathrum Crosse 312 Conus gibsonsmithorum Petuch 324 Conus garciai da Motta 329 Conus harlandi Petuch 334 Conus sunderlandi Petuch 340 Conus spurius Gmelin 345 Conus mus Hwass in Bruguiere 358 Conus patae Abbott 363 Conus ermineus Born 367 Conus lightbourni Petuch 379 Nomina dubia 382 6 Synthesis and Conclusions 395 Appendix 1. Molecular Phylogeny of Conus 419 Appendix 2. Morphology-Based Phylogeny of Conus 422 General Glossary 425 Bibliography 431 Index of Species-group Names 449 General Index 453

About the Author :

Alan J. Kohn is professor emeritus of biology at the University of Washington. His books include Manual of the Living Conidae: Indo-Pacific Region and Life History and Biogeography: Patterns in Conus.

Review :
"The comprehensive and clearly written species accounts, ranging from two to seven pages in length, occupy the bulk of the book. The volume is lavishly illustrated with 2,000-plus photos, presenting multiple images showing the variation of shapes and colors within each species. A valuable resource for anyone interested in cone shells in general and the mollusks of the tropical western Atlantic Ocean."--Choice "Conus is for the serious naturalist and a must for the hard-core beachcomber. Kohn, a foremost authority on cone snails, displays his scholarship on every page, with 2,100 mesmerizing color shell photographs of these fascinating gastropods."--Bill Cannon, Scientist's Bookshelf "This is a beautifully written and illustrated book that details the taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of western Atlantic Conus... The author, Alan J. Kohn, is widely recognized as the world's premier scientific authority on the Conidae. Here, he has poured his deep passion for his subject into a scientific and technical masterpiece."--Steven Tettelbach, East Coast Shellfish Growers Association