In October of 1980 Dieter Röckel, Emilio Rolán Antonio Monteiro and they published an interesting
editorial work with the emblematic title: Cone shells from Cape Verde Islands - a difficult puzzle. For
more than thirty years after the title is never more current with the addition that the seabed of
those water still produces many surprises and environmental and geographical conditions allow the
existence of an incredible number of endemic species whose characteristics allow us to identify new
species, based mainly on the aspects of morphology of the shell.
The small number of soft parts of molluscs available did not allow the study to assess the genetic
variability in a timely manner in order to support or not the taxonomic position of the forms
described here as a new species.
This work was possible thanks to the perseverance and collaboration of Ramiro Fiadeiro who
gathered the material studied and made it unconditionally available.
Africonus silviae
Locality:
Morro da Areia , BoaVista. The specimens studied were found to be 0.5 to 3 meters deep, on rock .
DESCRIPTION
Pyriform shell of small dimensions, compared with average for
the genus, with a range from 18 to 28 mm in height, with
harmonic size distribution; spire moderately concave profile and
moderately accentuated sutures; rounded shoulder and aperture
that forms a modest step adapically . The aperture is wide and
the margin slightly rounded adapically and is straight in the
central area . The protoconch is domed and aligned with the
spire . 7-8 small spiral grooves are highlighted in the tops of the
whorls . The last whorl smooth, with sparse weak grooves, has two color bands of brown color : one
adapical and one anteriorly; a middle band clearly distinguished from the brown bands is
characterized by white triangular marks placed in a counterclockwise direction to achieve a
decorative and distinctive pattern; the same decoration is found on the shoulder between the
aperture and the last spiral suture. The aperture is white with a lip which reveals the coloring of the
shell.
DISCUSSION
The new species has some affinity with Conus josephinae Rolán, 1980, but there are some elements
that differentiate unequivocally starting from the higher spire, the profile is less triangular, with the
prominent color bands and ornamentation evident; and an aperture slightly wider.
Also Africonus swinneni Tenorio, Afonso Cunha & Rolán, 2014 has certain similarities but has a lower
height-to-width ratio and more angled shoulder.
Africonus zinhoi sp.
MATERIAL TYPE
- Holotype 21,2 x12, 1 mm MMM, Cupra Marittima
- Paratype 1 23,0 x13, 3 mm A. Verdasca Collection
- Paratype 2 23,5 x13, 7mm R. Fiadeiro Collection
- Paratype 3 20,5 x10, 9 mm T. Cossignani Collection
TYPE LOCALITY AND DISTRIBUTION
Curral Velho, Boa Vista. The specimens studied were found to be 0.5 to 4 meters deep,among rock.
DESCRIPTION
Shell of small dimensions, less than those normally found in the
genus; the specimens surveyed had sizes ranging from 18 to 27
mm. The profile of the shell is pear-shaped; spire of an average
height and slightly concave. The aperture has join at shoulder
level and the alignment of aperture loop continues on the spire
with imperceptiblestep; the shoulder is rounded off with an
angle of approximately 140 °. The protoconch is domed and
sutures shallow with brown coloring. The ornamentation of the
last whorl is elegant,dark brown color, with a considerable
number (about 40) of dark lines spirals, more regular in adapical area, more sparse in the central and
most monochrome in the anterior interlinear spaces; the brown color of the background is
fragmented with small white speckles, these speckles in the central area are the most obvious and
fragment the regularity of the spiral lines. Also among the shoulder and the whorl tops are irregular
white speckles. The aperture is not very wide and has a gray-brown, lighter area adapically. 6
grooves, are clearly visible on the whorl tops of the spire. In the adult specimens less ornamentation
is less defined and the spire less scaliform.
DISCUSSION
The new species has some affinity with Conus delanoyi Trovão, 1979 at least as regards the whorl
decoration, but the size is somewhat lower (18 to 27 mm) and, especially, the spire of the new
species is decidedly higher and background staining more brown and with a more pear-shaped
profile.
Africonus cagarralensis sp.
MATERIAL TYPE
- Holotype 17,1 x10 , 4 mm MMM , Cupra Marittima
- Paratype 1 16,8 x9 , 7 mm A. Verdasca Collection
- Paratype 2 17,1 x9, 4 mm R. Fiadeiro Collection
- Paratype 3 16,8 x9, 8 mm A. Cicciu Collection
-Paratype 4 16,8 x9 , 0 mm T. Cossignani Collection
TYPE LOCALITY AND DISTRIBUTION
Pedra do Lume . The specimens studied were found at 0.2 to 2 meters deep, among rock .
DESCRIPTION
Shell small ( 14 to 21 mm) , pear-shaped , with moderately high
spire , slightly concave , usually encrusted it is difficult to assess
the protoconch ; tops of the whorls are crossed by two slight
grooves; the spire is mainly white; the shoulder has a
pronounced angle , the profile of last whorl is somewhat convex
in the adapical area and slightly concave in the anterior area .
The aperture is not narrow and internal staining is brown in the
adapical area and white in the siphonal area; very characteristic
is the pattern around the last whorl comprising 7 alternating
bands of light and dark fawn color with reticulation pattern
which reveals a white mesh.
DISCUSSION
The new species has some affinity with Africonus cuneolus ( Reeve, 1843) but the spire slightly
higher, more pyriform shape , and ornamentation in characteristic spiral bands with alternating
coloring and subtle mottling more fine-grained. A. borgesi ( Trovão , 1979) has different pattern and
is larger.
Africonus wandae sp.
MATERIAL TYPE
- Holotype 27,4 x17 , 2 mm MMM , Cupra Marittima
- Paratype 1 22,5 x12 ,2 mm A. Verdasca Collection
- Paratype 2 23,0 x13,0 mm P. Kersten Collection
- Paratype 3 29,2 x14,5 mm R. Fiadeiro Collection
- Paratype 4 25,9 x14,8 mm T. Cossignani Collection
TYPE LOCALITY AND DISTRIBUTION
Baia Grande , Boa Vista. The specimens studied were found at 0.5 to 3 meters deep, among rock .
DESCRIPTION
Shell small pear-shaped profile ,with gentle convexity more
pronounced adapically and almost zero in the anterior area . The
height of the shells studied ranges from 22 mm to 33 mm .The
spire has a low profile and is almost straight, but certain
specimens is slightly higher , and there are 3 spiral striae visible
on the whorl tops. The shoulder is slightly angular . The shell is
smooth with light spiral grooves only in the anterior area. The
aperture is wide and the color inside is marbeled white . The
protoconch is flattened dome-shaped with suture lines just
visible. Especially typical is the blotches of tawny -brown on last whorl. The blobs are shapeless like
large clouds roughly zig- zag in shape, tawny -brown color on a white background .
The area towards the siphonal canal is fawn-brown more consistent with darker smear of color
towards the zenith.Animal are not reported.
DISCUSSION
The new species has some affinity with Africonus borgesi (Trovão, 1979) and with Africonus
decoratus (Röckel, Rolán & Monteiro, 1980).
The spire of the new species is lower, but what distinguishes the new species from others in
comparison is the chromatic ornamentation of the last whorl which is entirely unique.
Africonus cabraloi sp.
MATERIAL TYPE
- Holotype 12,8 x7,2 mm MMM, Cupra Marittima
- Paratype 1 13,5 x7,8mm A. Cicciu Collection
- Paratype 2 11,5 x6,5 mm R. Fiadeiro Collection
- Paratype 3 13,5 x7,9 mm R. Fiadeiro Collection
- Paratype 4 15,7 x9,1 mm T. Cossignani Collection
- Paratype 5 14,4 x8,6mm R. Fiadeiro Collection
- Paratype 6 14,4 x8,1 mm R. Fiadeiro Collection
TYPE LOCALITY AND DISTRIBUTION
Praia Cabral. The specimens studied were found from 0.1 to 0.5 meters deep among rock.
DESCRIPTION
Shell pyriform small (9 to 15 mm) with spire moderately high,
slightly concave dome-shaped protoconch; sutures barely
noticeable, rounded shoulder. On last whorl, spiral grooves
around characterize predominantly the anterior part while more
than 25 spiral brown lines mark the shell that has dark greenishbrown background . A lighter spiral band runs medially around
whorl, divided into two parts by a dark reddish line; staining
tends to brown - red -green in siphonal area . The aperture is
moderately wide with internal coloring purplish -brown , lighter
in the adapical area ;the lip joins in harmony with the shoulder
without creating a significant step.
DISCUSSION
Compared to Africonus irregularis ( G.B. Sowerby ,1858), the new species has a higher concave spire
and is less pyriform and has a pattern on last whorl smoother with no white speckles, typical in A.
irregularis . Normally the sizeof the new species are smaller.
A. irregularis f . iberogermanicus ( Röckel , Rolán & Monteiro , 1980), the new species differs by the
higher spire and, for the darker color and without discontinuity of color. A. antoniomonteiroi ( Rolán
, 1990) has lower spire, the absence of lines and spirals around whorl and a spotted decorated band
and background colour deeper.
Africonus bernardinoi
MATERIAL TYPE
- Holotype 23,5 x12,7 mm MMM , Cupra Marittima
- Paratype 1 30,0 x16,0 mm R. Fiadeiro Collection
- Paratype 2 20,0 x10,5 mm B. Monteiro Collection
- Paratype 3 27,4 x15,4 mm T. Cossignani Collection
- Paratype 4 15.9 x8,72 mm R. Fiadeiro Collection
TYPE LOCALITY AND DISTRIBUTION
Baia da Parda , Ps. The specimens studied were found at 0.5 to 8 feet deep, on rock.
DESCRIPTION
Shell of small size ( 14 to 35 mm ) with a pyriform profile , with
background pattern of white -black- gray webbing giving the
effect like 'scale of the snake' , two spiral bands around central
area are lighter.Spire slightly elevated, slightly tuberculate and
almost linear profile; dome-shaped protoconch with sutures
lightly engraved in darker color ;wide aperture , dark blue inside
, with darker medial band ;attachment of lip to the shoulder
creates a small step. The aperture occupies 4/5 of height of
shell.
DISCUSSION
The new species is comparable with Africonus cuneolus ( Reeve, 1843) described from Algodoeiro
,Sal and Africonus delanoyi ( Trovão , 1979)described for Baia das Gatas in Boa Vista.
Compared to A. cuneolus the new species has the higher spire; shoulder tighter, more uniform
decoration and more uniform reticulation and less spiral bands(2) ( 3 in A. cuneolus ) .
The spire of A. delanoyi is lower and concave ; the background staining in this species tends to fawn
with more regular white lattice. In A. delanoyi the anterior siphonal is more homogeneous .
Africonus salletae
MATERIAL TYPE
- Holotype 15,5 x9,3 mm MMM , Cupra Marittima
- Paratype 1 19,2 x10,7 mm R. Fiadeiro Collection
- Paratype 2 14,0 x7,9 mm A. Verdasca Collection
- Paratype 3 13,6 x8,2 mm T. Cossignani Collection
- Paratype 4 17,0 x12,5mm R. Fiadeiro Collection
TYPE LOCALITY AND DISTRIBUTION
Espingueira , Boa Vista. The specimens studied were found to be 0.5 to 2 meters deep,on rock .
DESCRIPTION
Shell pyriform small ( 14 to24 mm ) spire low profile with barely
concave shape; protoconch almost flat , sutures slightly cut;
aperture wider than species of the same genus and that starts
from the shoulder without step evident , with internal staining
blue -violet with darker medial band .8 grooves spirally run
anteriorly around whorl. The coloring of the shell is plain mostly
brown to dark brown (lighter in young specimens ) with a lighter
median band.
DISCUSSION
The new species is comparable with Africonus josephinae ( Rolán , 1980). The new species is on
average smaller in size, has a more pear-shaped profile, the spire is moderately higher and colour
darker.
Africonus diegoi
MATERIAL TYPE
- Holotype 13,2 x6,7 mm MMM , Cupra Marittima
- Paratype 1 11,8 x5,7 mm A. Monteiro Collection
- Paratype 2 10,2 x6,0 mm R. Fiadeiro Collection
- Paratype 3 15,22 x7,87 mm T. Cossignani Collection
- Paratype 4 11,02 x5,48 mm R. Fiadeiro Collection
TYPE LOCALITY AND DISTRIBUTION
João Barbosa , Boa Vista. The specimens studied were found from 1 to 8 feet deep, on the rock.
DESCRIPTION
Shell small ( 9 to 16 mm) elongated pear-shaped profile , with
spire moderately high and scaliform, slightly concave. The
aperture is large with internal staining brown, characterized by
two light bands,almost white, one under the shoulder and the
other 2/3 down the whorl. The aperture creates small step at
whorl .The shell has a light grey whitish background with light
brown irregular dots and white dashes alternating ; the whorl in
the central area around the dots and dashes combine creating
small brown blotches covered by dashes of spiral lines darker (
reddish-brown ) and small white spots
DISCUSSION
The new species is comparable with Africonus felitae ( Rolán , 1990) from Rabo de Junco , Sal and A.
serranegrae ( Rolán , 1990) from Serra Negra.
The new species has a pattern not comparable in any feature with the species most morphologically
close , and has the higher spire and has a more tapered profile.
Africonus joserochoi sp.
MATERIAL TYPE
- Holotype 21,0 x11,6 mm MMM , Cupra Marittima
- Paratype 1 29,0 x11,1 mm R. Fiadeiro Collection
- Paratype 2 22,2 x13,3 mm N. Tiago Collection
- Paratype 3 23,2 x14,2 mm T. Cossignani Collection
- Paratype 4 22,7 x14,8 mm R. Fiadeiro Collection
TYPE LOCALITY AND DISTRIBUTION
Calheta, Boa Vista. The specimens studied were found from 0.3 to 8 feet deep , on rock.
DESCRIPTION
Shell of small size (18 to 35 mm) pear-shaped profile , with
medium high spire, slightly concave and convex just in certain
specimens; rounded shoulder; and aperture quite wide and
whose adapical join creates a imperceptible step.
The color of the inside of aperture is white - blue almost
homogeneous; the protoconch is low domed in line with the
early whorls of the spire . The coloring of the spire is tawny brown to dark brown with sparse white spots , the whorl tops
are crossed by 4 well defined spiral furrows.The last whorl has
dark reddish -brown coloring in harmony with the color of the
spire with a webbing pattern evident that manifests itself in clearly in the central median spiral strip
which occupies a fifth of the last whorl.
DISCUSSION
Compared to Africonus delanoyi ( Trovão , 1979) the new species has the higher and slightly concave
spire, has not the typical clear bands adapically and has a profile less triangular and more pearshaped .
Africonus decoratus ( Röckel , Rolán & Monteiro , 1980) has a more triangular profile, a spire more
convex and has white maculations.
Africonus antonioi sp.
MATERIAL TYPE
- Holotype 21,0 x12,8 mm MMM , Cupra Marittima
- Paratype 1 21,5 x12,2 mm A. Monteiro Collection
- Paratype 2 13,0 x8,6mm R. Fiadeiro Collection
- Paratype 3 18,8 x10,0 mm T. Cossignani Collection
- Paratype 4 18,2 x10,9 mm R. Fiadeiro Collection
TYPE LOCALITY AND DISTRIBUTION
Bay Pequeña , Boa Vista. The specimens studied were found to be 0.3 to 8 feet deep, on rock.
DESCRIPTION
Shell small (15 to 25mm) pear-shaped profile , with gentle
convexity in a low spire whose whorls are marked by four
spiral grooves evident , the shoulder is rounded and wide
aperture begins at shoulder, continuing the line of the spire .
The color is white inside. The profile of last whorl is
moderately convex with a tendency to linearity in siphonal
area . The coloring is tawny - yellowish with minute spiral lines
of more intense color . Minute white speckles almost
triangular with clockwise orientation characterize the middle
band and the shoulder; the area near the siphonal canal is a
more intense color tending to brown.
DISCUSSION
The new species differs from Africonus borgesi( Trovão , 1979) for the lower spire, for presence of
speckles, the color difference and for a more slender profile .