Type specimens and identity of the described species of Conus

Abstract

This paper completes an analysis and evaluation of the present status of the nominal species in the gastropod genus Conus described during the 18th century. The major source of new names during the period 1793–1800 was the Museum Boltenianum, in which P. F. Roding proposed 99 new species-group names. Review of all pertinent evidence in the form of original descriptions and cited references leads to the conclusion that only three of these (C. biliosus, C. chaldaeus and C leopardus) are valid, while 80 are junior synonyms of previously described species, and 16 are nomina dubia. In addition, 22 names are junior homonyms. One holotype, lectotypes of 3 species, representatives of lectotypes of 66 species, and one representative of a holotype have been designated. With the exception of 11 types of objective junior synonyms, these are illustrated in photographs. The only other nominal species of Conus proposed during the period were three from the Mediterranean Sea described by von Salis Marschlins in 1793. All of these are concluded to be junior synonyms of C. ventricosus Gmelin 1791.