| Conus ventricosus Gmelin, 1791 |
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Cantabrian Sea to Sénégal, Mediterranean. Predator on polychaetes in shallow water and upper half of infralittoral.
A synonym is mediterraneus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792.
On big rock at 0,5m deep, Kokkina Gremma bay, Kissamos, W. Crete. 40mm. |
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| Other colours and patterns: these specimens were collected in algae on rocks or in caves, between 5 and 10m deep, Falasarna bay, W. Crete. 21-22mm. |
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| Young banded specimen sleeping on rock, eastern side of Kalyvaki cove, Georgioúpoli, west of Réthymno, NW. Crete. |
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| Falasarna. In algae on top of a big rock, 50cm deep. 34mm. |
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Conus mediterraneus in Kiener & Fischer: Spécies général et iconographie des coquilles vivantes, Paris 1873-1880 vol. II, plate LVI.
« C. turbinatâ, cinereo-virescente vel rubellâ, fulvo aut fusco nebulatâ; lineis transversis albo fuscoque articulatis; fasciâ albidâ; spirâ convexo-acutâ, maculatâ. » |
| A giant population lives in the southern bottom of Elounda lagoon, Lasithi, N. Crete: 20cm deep, inside Posidonia field, near the mills, along the dam. 45mm. |
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| Conus mediterraneus in W. Kobelt: Iconographie der schalentragenden europäischen Meeresconchylien vol. IV, Cassel 1908, via BHL. |
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| Uncommon red-brown specimen collected at 6m deep, among sponges and amphoras of a prehistoric dumping just offshore the antique harbour, northern end of Falasarna bay. 16,5mm. |
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| In very shallow muddy water, among meadows of Zostera marina, between Navplio and Nea Kios, in the bottom of the bay, Argolida, E. Peloponnese, SW. Greece. 22-31mm. |
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| Live specimen pictured on rock, Krk island, Kvarner Gulf, N. Croatia, by R. Pillon for WoRMS – (CC BY-NC-SA). |
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| On rocks in shallow water, south of the fortress, Porto Palermo, Himarë, Vlorë County, S. Albania. Original picture provided by E. Xharahi for gbif.org – (CC BY). |
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| Large specimen from Kerkennah islands, Tunisia. 44mm. |
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1m deep, Sidi Youssef, Kerkennah islands. 22,1mm.
Original pictures provided by A. Nappo (IT).
– (CC BY-NC-SA) – |
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Same spot, but different shape. 20mm.
Original pictures provided by A. Nappo (IT).
– (CC BY-NC-SA) – |
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| 1m deep, in sand, Jerba, Tunisia. 34,5mm. |
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| Jerba again, at 1m deep. 27mm. |
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1m deep, laguna di Santa Gilla, Cagliari, S. Sardinia. 26,9mm. Original pictures provided by A. Nappo (IT).
– (CC BY-NC-SA) – |
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Sinistral specimen from western Sardinia. 21mm.
Original pictures provided by A. Nappo (IT).
– (CC BY-NC-SA) – |
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The species is often found among the rhizome of Posidonia oceanica, or buried in muddy sand, where the little polychaetes worms are living. – In shallow water, Santa Severa, Luri, NE. Corsica. 29mm. E. Vial legit (FR). |
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Specimens collected on sand:
27mm: 3m deep, Ghjunchitu bay, Isola Rossa, NW. Corsica.
32mm: 12m deep, at the foot of the Citadel, Calvi, NW. Corsica. |
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| 2m deep, on sand, Cabo de Palos, Murcia, SE. Spain. 39,2mm. |
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| Often found in sand patches with stones and seagrass, but also simply on rocks among algae. Above, a young specimen from Ključice creek, southern shore of Tiha Bay, Cavtat, Dubrovnik-Neretva Comitat, S. Croatia. |
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| At extreme low tide, crawling in shallow water mud pools, among Zostera noltii, lagunar system of Ria Formosa, Olhão, Algarve, SW. Portugal. 23,5mm. |
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Variations of shape and colours in the species.
Original picture provided by P. Sidois (FR).
– (CC BY-NC-SA) – |