With Katherine Cordy's kind encouragement I will start
asking questions. Is anyone aware of any DNA
"fingerprinting" studies performed on Conus species? I
have searched the web and found nothing. I would be
very interested to see the percent match of genomic
data between conchologicaly similar and dissimilar
species. It would seem the best way to settle certain
arguments between lumpers and splitters.

While collecting in the Hermit Islands of PNG in 2004,
we found Conus marmoreous, bandanus and bandanus
nigrescens, all living in the same general area and
depth. We have a large series of specimens that shows
a gradual inter-grading of shell color and pattern
from a classic marmoreous to a very dark bandanus
nigrescens. Visually, I could see no differences in
the appearance of the living animals. I will say that
the average size of shells identified as marmoreous
was larger than bandanus, bandanus were found with a
much greater incidence of shell damage (scars, severe
growth lines), and marmoreous were more likely to be
found less well hidden in the day time. Still, the
shared habitat and the inter-grading specimens make me
wonder about the species distinction.

John Flynn

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