I recently acquired a cone specimen identified as Conus connectens A. Adams,
1855 from the Philippines. I first went to the  MANUAL OF THE LIVING CONIDAE
by Rockel, Korn and Kohn. Guess what? Conus connectens wasn't even listed in
the index, not even as a synonym. I then referred to R. Tucker Abbott's
COMPENDIUM OF SEA SHELLS and found the species listed there with Conus
pulchellus, Swainson, 1822 given as a cinnamon. Going back to Rockel, Korn and
Kohn's work I find Conus pulchellus listed with Conus circumactus, Iredale,
1929 given as the valid name for this species.
 
When looking up Conus circumactus, I find the following "Estival & von Cosel
(1986) considered Conus connectens A. Adams, 1855 to be an earlier name for C.
circumactus. Coomans et. al. (1985a) considered the type specimen of C.
connectens indeterminable, but Rockel (1988b) concluded that it is a specimen
of C. daucus Hwass from the W. Atlantic. In any case it seems  not to be an
earlier name for C. circumactus."
 
I am confused!!  What ever am I to call this dear little cone?
 
Martin Tremor
St. Petersburg, FL
U.S.A.