Dear Martin,
 
In the book "A Chronological Taxonomy of Conus, 1758-1840" by Dr. Alan Kohn
and published by the Smithsonian Institution Press in 1992, there is a
discussion of Lamark's description of Conus terminus.   A synopsis of the
original French description is provided in English.  Dr. Kohn also reports
that the holotype of C. terminus is not present in the MNHN (Museum in
Geneve,Switzerland where Lamarck's shell collection is located).  He
concludes that... "Although further study of intraspecific variation is
needed, the illustration of the holotype of C. terminus appears to lie
within the range of variation of C. gubernator Hwass in Bruguiere.  I thus
conclude that C. terminus Lamark, 1810 is a junior synonym of C. gubernator
Hwass in Bruguiere."
 
Hope this info helps.
 
Bill Fenzan
Norfolk, Virginia, USA
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-----Original Message-----
From: Martin E. Tremor, Jr. <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sunday, April 25, 1999 8:48 AM
Subject: Conus terminus
 
 
>Here is one for the cone experts.
>
>I have recently acquired a specimen labeled Conus terminus, Lamarck 1810. I
>have only two books that even mention Conus terminus. Rockel, Korn and Kohn
>show a drawing plate for a "C. gubernator; figure of C. terminus Lamarck,
>1810," however there is no mention of C. terminus in the copy for C.
>gubernator.
>
>Leonard Hill , in his  The Worlds Most Beautiful Seashells, has a beautiful
>picture of multiple Governor Cones which he labels C. terminus, Lamarck
1810;
>and Mr. Rice lists C. terminus (gubernator) Lamarck 1810. I can find no
other
>information on the C. terminus.
>
>Is this C. terminus a color variant or maybe a distinct form of C.
gubernator
>or is C. terminus simply a synonym? Or is it a separate species. Any help
>will be appreciated.
>
>Martin Tremor
>St. Petersburg, FL
>