Conomurex persicus (Swainson, 1821) |
Persian Gulf, Eastern to Central Mediterranean (Tunisia). Absent from Red Sea (Ghazi, 2014). Grazer and detritus feeder on various grounds of the upper infralittoral. Original taxon: Strombus persicus. 5-8m deep, Ayía Nápa, Famagousta, SE. Cyprus. 60mm. |
A low-spired specimen from the eastern part of the range: in sand at 3-8m deep, Martini Bay, Khor Fakkan, Fujairah, Arab Emirates. 47mm. |
Synonym: flammeus Link. Above and below: specimens from shallow water, Kiryat Yam, Haifa, NW. Israel. 43-68mm. The operculum at left is correctly mounted. |
Left: unusual specimen from the bay. Right: average pattern on a large specimen. |
Live specimen pictured on shallow sand, Karpathos island, S. Dodecanese, by R. Pillon for WoRMS – (CC BY-NC-SA). |
A specimen in natural conditions, with algae and perio. 2m deep, crawling on the rocky bank, Paralia Milatou, Lasithi, N. Crete. 41,5mm. |
Strombus persicus in W. Swainson: Zoological illustrations vol. I, London 1821, table LIII. « Shell somewhat coniform, short; spire conic, equal. Outer lip prominent, sinuated above, smooth within; inner lip polished, white. » – This white aperture is not a constant feature, but the smoothness of the inner lip is a reliable one. |
Juvenile. 8m deep, east of Mochlos, NE. of Kolpos Mirabellou, Lasithi. 4,5mm. |
Other synonym: decorus raybaudi Nicolay & Manoja. 25-30m deep, on sand, Limassol, S. Cyprus. 50mm. |
Last synonym: ismarius Duclos in Chenu. 8m deep, on sand, mud, gravel and shell debris, near reef, Ormos point, Agios Nikolaos, Lasithi. 57-67mm. |
6m deep, in sand pockets among Posidonia patches, municipal beach of Havania, Agios Nikolaos. 45-57mm. |
Same spot. Shape and pattern variations. 45-50mm. |
5m, muddy sand with Posidonia, Milos, Cyclades. 46-51,5mm. |
The eyes, the operculum. Taşucu, Silifke, Mersin province, SE. Turkey. Original picture provided by T. Prozorova for iNaturalist. – (CC Ø) – |
Young adult specimens collected at 2-10m deep, on rocks, in a sheltered area protected by reefs, west of the small harbour of Ferma, east of Ierapetra, SE. Crete. 35,5-49mm. |
Same spot. 39-50mm. |
Same spot. Pattern variation on a same shell. 42mm. |
4m deep, on sandy bottom, Kárystos bay, south coast of Évvia island, E. Greece. 60,5mm. |
3m deep, Pozzolana di Ponente, western coast of Linosa island, Isole Pelagie, central Mediterranean. Original pictures provided by A. Nappo (IT) – (CC BY-NC-SA). |
Above and below: on sand in shallow water, Tolo bay, Nafplio, Argolis, E. Peloponnese, S. Greece. Original picture provided by R. Pillon for iNaturalist – (CC BY-NC). |
In the genus, the eyes are particularly well developed organs. |
A specimen pictured in the Gulf of Corinth, northern coast, at Agios Vasileios bay, SW. of Galaxidi, Fokídha, Central Greece. Original picture provided by R. Pillon for iNaturalist. – (CC BY-NC) – |
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