Diversity and Distribution of Conidae from the TamilNadu Coast of India (Mollusca: Caenogastropoda: Conidae)

Abstract

A survey of the marine gastropod genus Conus Linnaeus was conducted along the TamilNadu Coast of India to explore the regional geographic distribution and diversity. The 60 species observed increased the number of Indian Conidae from 77 to 81. Conus imperialis Linné, C. mitratus Hwass in Bruguière, C. striolatus Kiener and C. violaceus Gmelin are newly recorded from the study area. Conus amadis Gmelin was the most widely distributed species. The highest diversity (48 species) occurred in the Gulf of Mannar, followed by 22 species from northern, six from southern, and five from the Palk Bay regions. We suggest that the rich diversity recorded in the Gulf of Mannar reflects the physical conditions, microhabitats and required resources such as food and shelter that favour the occurrence of the large number of Conus species.

Diversity of Conopeptides and Conoenzymes from the Venom Duct of the Marine Cone Snail Conus bayani as Determined from Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analyses

“…Ten specimens of Conus bayani were collected as bycatch from the fishing nets of the fishing trawlers at Palayar (11°26′ N, 79°59′ E), Tamil Nadu, India. JBF was the taxonomy expert for cone snails in India and a biotechnologist who collected specimens and confirmed species identity [ 27 ]. The venom duct of each live specimen was dissected and flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen in the field immediately [ 38 ].…”

“…Conus bayani ( Figure 1 ) is a vermivorous cone snail found in the north-west Indian Ocean from the central Red Sea to Somalia with discontinuous distribution. One set of population occurs from the south-east coast of India to Sri Lanka [ 27 ]. It occurs at depths from 20 to 100 m on the sandy substratum.…”

Novel M-Superfamily and T-Superfamily conotoxins and contryphans from the vermivorous snailConus figulinus

“…The C. figulinus samples were collected from the waste at fish landing sites located in Mandapam(9°16′38.98″N, 79°09′19.49″E ) and Rameshwaram(9°16′44.61″N, 79°12′19.99″E), Tamil Nadu, India . As these species ( C .…”

Three new distribution records of Conidae (Gastropoda: Neogastropoda: Conoidea) from the Andaman Islands, India

“…The members of Conidae contribute substantially to high molluscan diversity, especially in the inter-tropical zone and are important ecologically, because a maximum of 36 species co-occur on a single reef platform (Kohn 2001); evolutionarily, since its diversification rate is high among gastropods (Stanley 2007); and medically, as the venom produced by these snails promise new drug discoveries (Puillandre et al 2011). In addition, each species count (biodiversity) adds knowledge of 100-200 venom peptides (chemical diversity) with potential applications in human health (Franklin et al 2009). In India, Kohn (1978) reported 48 species and then increased to 77 species with 29 new records (Kohn 2001).…”

“…In India, Kohn (1978) reported 48 species and then increased to 77 species with 29 new records (Kohn 2001). Later, Franklin et al (2009) recorded 60 species from Tamil Nadu (south-east) coast of India that increased the number of Indian Conidae species from 77 to 81. Towards the west sea, 78 species are so far known from the Lakshadweep Islands (Smith 1906;Hornell 1921;Nagabhushanam & Rao 1972;Appukuttan et al 1989;Rao & Rao 1991;Apte 1998;Rao 2003;Ravinesh & Bijukumar 2015).…”