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Conus guinaicus

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
ANIMALIA MOLLUSCA GASTROPODA NEOGASTROPODA CONIDAE

Scientific Name: Conus guinaicus
Species Authority: Hwass in Bruguière, 1793
Synonym/s:
Conus adansonii Lamarck, 1810
Conus grayi Reeve, 1844
Taxonomic Notes: There is a separate population on the Gorée Island at the southern tip of the Dakar peninsular, that is currently under review, as it may be a distinct form, and results of the molecular analysis may assist to determine the status of these populations (E. Monnier pers. comm, 2011).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria: Vulnerable B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) ver 3.1
Year Published: 2012
Assessor/s: Monnier, E.
Reviewer/s: Tenorio, M.J. & Seddon, M.
Contributor/s:
Justification:
This species is found along a coastline that is subject to domestic and industrial pollution in addition to risks associated with commercial shipping including oil transporation, especially into Dakar at the northern end of its range.  There have been declining populations in the north due to pollution,  and in the south due to recreational activities disturbing habitats (E. Monnier pers. comm. 2011).  However, at present, trade prices for shells do not indicate scarcity. The species is considered to be Vulnerable under the B criterion: VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii).

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description: This species is endemic to Senegal from Dakar south to Mbour a coastal distance of approx 95 km. Estimated AOO is based on headlands and rocky areas, not in the intervening regions with sandy patches, as the species is not present there, however, as the major threat is pollution, the number of locations is estimated as 4-6.  There is no information on the fragmentation of this species.  However, much of the land adjoining the entire length of this coast has been developed.  Dakar at the northern end of its range is a large metropolis (pop 2.5m) with resultant industrial and commercial pollution risk and Mbour (pop 0.2m) at the southern end is also source of serious marine pollution (UNEP 2009).

A separate and distinct population occurs off Gorée Island at the southern tip of the Dakar peninsular (Monteiro et al. 2004).
Countries:
Native:
Senegal
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:
Native:
Atlantic – eastern central
Range Map: Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population: There are no records of population levels for this species in the literature. There have been declining populations in the north due to pollution,  and in the south due to recreational activities disturbing habitats (E. Monnier pers. comm. 2011).
Population Trend: Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology: This species occurs in rocky areas and headlands where it is found in shallow water down to approx 5 m. Adults of the species typically grow to 50 mm in length.
Systems: Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s): There have been declining populations in the north, due to pollution.  Its limited distribution along a highly developed coastline including the port facilities of Dakar indicates that there will be stresses arising from effluent and industrial and marine pollution along most of this species' range. 

Marine pollutants along the whole of this coastline, in particular around the Cap Vert Peninsular, from industrial and domestic discharges including sewage, chemicals and other toxins, presents a severe problem to marine creatures living in the area (UNEP 2009).

In the south, the population is impacted by recreational activities disturbing habitats.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions: There are no known conservation measures currently in place for this species.

Bibliography [top]

IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2012.1). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 19 June 2012).

Monteiro, A., Tenorio, M.J. and Poppe, G.T. 2004. The Family Conidae, The West African and Mediterranean species of Conus. In: Poppe, G.T and Groh, K. (eds), A Conchological Iconography, pp. 270. ConchBooks, Hackenheim.

Rice, T. 2007. A Catalog of Dealers' Prices for Shells: Marine, Land and Freshwater. Sea and Shore Publications.

United Nations Environment Programme. 2009. Regional Overview of Land-based Sources and Activities Affecting the Coastal and Associated Freshwater Environment in the West and Central African Region. UNEP/ GPA Co-ordination Office & West and Central Africa Action Plan, Regional Co-ordinating Unit.
Citation: Monnier, E. 2012. Conus guinaicus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2013.
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