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Conus adversarius

Geological Range

Early Pliocene to Early Pleistocene; Extinct.

Paleogeographic Distribution

South Florida to Virginia.

Remarks

Conus adversarius (PRI 53499. by Digital Atlas of Ancient Life on Sketchfab

Conus adversarius can be differentiated from all other cone shells (living or extinct) by its sinistral, or left-handed, shell coiling: when held with the apex pointing upwards and the aperture opening facing the viewer, the opening is on the left. All other cone shells have dextral, or right-handed shell coiling.

Original Description (from Conrad, 1840, p. 388):

"Shell sinistral, with obsolete spiral lines, except at base, where they are prominent; angle of body whorl, and base of the whorls of the spire carinated; the carina slightly tuberculated towards the apex; spire prominent. Length 2 1/2 inches."

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Stratigraphic Occurrences

Early Pleistocene
Caloosahatchee Formation (S. FL)
Nashua Formation (N. FL)
Waccamaw Formation (SC, NC)
Late Pliocene
Duplin Formation (SC, NC)
Duplin / Raysor formations (GA)
Intracoastal Formation (N. FL)
Jackson Bluff Formation (N. FL)
Raysor Formation (SC)
Tamiami Formation (Buckingham Limestone) (S. FL)
Tamiami Formation (Ochopee Limestone) (S. FL)
Tamiami Formation (Pinecrest Beds) (S. FL)
Yorktown Formation (NC, VA)
Early Pliocene
Goose Creek Limestone (GA, SC)
<i>Conus adversarius</i> from the Early Pleistocene Calooshatchee Fm. of Okeechobee County, Florida (UF 115967).
Conus adversarius from the Early Pleistocene Calooshatchee Fm. of Okeechobee County, Florida (UF 115967).
<i>Conus adversarius</i> from the Late Pliocene Tamiami Fm. (Pinecrest Beds) of Sarasota County, Florida (SJSU Collection). Image on left photographed under regular light; middle image photographed under ultraviolet light, revealing preserved coloration patterns (bright fluorescing regions); right image is inverse version of middle image, revealing what shell coloration pattern would have looked like in life.
Conus adversarius from the Late Pliocene Tamiami Fm. (Pinecrest Beds) of Sarasota County, Florida (SJSU Collection). Image on left photographed under regular light; middle image photographed under ultraviolet light, revealing preserved coloration patterns (bright fluorescing regions); right image is inverse version of middle image, revealing what shell coloration pattern would have looked like in life.
<i>Conus adversarius</i> from the Late Pliocene Tamiami Fm. (Pinecrest Beds) of Sarasota County, Florida (SJSU Collection). Image on left photographed under regular light; middle image photographed under ultraviolet light, revealing preserved coloration patterns (bright fluorescing regions); right image is inverse version of middle image, revealing what shell coloration pattern would have looked like in life.
Conus adversarius from the Late Pliocene Tamiami Fm. (Pinecrest Beds) of Sarasota County, Florida (SJSU Collection). Image on left photographed under regular light; middle image photographed under ultraviolet light, revealing preserved coloration patterns (bright fluorescing regions); right image is inverse version of middle image, revealing what shell coloration pattern would have looked like in life.
Specimens of <i>Conus adversarius</i> from the Late Pliocene Tamiami Fm. (Pinecrest Beds) of Sarasota County, Florida (PRI 70350-70355).
Specimens of Conus adversarius from the Late Pliocene Tamiami Fm. (Pinecrest Beds) of Sarasota County, Florida (PRI 70350-70355).
<i>Conus adversarius</i> from the Plio-Pleistocene of Highlands County, Florida, showing coloration pattern revealed by ultraviolet light (PRI 53495).
Conus adversarius from the Plio-Pleistocene of Highlands County, Florida, showing coloration pattern revealed by ultraviolet light (PRI 53495).
Early Pleistocene Map
Early Pleistocene Map
Late Pliocene Map
Late Pliocene Map
Early Pliocene Map
Early Pliocene Map