File:Conus excelsus G. B. Sowerby III; in Description of a new species of the genus Conus (1908).jpg

English: Illustrations taken from the original text of the discovery of Conus excelsus, by G. B. Sowerby III, in 1908ː "Description of a new Species of the Genus Conus"; published in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History, series. 1. pp. 465-466. Top and side view, with the outer lip facing the viewer.

Text by the author about the specimen (long. 93, maj. diam. 33 mm.):

"Hab. New Caledonia?

This magnificent shell, at present unique, defies comparison with any hitherto known species. The most proeminent feature is the extraordinary height of its acutely conical spire, which is quite symmetrical and has no appearance of abnormality. The whorls are angular, a little concave above the angle, with two shallow spiral grooves; the first eight or nine are coronated with minute tubercles at the angle. The body-whorl is gracefully attenuated towards the base and slightly rounded at the angle, which is surmounted by a narrow keel. The surface is sculptured by rather numerous shallow spiral grooves and longitudinal minute irregular plicæ. In colour it is rather light fulvous yellow, with white patches of various sizes and shapes, outlined with reddish brown; the brown flames and white spaces on the upper part of the body-whorl and crossing the angle have the obliquely arcuate form of the labial sinus. The aperture is of about the average width, with a thin sharp lip arcuately receding and forming quite a Pleurotomoid sinus.

The shell came to me from New Caledonia; but I have at present no certain information as to its habitat. It is now in the British Museum (South Kensington)".

According to the book cited below Conus excelsus G. B. Sowerby III, 1908[1] is a rare species in the offshore waters from Western Pacific.

• ABBOTT, R. Tucker; DANCE, S. Peter (1982). Compendium of Seashells. A color Guide to More than 4.200 of the World's Marine Shells. New York: E. P. Dutton. p. 264. 412 pp. ISBN 0-525-93269-0