Superfamily Tonnoidea Higher classification Tonna | Scientific name Tonna cumingii Rank Species | |
Similar Tonna, Tonnidae, Molluscs, Gastropods, Tonna tankervillii | ||
Tonna cumingi, common name Cuming's tun, is a species of very large sea snail, a tun snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Tonnidae, the tuns.
Contents
Taxonomy
The species currently referred to as Tonna cumingii (Hanley in Reeve, 1849) was referred to as:
The species currently referred to as Tonna chinensis (Dillwyn, 1817) was referred to as Tonna cumingii (Hanley in Reeve, 1849) by Springsteen & Leobrera (1986:100, pl. 26, fig. 2)
The species currently referred to as Tonna poppei Vos, 2005 was illustrated by Cernohorsky (1972:111); Hinton (1974:19, fig. 7; 1977:26 fig. 7a) and referred to as Tonna cumingii 'Reeve'
The species currently referred to as Tonna deshayesii (Reeve, 1849) was referred to as Tonna cumingii 'Reeve' by (a. o.) Powell (1979:61); Cernohorsky (1972:112)
Additional information on Cernohorsky (1972:111-112): Whilst showing specimens of Tonna poppei Vos, 2005 on pl. 30, figs 5, Cernohorsky lists this species as Tonna cumingii (Reeve, 1849), with in synonymy: "Synonyms of T. cumingii are deshayesii Reeve, 1849, perselecta Iredale, 1931, and maoria Powell, 1938. Tonna magnifica (Sowerby III 1904) belongs either to T. cumingii or T. chinensis " (fide Cernohorsy, 1972:112)
Distribution
This species is found often off the southern coasts of India and Sri Lanka. The species were famously found by Oliver Dawes, who told of how he was "shell shocked" to have made such a discovery. Populations of animals with similar-looking shells from New Zealand and Australian waters have been assimilated into this species. Occasional records indicate a possible presence of the species in Philippine waters. Further study on this species should reveal its exact distribution. (Reference: Vos, 2007, A Conchological Iconography - Family Tonnidae)
Shell description
The shell height is up to 91 mm, and width up to 66 mm.