Biology of Conus, I — Kohn 
167 
2299, 40 X 26 mm.) was found ovipositing at 
Koko Head Sandy Beach, Oahu, by M. A. Kohn. 
Three capsules had been deposited, and spawn- 
ing probably would have continued had not the 
adult been disturbed. However, a second cluster 
of 4 essentially identical capsules, unaccom- 
panied by an adult, was also collected (Table 
1). Ostergaard (1950) figured 19 capsules in 
an egg mass of C. catus. 
The form of the egg capsules of Conus catus 
is typical, although the stalk is somewhat taller 
than in other species of the genus (Fig. 4) . The 
lateral edges are slightly convex; the upper edge 
is quite straight. Capsules in both clusters con- 
tained embryos in the 4-cell stage which meas- 
ured 250-300 fx across. A few uncleaved eggs 
235 g in diameter were present in one capsule. 
The characteristics of these egg masses are sum- 
TABLE 2 
Number of Eggs Produced, Egg Diameter, Length of Development before Hatching, 
and Stage at Hatching of Conus in Hawaii 
SPECIES 
AVERAGE NO. 
EGGS/CAPSULE 
AVERAGE NO. 
EGGS/ EGG MASS 
AVERAGE EGG 
DIAMETER (g) 
TIME OF 
DEVELOPMENT 
IN EGG 
CAPSULE (days) 
STAGE AND SIZE 
AT HATCHING 
abbreviatus 
1,300 
44,000 
200 
14 
veliger 
270g 
catus 
1,650 
15,000' 
220 
15-16' 
veliger 
375m' 
ebraeus 
— 
— 
veliger' 
280m 1 
imperialis 
5,900 
(35,400) 
225 
— 
— 
— 
leopardus 
2,950 
56,000 
— 
— 
veliger 
360m 
lividus ( ? ) 
— 
— 
veliger 
250m 
pennaceus 1 
80 
3,500 
460 
16 1 
veliconcha 
1200m 
quercinus 
9,700 
210,000 
215 
15-16 
veliger 
285m 
rattus 
2,000' 
44,000 1 
1 2 5 1 
— 
(?)veliger 
240m 
vexillum ' ‘ 
"thousands” 1 
140 1 
12 1 
veliger 
250m' 
vitulinus 
225 
14-15 
veliger 
360m 
1 Data from Ostergaard (1950) . 
2 This species is referred to as C. omaria by Ostergaard (1950). 
3 This species is referred to as C. sumatrensis by Ostergaard (1950). 
