Africonus lugubris (Reeve, 1849) Fig. 4N Conus lugubris Reeve, 1849: pl. IX, sp. 279. Conus fuscus Barros e Cunha, 1933: 194. Conus lugubris – Monteiro et al. 2004: 56, pl. 126, figs 6–7. Material examined Lectotype Lectotype in NHMUK 1981056. Type locality: not known. Hereby designated as north São Vicente Island, Cabo Verde Archipelago. Other material CABO VERDE • 1 spec., 14.5 mm; São Vicente Island, Matiota; E. Rolán leg.; MNCN 15.05/90431 (Fig. 4N). Geographical distribution Matiota, north São Vicente, Cabo Verde Archipelago. Conservation status in IUCN Red List Critically endangered. Remarks This species has not been examined molecularly. Specimens matching the type material of this species were found in the 1970’s and 1980’s in Matiota beach in São Vicente Island, but this is now part of a large and touristic urban area in the vicinity of the modern Port of Mindelo. This population is believed to be now extinct. We are not aware of live specimens of this species having been observed for over 20 years. Some empty shells of this species have been collected in recent years, and the search for live specimens in new locations along the north coast of São Vicente Island continues, without success for the moment being. It is feared that the species might have become extinct. The claim for specimens of A. cf. lugubris found at Calhau and Saragaça to the east of São Vicente Island most likely corresponds to individuals of A. freitasi.

Published as part of Tenorio, Manuel J., Abalde, Samuel, Pardos-Blas, José R. & Zardoya, Rafael, 2020, Taxonomic revision of West African cone snails (Gastropoda: Conidae) based upon mitogenomic studies: implications for conservation, pp. 1-89 in European Journal of Taxonomy 663 (663) on pages 36-37, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2020.663, http://zenodo.org/record/3890442