To understand how C. conco diverged from C. lividus, several
patterns must be taken into account. First, the geographical distributions
of the two species are clearly allopatric. Conus lividus is
present in all the Indo-West Pacific except in the Marquesas
Islands, and our analyses show that specimens from the two
extremes of the range (Madagascar and Tahiti) are genetically
indistinguishable (Fig. 2). Conversely, C. conco is known only from
the Marquesas Islands. Second, phylogenetic analyses show that
C. conco and C. lividus are sister groups. Third, C. conco and C. lividus
diverged recently (2.738 mya), i.e. between 2 and 6 my after the
elevation of the first island of the Marquesas above sea level (Eiao
Island is estimated to have emerged between 4.99 and 8.72 mya –
Clouard and Bonneville, 2005). Fourth, C. conco expressed specific
precursor sequences and toxin molecular masses not found in C.
lividus and C. sanguinolentus (Fig. 4). In particular, 11 toxin masses
are present in most C. conco specimens and not in the other two
species, suggesting that this is not just a sampling bias. Finally,
the protoconchs of all C. conco specimens were eroded, but that