Three different species which have all been identified as Fusinus caparti live along the coast of West Africa. Their identity and how to separate species of the "Fusinus caparti" complex have long been a matter of discussion. These taxa can be placed in this complex:

Fusinus caparti (Adam & Knudsen, 1955)
Fusinus meyeri (Dunker, 1869)
Fusinus rutilus Nicolay & Berthelot, 1996

Since Fusinus caparti was described by Adam & Knudsen in 1955 most authors have confused it with Fusinus meyeri, except e.g. Kaicher (1978), Snyder (1997), and Hadorn (1997). The figured type material of F. caparti probably is the source of most of the confusion in this complex. Based on the figure of the exceptional holotype (which resembles F. meyeri at first sight) several erroneous identifications were made (e.g by. Cherbonnier (1965), Bernard (1984), Nicolay & Berthelot (1996)).

F. caparti is the best known name within this complex. Adam & Knudsen have well-described and figured their species but most authors have confused F. caparti with the very large and forgotten F. meyeri (Dunker, 1869). The main problem is that Adam & Knudsen selected the largest specimen (182 mm) found during the expedition as their holotype. I examined dozens of F. caparti but the holotype is the largest and most slender specimen yet seen! It is a beautiful and giant specimen but not at all typical for this taxon. Average size of most paratypes and of the adult specimens in my collection is about 70-120 mm.

For detailed information see Hadorn (1998).

References

Bernard, P.A. (1984): Coquillages du Gabon. Libreville, Gabon: 140 pp. In French and English.

Dunker, W. (1858-70): Novitates Conchologicae, Mollusca Marina. Beschreibung und Abbildung neuer oder wenig gekannter Meeres-Conchylien. Cassel.

Hadorn, R. (1997): Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Gattung Fusinus Rafinesque, 1815 (Gastropoda: Fasciolariidae), Teil II, Die westafrikanischen Arten. Club Conchylia Informationen 29(3/4): 15-21.

Hadorn, R. (1998): The Fusinus caparti complex from West Africa (Gastropoda: Fasciolariinae), La Conchiglia-The Shell 288: 43-50.

Kaicher, S.D. (1978): Card Catalogue of World-Wide Shells, Pack #18 - Fasciolariidae, Part I.

Nicolay & Berthelot (1996): La Conchiglia-The Shell 278: 25-28.

Snyder, M.A. (1997): Notes on Fusinus rutilus. La Conchiglia-The Shell 282: 30-31