Conus ermineus

Conus ermineus
Apertural and abapertural views of shell of Conus ermineus Born, I. von, 1778
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda
clade Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Conoidea
Family: Conidae
Subfamily: Coninae
Genus: Conus
Species: C. ermineus
Binomial name
Conus ermineus
Born, 1778
Conus ermineus Born, I. von, 1778
Synonyms[1]

Conus aspersus G. B. Sowerby II, 1833
Conus caerulans Küster, 1838
Conus coerulescens Schröter, 1803
Conus eques Hwass in Bruguière, 1792
Conus inquinatus Reeve, 1849
Conus luzonicus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792
Conus narcissus Lamarck, 1810
Conus perryae Clench, 1942
Conus portoricanus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792
Conus rudis Weinkauff, 1873
Conus testudinarius Hwass in Bruguière, 1792
Conus verrucosus piraticus Clench, 1942
Cucullus barathrum Röding, 1798
Cucullus crucifer Röding, 1798
Cucullus cutisanguina Röding, 1798
Cucullus tigris Röding, 1798

Conus ermineus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.[1]

Like all species within the genus Conus, these snails are predatory and venomous. They are capable of "stinging" humans, therefore live ones should be handled carefully or not at all.

Description

The maximum recorded shell length is 103 mm.[2]

Conantokin-E is a toxin derived from the venom of Conus ermineus.

It is a fishing eating species. Utilizes specialized hollow harpoon like radula tooth to harpoon small fish and paralyze them with venom to facilitate swallowing.

Habitat

Minimum recorded depth is 0 m.[2] Maximum recorded depth is 101 m.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Conus ermineus Born, 1778.  Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 27 March 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Welch J. J. (2010). "The "Island Rule" and Deep-Sea Gastropods: Re-Examining the Evidence". PLoS ONE 5(1): e8776. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008776.

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