Conus vexillum
| Conus vexillum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Shell of Conus vexillum Gmelin, 1791 | |
| 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. vexillum |
| Subspecies: | Conus Vexillium Gmelin Conus Vexillium Sumatrensis[1] |
| Binomial name | |
| Conus vexillum Gmelin, 1791 | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Conus vexillum, common name the vexillum cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.[2]
These snails are predatory and venomous. They are capable of "stinging" humans, therefore live ones should be handled carefully or not at all.
Distribution
The species is found across the entire Indo-Pacific from Natal to Hawaii and French Polynesia and Japan to Australia. Sub-species Conus Vexillium Sumatrensis is restricted to the northwest Indian Ocean.
Habitat and Ecology
Juveniles of this species are present on intertidal benches whereas adults will occur along subtidal reefs to about 30m. Individuals that are present around the Hawaiian Islands occur between 50-70 m. There have been sightings of this species in shallow water, lagoon pinnacles, sand, sand with gravel, among weed or rocks and under dead coral. It is said to be able to withstand rough waters. The species feeds on eunicid polychaetes. Adults of the species typically grow between 65-183 mm.[3]
References
- ↑ http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/192778/0
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Conus vexillum Gmelin, 1791. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 11 April 2012.
- ↑ Röckel, D., Korn, W. & Kohn, A.J. 1995. Manual of the Living Conidae, Vol 1. Verlag Christa Hemmen.
- Filmer R.M. (2001). A Catalogue of Nomenclature and Taxonomy in the Living Conidae 1758 - 1998. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden. 388pp.
- Tucker J.K. (2009). Recent cone species database. September 4th 2009 Edition.
- Tucker J.K. & Tenorio M.J. (2009) Systematic classification of Recent and fossil conoidean gastropods. Hackenheim: Conchbooks. 296 pp.
- Severns M. (2011) Shells of the Hawaiian Islands - The Sea Shells. Conchbooks, Hackenheim. 564 pp.
Gallery
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Conus vexillum Gmelin, J.F., 1791
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Conus vexillum Gmelin, J.F., 1791
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Conus vexillum Gmelin, J.F., 1791
External links
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