Conus cancellatus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Conus cancellatus
Views of the shell of a Conus cancellatus snail.
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Conoidea
Family:	Conidae
Genus:	Conus
Species:	C. cancellatus
Binomial name
Conus cancellatus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792
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Synonyms
Conasprella austini Rehder, H.A. & R.T. Abbott, 1951 Conasprella cancellata Hwass in Bruguière, 1792 Conasprelloides cancellatus (Hwass in Bruguière, 1792) Conasprelloides cancellatus cancellatus (Hwass in Bruguière, 1792) Conus austini Rehder & Abbott, 1951 Conus (Dauciconus) cancellatus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792 · accepted, alternate representation Conus cancellatus cancellatus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792 Conus finkli Petuch, 1987

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Conus cancellatus, also known as the cancellate cone snail, is a type of sea snail. It's a marine gastropod mollusk and belongs to the family Conidae, which includes all the cone snails.

Like other cone snails, these creatures are predatory (they hunt other animals for food) and venomous (they can inject venom). Because of their venom, it's very important to be careful with live cone snails, or even better, not to touch them at all!

There are also some types, or subspecies, of this snail:

• Conus cancellatus capricorni
• Conus cancellatus finkli

Where It Lives

This snail can be found in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and around the Lesser Antilles islands.

What It Looks Like

The shell of the cancellate cone snail can grow up to 80 millimeters (about 3 inches) long.

Its shell is shaped a bit like a pear, wide at the top near the "shoulder" and getting narrower towards the bottom. The main part of the shell has many close grooves and ridges. The top part of the shell, called the spire, is raised and has a sharp tip. The shell is usually whitish with cloudy bands of light brown color. The spire also has brown spots.

Its Home

These snails live in the ocean at depths ranging from about 26 meters (85 feet) to 110 meters (360 feet) deep.

Images for kids

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  A Conus cancellatus snail.

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  The Conus cancellatus finkli shell, which is kept at the Smithsonian Institution.