Conus cocceus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Conus cocceus |
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| Apertural and abapertural views of shell of Conus cocceus Reeve, L.A., 1844 | |
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The Cocceus cone (scientific name: Conus cocceus) is a type of sea snail. It's also known as the scarlet-spotted cone. This amazing creature is a marine gastropod mollusk. This means it's a snail that lives in the ocean.
It belongs to the family called Conidae. This family includes all the different kinds of cone snails and their relatives.
Like all cone snails, the Cocceus cone is a predator. This means it hunts and eats other animals. These snails are also venomous. They can "sting" humans, so it's very important to be careful. You should never touch a live cone snail.
Contents
What the Cocceus Cone Looks Like
The shell of the Cocceus cone is usually between 42 mm and 54 mm long. That's about 1.6 to 2.1 inches.
Shell Shape and Texture
The shell has a unique shape. It's called "turbinated," which means it looks a bit like a top. It's quite strong and a little rounded near the top. The shell has very fine ridges going across it. The spaces between these ridges are slightly bumpy.
Shell Color and Pattern
The shell is mostly white. It has delicate patterns of small, irregular spots. These spots are a pale scarlet color, which is a bright red.
The Spire
The top part of the shell is called the spire. For the Cocceus cone, the spire is rounded and not very pointed. This is called "obtusely convex."
Where the Cocceus Cone Lives
This type of marine snail lives only in Australia. It is found specifically in Western Australia. This means it is "endemic" to that area.
