Conus coccineus facts for kids
Conus coccineus, also known as the berry cone or the scarlet cone, is a type of sea snail. These amazing creatures are marine gastropods, which means they are a kind of mollusk that moves on a "stomach-foot." They belong to the family called Conidae, which includes all the different cone snails.
Quick facts for kids Conus coccineus |
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| A berry cone shell, showing its opening and back view. | |
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Like all cone snails, Conus coccineus are predatory animals. This means they hunt and eat other small sea creatures. They are also venomous. Because of their venom, it's very important to be careful around live cone snails. It's best not to touch them at all.
What Does the Berry Cone Look Like?
The shell of the berry cone snail can be between 27 mm and 62 mm long. That's about the size of a small to medium-sized candy bar.
The shell is thin and has sides that are a bit rounded. It has many fine lines, called striae, all around it. These lines can sometimes feel a little bumpy.
The top, pointy part of the shell is called the spire. It's usually a medium height and can sometimes have a stepped shape. The spire also has lines and faint bumps.
The shell's color is often a pretty orange-pink. It has a white band in the middle. This band is decorated with dark brown spots and blotches. The spire, or top part, usually has these spots too.
Where Do Berry Cones Live?
This marine snail lives in the ocean waters near several countries. You can find Conus coccineus off the coasts of:
- Indonesia
- New Caledonia
- Palawan
- The Philippines
- Samar
- The Solomon Islands
- Vanuatu
- Australia (specifically the Northern Territory and Queensland)
