Conus marmoreus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Conus marmoreus |
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| A live Conus marmoreus eating another snail. | |
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The Conus marmoreus, also known as the "marbled cone", is a type of sea snail. It's a marine gastropod mollusk that belongs to the Conidae family. This family is famous for its cone snails, which are known for their beautiful shells.
This snail is a predatory animal. It is believed to mostly eat other mollusks, including other cone snails. Like all cone snails, the marbled cone is venomous.
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Where Does the Marbled Cone Live?
The marbled cone snail lives in warm ocean waters. You can find it in the Indian Ocean, near places like Chagos and Madagascar. It also lives in the Bay of Bengal off India. In the western Pacific Ocean, it can be found all the way to Fiji and the Marshall Islands. You can also spot it off the coast of Australia, in the Northern Territory, Queensland, and Western Australia.
What Does the Marbled Cone Shell Look Like?
The shell of an adult marbled cone snail can be quite big. It usually measures between 30 mm (about 1.2 inches) and 150 mm (about 6 inches). The top part of the shell, called the spire, is quite flat and has small bumps.
The most special thing about this snail is its amazing shell pattern. It looks like a net or a maze. The colors can range from black with white dots to orange with white patterns. These patterns often create rounded, triangular white spots. The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is usually white or light pink.
The Marbled Cone in Art
Did you know that this snail's shell was once featured in art? In 1650, a famous artist named Rembrandt made an etching of this cone snail. He called his artwork "De schelp", which means "The shell".
Images for kids
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The shell of Conus marmoreus from a book published in 1742.
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A Conus marmoreus shell after it has been cleaned.
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The shell of Conus marmoreus from different angles.
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Conus marmoreus museum specimens with labels.
