Conus martensi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Conus martensi
Shell of Conus martensi (specimen at MNHN, Paris)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Conoidea
Family:	Conidae
Genus:	Conus
Species:	C. martensi
Binomial name
Conus martensi E. A. Smith, 1884
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The Conus martensi is a fascinating type of sea snail. It's a marine gastropod mollusk that belongs to the family called Conidae. You might know them better as cone snails.

Just like all other cone snails, Conus martensi is a predatory animal. This means it hunts other small sea creatures for food. These snails are also venomous. Because of their venom, it's very important to be careful around them. If you ever see a live one, it's best not to touch it at all.

What Does It Look Like?

The shell of the Conus martensi can be anywhere from about 17 millimeters (less than an inch) to 78 millimeters (about three inches) long. It has a unique shape, getting much narrower towards the bottom.

This snail's shell is usually a bright orange color. The top part, called the spire, is often a bit lighter. The shell has about 10 whorls, which are like the turns of a spiral staircase. These whorls are mostly flat on top and have three grooves. They are separated by a deep line called a suture.

The main part of the shell, known as the body whorl, has a sharp angle at the top. It then curves slightly on the sides. Towards the front, it becomes much thinner, giving it a pear-like shape. The shell also has fine growth lines and shallow grooves. These grooves become deeper near the bottom. The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is very narrow. The outer lip is thin and slightly curved near the top.

You can tell this species apart by its very narrow opening. Its pear-like shape and its solid orange color are also key features. Even though the spire is paler, the deep line separating the whorls is also orange.

Where Does It Live?

This amazing sea snail lives in several different parts of the world's oceans. You can find Conus martensi in the Indian Ocean. This includes areas like the Mozambique Channel and from East Africa all the way to Oman. They also live off the coasts of Réunion and the Mascarenes.

Beyond these locations, they are also found near Japan and the Philippines. Their habitat extends to East Indonesia, New Caledonia, and Hawaii. You can also spot them in the wider Western Pacific Ocean.