Conus mus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Conus mus |
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Apertural and abapertural views of shell of Conus mus Hwass in Bruguière, J.G., 1792 | |
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Conus mus, common name the mouse cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.
Like all species within the genus Conus, these snails are predatory and venomous. They are capable of "stinging" humans, therefore live ones should be handled carefully or not at all.
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Distribution
This shallow-water species occurs in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico;
in the Western Atlantic from North Carolina, USA and the Bermudas to Venezuela including the Eastern Caribbean island chain, and Barbados.
Description
The maximum recorded shell length is 43.5 mm. The shell has a tuberculated spire. The body whorl is covered by narrow, raised revolving striae. Its color is ash-white, longitudinally streaked and maculated with chestnut. The tubercles of the spire are white, and there is usually a white band below the middle of the body whorl. The aperture is chestnut-colored, with a central white band.
Rarely, giant specimens of 50–60 mm. are known, but these are far from normal.
Habitat
Minimum recorded depth is 0 m. Maximum recorded depth is 18 m.