Conus obscurus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Conus obscurus |
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| A view of the Conus obscurus shell opening | |
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The obscure cone snail, also known as Conus obscurus, is a type of sea snail. It's a marine gastropod mollusk, which means it's a snail that lives in the ocean and has a shell. This snail belongs to the family called Conidae, which includes all the different kinds of cone snails.
Like other cone snails, the obscure cone snail is a predatory animal. This means it hunts and eats other creatures. It is also venomous. This means it can sting humans, so it's important to be very careful and avoid touching them if you ever see one alive.
What Does the Obscure Cone Snail Look Like?
The shell of an adult obscure cone snail is usually between 20 millimeters (about 0.8 inches) and 44 millimeters (about 1.7 inches) long. It's a small to medium-sized shell. Its shape is somewhat like a smaller version of the Conus geographus shell. It has small bumps, called coronations, on its shoulder.
The shell is shaped like a cylinder and has a purplish color. It often has brown patches that form two broken bands. You might also see faint lines with tiny brown and white spots. The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is very wide at the front. This wide opening is because the lower half of the columella (the central pillar inside the shell) is curved inwards.
Where Does the Obscure Cone Snail Live?
This species of cone snail can be found in many warm ocean areas around the world. It lives in the Indian Ocean near places like Aldabra, the Mascarene Basin, and Tanzania.
You can also find it across the tropical Indo-Pacific region. This includes areas stretching to Hawaii and French Polynesia. It also lives off the coasts of the Philippines and Australia, specifically in the Northern Territory, Queensland, and Western Australia. It is also found near Vanuatu.
Gallery
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Conus obscurus Sowerby, G.B. I, 1833
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Conus obscurus Sowerby, G.B. I, 1833
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Conus obscurus Sowerby, G.B. I, 1833
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Holotype of the synonym Conus halitropus
