Conus praecellens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Conus praecellens |
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| Five views of a shell of Conus pracellens A. Adams, 1855, measuring 29 mm in height, off Aliguay Island, in the Philippines | |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Neogastropoda |
| Superfamily: | Conoidea |
| Family: | Conidae |
| Genus: | Conus |
| Species: |
C. praecellens
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| Binomial name | |
| Conus praecellens A. Adams, 1855
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| Synonyms | |
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The Conus praecellens, also known as the admirable cone, is a type of sea snail. It is a marine gastropod mollusk that belongs to the family Conidae. This family is famous for its cone-shaped shells, and its members are often called cone snails.
Like all species in the Conus group, these snails are predatory and venomous. This means they hunt other small sea creatures and can produce venom. Because of their venom, it's very important to be careful around them. Live cone snails should not be touched.
Contents
About the Admirable Cone Snail
What Does It Look Like?
The shell of an adult admirable cone snail usually measures between 20 mm and 63 mm. That's about the size of a small button to a golf ball. The shell has a pear-like shape. It is wide and angled at the top, near the "shoulder," and then gets narrower towards the bottom.
The entire shell has many grooves and ridges. The top part of the shell, called the spire, is rounded and has raised ridges. The very tip, or apex, is sharp and also has fine lines. The shell is generally whitish. It often has two faint bands of light brown or chestnut-colored clouds. The spire also has spots of the same color.
Different Forms of the Shell
This snail species can look a bit different from one shell to another. Scientists have noticed two main types, or forms. One is called the sowerbii form. This one is usually thicker, darker, and has more spots. The other is the aliguay form. This type is often more slender and has a lighter color. It also has a taller spire and rounder shoulders.
Where Do They Live?
The admirable cone snail lives in many different parts of the world's oceans. You can find them in the Indian Ocean. This includes areas near Madagascar, Réunion, Somalia, and India. They also live off the coast of West Thailand and Western Australia.
They are also found in the Pacific Ocean. Their habitat stretches from Japan all the way to the Philippines and a region called Melanesia. This includes countries like Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu.
Gallery
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Conus praecellens Adams, A., 1854
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Conus praecellens Adams, A., 1854
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Conus praecellens Adams, A., 1854
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Conus praecellens Adams, A., 1854
 | William M. Jackson |
 | Juan E. Gilbert |
 | Neil deGrasse Tyson |
