Conus quercinus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Conus quercinus
Shell of an oak cone snail, found near Maputa, Africa.
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Family:	Conidae
Genus:	Conus
Species:	C. quercinus
Binomial name
Conus quercinus
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The oak cone or yellow cone (scientific name: Conus quercinus) is a type of sea snail. It's a marine gastropod mollusk, part of the Conidae family, also known as cone snails.

Just like other cone snails, these snails are predatory (they hunt other animals) and venomous (they have venom). They can "sting" humans, so it's very important to be careful and avoid touching them if you find them alive.

Shell of an oak cone snail, found in New Zealand.

What Does the Oak Cone Look Like?

The shell of the oak cone snail can be anywhere from about 3.5 centimeters (1.4 inches) to 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) long.

Shell Colors and Patterns

The shell is usually a bright lemon-yellow color. It often has many thin, close, brown lines that go around the shell. On older snails, these lines might fade away.

Shell Shape

The top part of the shell, called the spire, is quite tall and has a curved shape. The "shoulder" of the main part of the shell (the body whorl) has a slightly angled, blunt edge.

Where Do Oak Cone Snails Live?

You can find the oak cone snail in many parts of the Indo-Pacific Ocean.

Specific Locations

They live in places like Hawaii, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, French Polynesia, Fiji, and New Caledonia. They are also found in the Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean, including areas near Aldabra, Chagos, Madagascar, and Mauritius. You can also spot them off the coast of Eastern India and in tropical parts of Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia).