Conus spurius facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Conus spurius |
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| Lindaconus spurius | |
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| Fossil, Pliocene | |
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Conus spurius, often called the alphabet cone, is a type of sea snail. It is a marine gastropod mollusk, which means it is a soft-bodied creature, usually with a shell, that lives in the ocean. This snail belongs to the Conidae family, known as the cone snails.
Like all cone snails, the alphabet cone is a predatory animal. This means it hunts other creatures for food. It is also venomous, meaning it can sting. Because of this, it is very important to be careful and avoid touching live alphabet cones.
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Different Types of Alphabet Cones
Within the Conus spurius species, there are several recognized subspecies. These are like different varieties or forms of the same snail. They include:
- Conus spurius aureofasciatus
- Conus spurius baylei
- Conus spurius lorenzianus
- Conus spurius spurius
Each of these subspecies has slight differences, often in their shell patterns or where they live.
Where Do Alphabet Cones Live?
This marine snail lives in the ocean. You can find Conus spurius in the waters from East Florida down to Venezuela. They also live off the West Indies.
What Does an Alphabet Cone Look Like?
The shell of an alphabet cone can grow up to 80 millimeters long. That is about 3.1 inches.
The shell is usually white. It has rows of spots and cloudy markings. These markings can be orange, chestnut, or chocolate brown. They often form broken bands around the shell.
The bottom part of the shell has grooves. The top part of the shell, called the spire, has a single wide groove.
Where Do Alphabet Cones Live in the Ocean?
Alphabet cones live in shallow to moderately deep ocean waters. They have been found in depths from 0 meters (the surface) down to 64 meters (about 210 feet).
