Conus tabidus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Conus tabidus |
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| Front and back views of the shell of Conus tabidus Reeve, L.A., 1844 | |
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Conus tabidus is a type of sea snail. It's a marine gastropod mollusk that belongs to the Conidae family, also known as the cone snails.
Just like other cone snails, Conus tabidus is a predatory animal, meaning it hunts other creatures for food. These snails are also venomous. Because of their venom, it's very important to be careful around live ones, or even better, not to touch them at all.
This snail is sometimes grouped under the name Monteiroconus, which is different from some other cone snails found in the same areas.
What Does Conus tabidus Look Like?
The shell of Conus tabidus can be anywhere from 20 mm (about 0.8 inches) to 42 mm (about 1.6 inches) long. It's shaped a bit like a top or a pear and feels thin.
The shell is covered in grooves all over. The grooves near the bottom are wider and deeper, while others are finer and wavy. The shell is usually white. Its whole surface has special patterns of lines running lengthwise. The top part of the shell, called the spire, is gently rounded.
Different Types of Conus tabidus?
Scientists think that Conus tabidus might actually be a mix of two different groups of snails. Even though their shells look exactly the same, the snails themselves, where they live, and how they behave are quite different.
One group has a black body and lives in muddy areas near the shore. These snails sometimes leave the water at night to hunt worms among plant roots. Their outer shell layer, called the periostracum, is thick and strong, almost like it's "sunburned."
The other group, found by collectors like Louis Pisani Burnay, lives in deeper water, usually under stones. These snails have a light red body. Their periostracum is brown and has spirals of short hairs. Scientists haven't yet seen the egg capsules of either group.
Where Does Conus tabidus Live?
This marine snail is found in the waters off West Africa, including places like Senegal, the Cape Verdes islands, and Angola.
It's important not to confuse Conus tabidus with another snail called Conus ambiguus. Conus ambiguus is found in West Africa but not in the Cape Verde Islands. Conus tabidus is one of only three types of Conus snails in the Cape Verde Islands that are also found elsewhere.
