Excelsior cone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Excelsior cone |
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| The shell of Conus excelsus | |
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The excelsior cone or illustrious cone (scientific name: Conus excelsus) is a type of sea snail. It's a ocean creature belonging to a group called gastropods, which are a kind of mollusk. These snails are part of the Conidae family, also known as cone snails, and they are known for being predators.
Discovering the Excelsior Cone's Shell
The shell of the excelsior cone is quite special! Unlike many other cone snails, it has a very tall, pointed top, which is called a spire. This makes it look much longer and thinner compared to most other cone shells.
These shells can be anywhere from about 28 millimeters (just over an inch) to 102 millimeters (about four inches) long. Because of its unique shape and the fact that it's quite rare, many shell collectors really want to find one! The shell usually has cool orange or yellow patterns on a white background.
Where Does This Snail Live?
The excelsior cone snail lives in the Indo-Pacific region. You can mostly find them around the Philippines. However, they also live further north, near southern Japan, and as far east as New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. You might even spot them off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
Even though this species is not often seen, it is not considered to be in danger of disappearing.
Gallery
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Conus excelsus Sowerby, G.B. III, 1908
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Conus excelsus Sowerby, G.B. III, 1908
