Overview
Conus auricomus, common name the gold-leaf cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies. Like all species within the genus Conus, these snails are predatory and venomous. They are capable of stinging humans, therefore live ones should be handled carefully or not at all.
Description
The size of the shell varies between 32 mm and 69 mm. The cylindrical shell shows revolving striae throughout. Its reticulated pattern uniform in the size of the meshes, interrupted by three or four broad, uniform orange-brown bands. The convex spire is maculated.
Distribution
This species occurs in the Indian Ocean off the Mascarene Basin.
References
* Drivas, J.; Jay, M. (1987). Coquillages de La Réunion et de l'Île Maurice. Collection Les Beautés de la Nature. Delachaux et Niestlé: Neuchâtel. . 159 pp * Puillandre N., Duda T.F., Meyer C., Olivera B.M. & Bouchet P. (2015). One, four or 100 genera? A new classification of the cone snails. Journal of Molluscan Studies. 81: 1–23 File:Conus auricomus 1.jpg Conus auricomus Hwass in Bruguière, J.G., 1792 File:Conus auricomus 2.jpg Conus auricomus Hwass in Bruguière, J.G., 1792
External links
* The Conus Biodiversity website * Cone Shells – Knights of the Sea *