Conus variegatus

Conus variegatus, common name the variable cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.[1]

Conus variegatus
Apertural and abapertural views of shell of Conus variegatus Kiener, L.C., 1845
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Conoidea
Family:	Conidae
Genus:	Conus
Species:	C. variegatus
Binomial name
Conus variegatus Kiener, 1848
Synonyms[1]
Conus (Lautoconus) variegatus Kiener, 1848 · accepted, alternate representation Conus obtusus Kiener, 1845 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus mediterraneus var. obtusa Requien, 1848) Varioconus variegatus (Kiener, 1848)

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 12 mm and 43 mm. The color of the shell is yellowish brown or chestnut-color, maculated with brown on the shoulder, The shell shows numerous fine chocolate revolving lines often broken up into spots.[2]

Distribution

This species occurs in the Atlantic Ocean off Angola.

References

1. Bouchet, P. (2015). Conus variegatus. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=428397 on 2015-12-18
2. G.W. Tryon (1884) Manual of Conchology, structural and systematic, with illustrations of the species, vol. VI; Philadelphia, Academy of Natural Sciences

• Kiener L.C. 1844–1850. Spécies général et iconographie des coquilles vivantes. Vol. 2. Famille des Enroulées. Genre Cone (Conus, Lam.), pp. 1–379, pl. 1–111 [pp. 1–48 (1846); 49–160 (1847); 161–192 (1848); 193–240 (1849); 241-[379](assumed to be 1850); plates 4,6 (1844); 2–3, 5, 7–32, 34–36, 38, 40–50 (1845); 33, 37, 39, 51–52, 54–56, 57–68, 74–77 (1846); 1, 69–73, 78–103 (1847); 104–106 (1848); 107 (1849); 108–111 (1850)]. Paris, Rousseau & J.B. Baillière
• 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. doi:10.1093/mollus/eyu055. PMC 4541476. PMID 26300576.

External links

• The Conus Biodiversity website
• Cone Shells – Knights of the Sea
• "Varioconus variegatus". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.