Conus moluccensis


Conus moluccensis, common name the Molucca 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.

Subspecies

  • Conus moluccensis marielae Rehder & Wilson, 1975: synonym of Conus marielae Rehder & Wilson, 1975
  • Conus moluccensis moluccensis Küster, 1838: synonym of Conus moluccensis Küster, 1838
  • Conus moluccensis vappereaui Monteiro, 2009: synonym of Conus vappereaui Monteiro, 2009

Description

The size of an adult shell varies between 30 mm and 60 mm. The coronated shell is yellowish white, marbled and streaked with chestnut, with minute revolving lines of granules, which are often somewhat articulated red-brown and white.

Distribution

This species occurs in the Indian Ocean off the Mascarene Basin; off Fiji, Indo-China, Indonesia, Maldives, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands; off Australia.