Bishop's Cone (Conus episcopatus)

Also known as Cone Shell, Cone Snail, Cone, Dignified Cone

Description

Also known as Cone Shell, Cone Snail, Cone, Dignified Cone.

Found under dead corals, or partially buried in sand during the day, emerging at night, hunting for food over shallow waters, of coral reefs, rich in algae growth.
They feed benthic clams, resting fish, other snails, and worms.
Length - 14cm
Depth - 2-50m
Widespread Indo-Pacific

Conids have smooth cone shaped shells often very colourful.
They kill their prey by discharging their proboscis at great speed like a harpoon, then a venom is released and so paralysing their victim.
Extremely venomous to humans, may cause death, should not be handled!!
NO ANTI-VENOM!! Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conus_episcopatus

2 comments

  1. Posted by Peter Arioli
    March 24, 2020 at 12:22 pm - 1 person found this useful.

    The shell pictured in the above photo is Conus episcopatus, not Conus aulicus. Conus aulicus has a sharply pointed spire, Conus episcopatus, a domed one.

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