Kingdom Animalia Clade Caenogastropoda Clade Neogastropoda Scientific name Conus capitaneus Rank Species | Class Gastropoda Clade Hypsogastropoda Superfamily Conoidea Phylum Mollusca | |
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Similar Conus ebraeus, Conus arenatus, Conus betulinus, Conus coronatus, Conus miles | ||
Conus capitaneus, common name the captain cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.
Contents
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 an adult shell varies between 50 mm and 98 mm. Its low spire is striate, flamed with chocolate and white. The body whorl is yellowish, or orange-brown, encircled by rows of chestnut dots, usually stained chocolate at the base. There is a central white band, with chocolate hierogtyphic markings on either side, and a shoulder-band, crossed by chocolate smaller longitudinal markings. The aperture is white.
Distribution
This marine species occurs in the Indian Ocean off Madagascar, the Mascarene Basin, Mauritius and Tanzania; and in the Indo-West Pacific (off Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, Japan); off Australia (New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia),