Kingdom Animalia Class Gastropoda Clade Hypsogastropoda Scientific name Conus gladiator | Phylum Mollusca Clade Caenogastropoda Clade Neogastropoda Rank Species | |
 | ||
Similar Conus patricius, Conus attenuatus, Conus borneensis, Conus eximius, Conus virgatus | ||
Conus gladiator, common name the gladiator 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 26 mm and 48 mm. The spire is rather depressed, tuberculate and striate. The color of the shell is chocolate-brown, variegated with white, disposed in longitudinal streaks, with an irregular white band, and more or less distinct revolving lines of darker brown. The interior is white or tinged with chocolate. The epidermis is fibrous.
Distribution
This species occurs in the Pacific Ocean off the Galapagos Islands and from the Gulf of California to Peru.