Kingdom Animalia Class Gastropoda Clade Hypsogastropoda Scientific name Conus trigonus | Phylum Mollusca Clade Caenogastropoda Clade Neogastropoda Rank Species | |
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Similar Conus laterculatus, Conus taeniatus, Conus striatellus, Conus emaciatus, Conus thalassiarchus | ||
Conus trigonus, common name the trigonal 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.
The subspecies Conus trigonus adami Wils, 1988 is a synonym of Conus adami Wils, 1988
Taxonomy
Conus adami is often treated as a subspecies or synonym of Conus trigonus. The latter is a shallow-water species occurring in NW Australia, whereas adami is an offshore species occurring off Northern Australia. The two overlap in the Darwin area, and there are specimens that appear to be intermediate. For conservation implications, the two are here listed as distinct.
Description
The size of the marine shell varies between 40 mm and 92 mm. The shell is somewrhat triangularly ovate and grooved at the base. The depressed spire has five grooves and is sharp at the apex. The color of the shell is white, stained and banded with reddish brown, and encircled with numerous narrow delicately articulated filaments. The spire is tessellated.
Distribution
Range: North West Cape, Western Australia to the Northern Territories.