Kingdom Animalia Class Gastropoda Clade Hypsogastropoda Scientific name Conus violaceus | Phylum Mollusca Clade Caenogastropoda Clade Neogastropoda Rank Species | |
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Similar Conus zeylanicus, Conus tenuistriatus, Conus striatellus, Conus mitratus, Conus taeniatus | ||
Conus violaceus, common name the tendineus 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 homonym Conus violaceus Link, H.F. 1807 is a synonym of Conus glans Bruguière, M. 1792.
Description
The size of the medium-sized to large shell varies between 39 mm and 93 mm. The shell is moderately solid and glossy. The light-brown spire has a medium height with a rounded and sharp apex. Its sutures are narrowly channeled. The shoulder is indistinct. The body whorl has a narrow conoid-cylindrical shape. The white aperture is narrow, widening anteriorly. The thick outer lip is straight, sloping somewhat below the shoulder. The ground color of the shell is white, crossed with light brown axial streaks and three chestnut spiral bands. The base of the shell is tinged with violet.
Distribution
This species occurs in the Indian Ocean off East Africa, Mauritius, Chagos and the Mascarene Islands. It is very rare off the Tamil Nadu Coast of India.