Kingdom Animalia Class Gastropoda Clade Hypsogastropoda Scientific name Conus virgo | Phylum Mollusca Clade Caenogastropoda Clade Neogastropoda Rank Species | |
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Similar Conus imperialis, Conus miles, Conus litteratus, Conus generalis, Conus figulinus | ||
Conus virgo is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.
Contents
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 the shell varies between 50 mm and 151 mm. The solid shell is rounded below the shoulder-angle. The spire is flatly convex, slightly striate throughout, more distinctly at the base. The color of the shell is pale yellowish brown, tinged with violet at the base.
Distribution
This marine species occurs in the Red Sea and in the tropical Indo-West Pacific off Tanzania, Madagascar, Aldabra, Chagos, the Mascarene Islands; India, the Philippines and Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia).