Conus mozambicus

Conus mozambicus, common name the Mozambique cone or the elongate cone, is a species of medium-sized sea snail, a predatory marine gastropod mollusc in the family Conidae, the cone snails or cone shells.[1]

Conus mozambicus
Apertural and abapertural views of shell of Conus mozambicus Hwass in Bruguière, J.G., 1792
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Conoidea
Family: Conidae
Genus: Conus
Species:
C. mozambicus
Binomial name
Conus mozambicus
Hwass in Bruguière, 1792
Synonyms[1]
  • Conus (Floraconus) mozambicus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792 · accepted, alternate representation
  • Conus altispiratus G. B. Sowerby II, 1873
  • Conus caffer Krauss, 1848 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus caffer Röding, 1798)
  • Conus informis Hwass in Bruguière, 1792
  • Conus lautus Reeve, 1844
  • Conus macei Crosse, 1865
  • Conus mozambicus lautus Reeve, 1844
  • Conus mozambicus mozambicus Hwass, 1792
  • Sciteconus mozambicus (Hwass in Bruguière, 1792)

Distribution

Conus mozambicus cone is known off the southern African coast from Lüderitz Bay to Mossel Bay, subtidally in shallow water. The species is endemic to this region.[2] It is also found off Senegal and Mozambique.

Description

Conus mozambicus has a medium-sized shell which may grow to 65mm in total length. It has a sharply pointed spire. The shell colour is dull and mottled with brown, and there may be darker blotches at the shoulder. The spire of the shell is stepped.[3]

Ecology

Conus mozambicus feeds on polychaete worms. The egg capsules are vase-shaped and contain 19-23 eggs.[2]

References
  1. Rosenberg, G.; Bouchet, P. (2015). Conus mozambicus. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=225458 on 2015-11-07
  2. Kilburn R. & Rippey E. 1982. Sea Shells of Southern Africa Macmillan ISBN 0-86954-094-7
  3. Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2005. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 0-86486-672-0
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