Conus virgo

Conus virgo is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.[2]

Conus virgo
Abapertural (left) and apertural (right) views of the shell of Conus virgo
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Conoidea
Family: Conidae
Genus: Conus
Species:
C. virgo
Binomial name
Conus virgo
Synonyms[2]
  • Conus (Virgiconus) virgo Linnaeus, 1758 · accepted, alternate representation
  • Conus flavocinctus Link, 1807 (nomen dubium)
  • Conus virgo var. alba Spalowsky, 1795
  • Virgiconus virgo (Linnaeus, 1758)

These snails are predatory and venomous. They are capable of "stinging" humans, therefore live ones should be handled carefully or not at all.

Varieties
  • Conus virgo var. alba Spalowsky, 1795: synonym of Conus virgo Linnaeus, 1758
  • Conus virgo var. fasciata Menke, 1828: synonym of Conus lividus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792

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.[3]

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).

References

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