Conus nigropunctatus, common name the black-spot cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails, cone shells or cones.[1]

Conus nigropunctatus
Apertural view of a shell of Conus nigropunctatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Conoidea
Family: Conidae
Genus: Conus
Species:
C. nigropunctatus
Binomial name
Conus nigropunctatus
G. B. Sowerby II, 1858
Synonyms[1]
  • Conus (Pionoconus) nigropunctatus G. B. Sowerby II, 1858 · accepted, alternate representation
  • Conus nigropunctatus elatensis Wils, 1971
  • Conus nigropunctatus var. peledi Wils, 1971
  • Pionoconus nigropunctatus (G. B. Sowerby II, 1858)

These snails are predatory and venomous. They are capable of "stinging" humans.

Description

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The size of the shell varies between 25 mm and 50 mm. The bulbous shell has a convex, striate spire. The body whorl has rounded striate, which are usually obsolete above, granular below. The color is olive, chestnut-, chocolate- or pink-brown, variously marbled and flecked with white, often faintly white-banded below the middle. The shell is encircled by a series of chocolate-colored dots.[2]

Distribution

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This marine species occurs in the Red Sea and the Western Pacific

References

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  1. ^ a b Bouchet, P. (2015). Conus nigropunctatus G. B. Sowerby II, 1858. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=429215 on 2015-11-09
  2. ^ G.W. Tryon (1884) Manual of Conchology, structural and systematic, with illustrations of the species, vol. VI; Philadelphia, Academy of Natural Sciences (described as Conus catus var. nigropunctatus)
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  • To World Register of Marine Species
  • Cone Shells - Knights of the Sea
  • "Pionoconus nigropunctatus". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.