Conus pretiosus

Conus pretiosus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.[1]

Conus pretiosus
Apertural view of a shell of Conus pretiosus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Conoidea
Family: Conidae
Genus: Conus
Species:
C. pretiosus
Binomial name
Conus pretiosus
Nevill & Nevill, 1874
Synonyms[1]
  • Asprella phuketensis Motta, A.J. da, 1978
  • Asprella pretiosa (G. Nevill & H. Nevill, 1874)
  • Conus phuketensis da Motta, 1978
  • Conus (Phasmoconus) pretiosus G. Nevill & H. Nevill, 1874 · accepted, alternate representation
  • Graphiconus pretiosus (G. Nevill & H. Nevill, 1874) (nomen oblitum)

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.

Description

The size of the shell varies between 44 mm and 95 mm. The narrow, somewhat pyriform shell has a concavely elevated spire, carinated at the sutures. The shell is nearly perfectly smooth on the under side only. On two-thirds of the body whorl are unusually distant, impressed grooves to be traced, and even these are almost obsolete. The color of the shell is white, throughout closely dashed with wavy, brown, slightly pinkish splashes. These markings are somewhat larger and more distinct on the spire, and also form two irregular bands on the body whorl. The apex is very sharp. The spire is much produced, composed of fourteen whorls, acutely angled in the middle. Above this the angle is spirally striated with numerous striae. Near the apex it is very slightly granular. The interior of the aperture has a beautiful pink color, white near the margin. The epidermis is thin, smoothish and compact.[2]

Distribution

This marine species occurs off Eastern India and Southwest Thailand.

References
  1. Conus pretiosus Nevill & Nevill, 1874. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 27 March 2010.
  2. G.W. Tryon (1884) Manual of Conchology, structural and systematic, with illustrations of the species, vol. VI; Philadelphia, Academy of Natural Sciences
  • The Conus Biodiversity website
  • "Asprella phuketensis". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
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