Conus kermadecensis explained

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

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 25 mm and 60 mm.

Distribution

This marine species is endemic to New Zealand, occurring off the Kermadec Islands.

References

• Iredale, T. (1912). New generic names and new species of marine Mollusca. Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London. 10(3): 217–228, pl. 9 page(s): 227, pl. 9 figs 15–16
• Tucker J.K. & Tenorio M.J. (2013) Illustrated catalog of the living cone shells. 517 pp. Wellington, Florida: MdM Publishing.
• Puillandre N., Duda T.F., Meyer C., Olivera B.M. & Bouchet P. (2015). One, four or 100 genera? A new classification of the cone snails. Journal of Molluscan Studies. 81: 1–23

External links

• The Conus Biodiversity website
• Cone Shells – Knights of the Sea

Notes and References

1. Bouchet, P. (2015). Conus kermadecensis Iredale, 1912. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G.; Bank, R.A.; Bieler, R. (2015) MolluscaBase. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=429640 on 2015-05-19