Conus papilliferus explained

Conus papilliferus, common name the papilla cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.

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 shell of Conus papilliferus is relatively small to medium-sized, with adult shells varying in size between 20 mm and 50 mm.^[1] The shell is characterized by its conical shape and intricate patterns. The coloration of the shell can vary, but it typically features a combination of light and dark hues that provide camouflage against the seabed.^[2] The surface of the shell is adorned with fine spiral ridges and grooves, which add to its intricate appearance. The aperture is narrow, and the outer lip is thin and slightly flared.^[3]

The shell's structure is adapted to its marine habitat, providing protection against predators and harsh environmental conditions. The species exhibits a high degree of morphological variation, which is common among marine gastropods and is influenced by environmental factors such as water temperature, salinity, and substrate type.

Distribution

This marine species is endemic to Australia and occurs in the shallow subtidal zone off New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

References

• Sowerby, G.B. (1st) 1834. Conus. pls 54–57 in Sowerby, G.B. (2nd) (ed). The Conchological Illustrations or coloured figures of all the hitherto unfigured recent shells. London : G.B. Sowerby (2nd).
• Reeve, L.A. 1848. Monograph of the genus Conus. supp. pls 1–3 in Reeve, L.A. (ed). Conchologia Iconica. London : L. Reeve & Co. Vol. 1.
• Wilson, B.R. & Gillett, K. 1971. Australian Shells: illustrating and describing 600 species of marine gastropods found in Australian waters. Sydney : Reed Books 168 pp.
• Wilson, B. 1994. Australian Marine Shells. Prosobranch Gastropods. Kallaroo, WA : Odyssey Publishing Vol. 2 370 pp.
• Röckel, D., Korn, W. & Kohn, A.J. 1995. Manual of the Living Conidae. Volume 1: Indo-Pacific Region. Wiesbaden : Hemmen 517 pp.
• Petit, R. E. (2009). George Brettingham Sowerby, I, II & III: their conchological publications and molluscan taxa. Zootaxa. 2189: 1–218
• 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. Web site: Conus papilliferus G.B.Sowerby I, 1834 . 2024-11-21 . www.gbif.org . en.
2. Web site: Papilla Cone (Conus papilliferus) . 2024-11-21 . iNaturalist . en.
3. Web site: Conus papilliferus G.B.Sowerby I, 1834 . 2024-11-21 . www.gbif.org . en.