Conus vautieri explained

Conus vautieri, common name Vautier's cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.^{[1] [2]}

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.

Taxonomic relation

Conus vautieri was originally named as a subspecies of Conus pulicarius Hwass in Bruguière, 1792, but has been recognized as a valid species, alternative representation in the genus Puncticulis.

Description

The size of the shell varies between 27 mm and 75 mm. The spire is tuberculate. The sides of the body whorl are nearly direct. The color of the shell is white, with chestnut spots, overlaid here and there by lighter chestnut clouds.^[3]

Distribution

This species occurs in the Pacific Ocean off the Marquesas and New Caledonia.

References

• Kiener L.C. 1844-1850. Spécies général et iconographie des coquilles vivantes. Vol. 2. Famille des Enroulées. Genre Cone (Conus, Lam.), pp. 1-379, pl. 1-111 [pp. 1-48 (1846); 49-160 (1847); 161-192 (1848); 193-240 (1849); 241-[379](assumed to be 1850); plates 4,6 (1844); 2-3, 5, 7-32, 34-36, 38, 40-50 (1845); 33, 37, 39, 51-52, 54-56, 57-68, 74-77 (1846); 1, 69-73, 78-103 (1847); 104-106 (1848); 107 (1849); 108-111 (1850)]. Paris, Rousseau & J.B. Baillière
• 10.1093/mollus/eyu055 . 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 . 1–23. 4541476. 26300576.

External links

• USNM Invertebrate Zoology Mollusca Collection
• World Register of Marine Species
• Cone Shells - Knights of the Sea

Notes and References

1. Bouchet, P. (2011). Conus vautieri Kiener, 1845. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=580226 on 2012-01-21
2. Moolenbeek R.G., Zandbergen A. & Bouchet P. (2008) Conus (Gastropoda, Conidae) from the Marquesas Archipelago: description of a new endemic offshore fauna. Vita Malacologica 6: 19-34. (16 December 2008)
3. https://archive.org/details/manualconch06tryorich G.W. Tryon (1884) Manual of Conchology, structural and systematic, with illustrations of the species, vol. VI; Philadelphia, Academy of Natural Sciences