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

Conus marchionatus
Apertural and abapertural views of shell of Conus marchionatus Hinds, R.B., 1843
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. marchionatus
Binomial name
Conus marchionatus
Hinds, 1843
Synonyms[1]
  • Conus (Eugeniconus) marchionatus Hinds, 1843 · accepted, alternate representation
  • Conus caelatus A. Adams, 1855
  • Conus marchionatus var. eudoxus Tryon, 1884
  • Eugeniconus marchionatus (Hinds, 1843)

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

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The size of the shell varies between 12 mm and 68 mm. The spire is depressed and shows spiral striae. Its color is yellowish or light brown, with large white rounded triangular spots. The pattern of coloring is very like Conus marmoreus, but lighter. The shell is immediately distinguished by the want of the coronal of tubercles and its usually small size.[2][3]

Distribution

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This species occurs in the Pacific Ocean off the Marquesas.

References

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  • Adams, A. 1855a. "Descriptions of new species of the genus Conus, from the collection of Hugh Cuming, Esq." Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1854: 116–119.
  • 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
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  • The Conus Biodiversity website
  • Cone Shells - Knights of the Sea
  • "Eugeniconus marchionatus". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.