Conus ventricosus mediterraneus

Mediterranean cone ( Conus mediterraneus )

The Mediterranean cone, and the Mediterranean cone snail ( Conus mediterraneus ) is a snail from the family of cone snails. It is the only Conus species of the Mediterranean.

Features

The shell of an adult animal measures 1.3 to 6.3 cm, usually by 2 cm, and rarely more than 3 cm. It is yellowish- brown, pink - brown, chocolate brown or olive green in color and mottled indistinctly. The thread forms a sharp taper, is easily graded and spotted. Often there is a bright horizontal stripes on the front third of the building. Inside the shell is brown with a bright stripe. The brown, horny operculum has an elliptical contour, and occupies about 30% of the length of the mouth of a housing.

Dissemination

The Mediterranean cone snail is widespread throughout the Mediterranean, including the Adriatic Sea and in the Atlantic Ocean on the coast of West Africa to the Canary Islands.

Habitat

The Mediterranean Cone lives in reefs and seagrass beds. The animal is nocturnal and buries itself in the sand during the day. It is found just below the intertidal zone, also in rocky areas.

Food

The Mediterranean cone snail feeds mainly on polychaetes, besides also of small molluscs. The snail carries its long and very flexible proboscis approach the prey and then harpooned this with a venomous, hooked Radulazahn. In studies in Tunisia 14 polychaete species were identified as prey. Extracts from the venom of Conus mediterraneus have a toxic effect on polychaetes and molluscs.