Conus - Shell Description

Shell Description

This genus shows a large variety of colors and patterns, and local varieties and color forms of the same species often occur. This has led to the creation of a large number of known synonyms and probable synonyms, making it difficult to give an exact taxonomic assignment for many snails in this genus. As of 2009, more than 3,200 different species names have been assigned to snails in the genus Conus, with an average of 16 new species names introduced a year.

The shells of Conus species vary in size. The shells are shaped more or less like the geometric shape known as a cone, as one might expect from the popular and scientific name. The shell is many-whorled and in the form of an inverted cone, the anterior end being the narrow end. The protruding parts of the top of the whorls that form the spire are more or less in the shape of another, much more flattened, cone. The aperture is elongated and narrow. The horny operculum is very small. The outer lip is simple, thin and sharp and without a callus. The outer lip has a notched tip at the upper part. The columella is straight.

The larger species of cone snails can grow up to 23 cm in length. The shells of cone snails are often brightly colored, and have interesting patterns, although in some species the color patterns may be partially or completely hidden under an opaque layer of periostracum. In other species the topmost shell layer is thin periostracum, a transparent yellowish or brownish membrane.