Conus aemulus

Conus aemulus
Apertural and abapertural views of shell of Conus aemulusReeve, L.A., 1844
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Conoidea
Family:	Conidae
Genus:	Conus
Species:	C. aemulus
Binomial name
Conus aemulus Reeve, 1844
Synonyms [2]
Conus (Lautoconus) aemulusReeve, 1844 · accepted, alternate representation Conus tamsianusDunker, 1853 Varioconus aemulus(Reeve, 1844)

Conus aemulus (common name - amber marbled cone snail) is a species of sea snail, a cone snail (family Conidae, genus Conus, subgenus Lautoconus ^[3] ). Amber marbled cone snails are marine gastropod mollusks. ^[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.

Description

The size of the shell varies between 20 mm and 58 mm.

Distribution and usage

This species occurs in the Atlantic Ocean off Angola, in shallow waters. Their habitat strip is restricted around 40 km long, but they are not endangered, although they may be susceptible to threats of oil pollution, or other pollution from the nearby city of Luanda. ^[4]

They are sometimes gathered for their shells to be sold, but the market is not large.

References

1. Tenorio, M.J. (2012). "Conus aemulus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012: e.T192546A2112986. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T192546A2112986.en . Retrieved 2 April 2024.
2. Conus aemulus Reeve, 1844. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 20 March 2010.
3. Reeve, 1844, via Wikipedia Lautoconus.
4. "Conus aemulus | IUCN Red List API". IUCN Red List. 26 October 2011.

• Gofas, S.; Afonso, J.P.; Brandào, M. (Ed.). (S.a.). Conchas e Moluscos de Angola = Coquillages et Mollusques d'Angola. [Shells and molluscs of Angola]. Universidade Agostinho / Elf Aquitaine Angola: Angola. 140 pp.
• 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
• "Varioconus aemulus". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.