Conasprella rutila

Conasprella rutila, common name the burnished cone, is a rare species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.^[1]

Conasprella rutila
Apertural and abapertural views of shell of Conasprella rutila (Menke, C.T., 1843)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Conoidea
Family:	Conidae
Genus:	Conasprella
Species:	C. rutila
Binomial name
Conasprella rutila (Menke, 1843)
Synonyms[1]
Conasprella (Parviconus) rutila (Menke, 1843) · accepted, alternate representation Conus macleayana Tenison-Woods, 1877 Conus rutilus Menke, 1843 (original combination) Conus smithi Angas, 1877 Conus tasmanicus Tenison-Woods, 1876 Conus (Stephanoconus) smithi Angas, G.F. 1877 Parviconus rutilus (Menke, 1843)

Like all species within the genus Conasprella, these cone snails are predatory and venomous. They are capable of stinging humans, therefore live animals should be handled carefully or not at all^{[citation needed]}.

Description

The size of the shell varies between 7 mm and 15 mm.^[2] Pattern-wise, the C. rutila shell is distinct in its small size and spire shape.^[2]

Distribution

This marine species is endemic to Australia, and occurs off New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.^[2] Generally, C. rutila lives among seagrass subtidally.^[2]