Conus capitaneus

Conus capitaneus, common name the captain cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.^[2]

Conus capitaneus
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Conoidea
Family:	Conidae
Genus:	Conus
Species:	C. capitaneus
Binomial name
Conus capitaneus Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms[2]
Conus capitaneus var. virgineus Wils, 1972 (unavailable name) Conus classarius Hwass in Bruguière, 1792 (nomen dubium) Conus (Rhizoconus) capitaneus Linnaeus, 1758 accepted, alternate representation Conus ceciliae Crosse, 1858 Rhizoconus capitaneus Linnaeus, 1758

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 an adult shell varies between 50 mm and 98 mm. Its low spire is striate, flamed with chocolate and white. The body whorl is yellowish, or orange-brown, encircled by rows of chestnut dots, usually stained chocolate at the base. There is a central white band, with chocolate hieroglyphic markings on either side, and a shoulder-band, crossed by chocolate smaller longitudinal markings. The aperture is white.^[3]

Distribution

This marine species occurs in the Indian Ocean off Madagascar, the Mascarene Basin, Mauritius and Tanzania; and in the Indo-West Pacific (off Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, Japan); off Australia (New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia),

• 
  Conus capitaneus Linnaeus, C., 1758
• 
  Conus capitaneus Linnaeus, C., 1758
• 
  Conus capitaneus Linnaeus, C., 1758
• 
  Conus capitaneus Linnaeus, C., 1758