Conus dorreensis

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

Conus dorreensis
Apertural and abapertural views of shell of Conus dorreensis Peron, F., 1807
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. dorreensis
Binomial name
Conus dorreensis Péron, 1807
Synonyms[2]
Conus (Virroconus) dorreensis Péron, 1807 Conus pontificalis Lamarck, 1810 Dyraspis dorreensis (Péron, 1807)

Like all species within the genus Conus, these snails are predatory and venomous. Live ones can sting humans, so should be handled carefully or not at all.

Description

The size of the shell varies between 11 mm and 48 mm. The spire is convexly elevated and tuberculated. The whole surface is covered by very fine minutely punctured revolving lines. The epidermis is yellowish olive, very thin, usually persistent in a very broadband upon the body whorl, but absent from the narrow shoulder and basal bands, which, with the spire, are white.^[3]

Distribution

This marine species is endemic to Australia and occurs off Western Australia.