Conus erythraeensis

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

Conus erythraeensis
Apertural and abapertural views of shell of Conus erythraeensis Reeve, L.A., 1843
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. erythraeensis
Binomial name
Conus erythraeensis Reeve, 1843
Synonyms[2]
Asprella erythraeensis (Reeve, 1843) Conus adustus G. B. Sowerby II, 1858 Conus couderti Bernardi, 1860 Conus dillwynii Reeve, 1849 Conus hamilli Crosse, 1858 Conus induratus Reeve, 1849 Conus piperatus Reeve, 1844 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus piperatus Dillwyn, 1817; C. dillwynii and C. hamilli are replacement names) Conus quadratomaculatus G. B. Sowerby II, 1866 Conus (Phasmoconus) erythraeensis Reeve, 1843 · accepted, alternate representation Phasmoconus erythraeensis (Reeve, 1843)

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 16 mm and 35 mm. The shell is small, smooth and striate below. It is yellowish white, with revolving rows of quadrangular chestnut spots, sometimes partly clouded over, so as to form bands of chestnut clouds. The spire is maculate.^[3]

Distribution

This species occurs in the Red Sea and in the Northwest Indian Ocean.