Conus mustelinus

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

Conus mustelinus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Conoidea
Family:	Conidae
Genus:	Conus
Species:	C. mustelinus
Binomial name
Conus mustelinus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792[1]
Synonyms[2]
Conus (Rhizoconus) mustelinus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792 · accepted, alternate representation Conus australis Schröter, 1803 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus australis Holten, 1802) Conus melinus Shikama, 1964 Conus zukiae Shikama, 1979 Rhizoconus melinus Shikama, 1964 Rhizoconus mustelinus (Hwass in Bruguière, 1792)

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 40 mm and 107 mm. The 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 border markings of the bands are reduced to spots. The aperture has a chocolate color with a white band.^[3]

Distribution

This species occurs in the Indian Ocean from the Chagos Atoll to Western Australia; in the Pacific Ocean, from Japan to Philippines, Eastern Australia and Fiji.