Conus natalis

Conus natalis, common name the Natal textile cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.^[1]

Conus natalis
Apertural and abapertural views of shell of Conus natalis Sowerby, G.B. II, 1857
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Conoidea
Family:	Conidae
Genus:	Conus
Species:	C. natalis
Binomial name
Conus natalis G. B. Sowerby II, 1858
Synonyms[1]
Conus (Leptoconus) natalis G. B. Sowerby II, 1858 · accepted, alternate representation Conus gilchristi G. B. Sowerby III, 1903 Conus natalis gilchristi G. B. Sowerby III, 1903 Nataliconus natalis (G. B. Sowerby II, 1858)

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 20 mm and 60 mm. The oblong shell is thin, smooth, angulated at the shoulder and sulcate below. It is roseate, minutely angularly lineate with brown, and bifasciate with large maculations. The spire is maculate.^[2]

Distribution

This marine species occurs off the east coast of South Africa and off Mozambique.