Conus nucleus

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

Conus nucleus
Apertural and abapertural views of shell of Conus nucleus Reeve, L.A., 1848
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Conoidea
Family:	Conidae
Genus:	Conus
Species:	C. nucleus
Binomial name
Conus nucleus Reeve, 1848
Synonyms[1]
Conus (Splinoconus) nucleus Reeve, 1848 · accepted, alternate representation Isoconus nucleus (Reeve, 1848) Leporiconus nucleus (Reeve, 1848)

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 25 mm. The shell shows fine revolving striae. Its color is orange-brown, with an irregular white band, and spots. The aperture is violaceous.^[2]

Distribution

This marine species occurs off the Mascarene Islands, Madagascar, the Philippines, the Maldives, Thailand, Guam, the Marshall Islands and off Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia).