Conus thalassiarchus

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

Conus thalassiarchus
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. thalassiarchus
Binomial name
Conus thalassiarchus G. B. Sowerby I, 1834
Synonyms[1]
Conus (Calibanus) thalassiarchus G. B. Sowerby I, 1834 · accepted, alternate representation Conus castrensis Gould, 1842 Conus mariei Jousseaume, 1899 Conus thalassiarchus f. ikatt Shikama, 1979 (unavailable name: established as a "form" after 1960) Conus thalassiarchus var. elevata Wils, 1972 Conus vidua var. azona Wils, 1972 (unavailable name: established as a variety after 1960) Conus vidua var. depriesteri Wils, 1972 (unavailable name: established as a variety after 1960) Conus vidua var. elevata Wils, 1972 (unavailable name: established as a variety after 1960) Thalassiconus thalassiarchus (G. B. Sowerby I, 1834) Virgiconus thalassiarchus (G. B. Sowerby I, 1834)

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 35 mm and 115 mm. The spire is depressed and nearly smooth, with a sharp angle. The color of the shell is white, longitudinally and angularly reticulated with chestnut lines, chocolate-tinted at the base. It shows sometimes an irregular central white band covered by revolving lines of spots, and occasionally with yellowish bands above and below the latter and similarly spotted.^[2]

Distribution

This marine species occurs off the Southern Philippines.

• 
  Conus thalassiarchus Sowerby, G.B. I, 1833
• 
  Conus thalassiarchus Sowerby, G.B. I, 1833
• 
  Conus thalassiarchus Sowerby, G.B. I, 1833
• 
  Conus thalassiarchus Sowerby, G.B. I, 1833
• 
  Conus thalassiarchus Sowerby, G.B. I, 1833