Conus tulipa

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

Conus tulipa
Five views of shell of Conus tulipa Linnaeus, C., 1758
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Conoidea
Family:	Conidae
Genus:	Conus
Species:	C. tulipa
Binomial name
Conus tulipa Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms[1]
Chelyconus borbonicus Adams, H.G., 1868 Conus (Gastridium) tulipa Linnaeus, 1758 · accepted, alternate representation Conus borbonicus H. Adams, 1868 Coronaxis nebulosa Swainson, 1840 (invalid: secondary junior homonym of Conus nebulosus Gmelin, 1791) Cucullus purpureus Röding, 1798 Gastridium tulipa (Linnaeus, 1758)

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.

A class of conopeptides named rho-TIA was discovered in Conus tulipa in 2001.^[2] This class of conopeptides targets (react with) alpha1-adrenergic receptors.^[2]

Description

The size of the shell varies between 45 mm and 95 mm. The shell is variegated with violet and white, clouded with chestnut, with numerous revolving rows of minute chestnut and white articulations. The interior of the aperture is violaceous.^[3]

Conantokin-T is a toxin derived from the venom of Conus tulipa.

Distribution

The marine species occurs in the Indo-Western Pacific.

• Madagascar^[1]
• Mauritius^[1]
• Tanzania^[1]
• India
• the Philippines
• Queensland (Australia)

Feeding habits

Conus tulipa preys on fishes.^[2]

• 
  Conus tulipa Linnaeus, C., 1758
• 
  Conus tulipa Linnaeus, C., 1758
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  Conus tulipa Linnaeus, C., 1758