Conus virgo

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

Conus virgo
Abapertural (left) and apertural (right) views of the shell of Conus virgo
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Conoidea
Family:	Conidae
Genus:	Conus
Species:	C. virgo
Binomial name
Conus virgo Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms[2]
Conus (Virgiconus) virgo Linnaeus, 1758 · accepted, alternate representation Conus flavocinctus Link, 1807 (nomen dubium) Conus virgo var. alba Spalowsky, 1795 Virgiconus virgo (Linnaeus, 1758)

These snails are predatory and venomous. They are capable of stinging humans, therefore live ones should be handled carefully or not at all.

Varieties

• Conus virgo var. alba Spalowsky, 1795: synonym of Conus virgo Linnaeus, 1758
• Conus virgo var. fasciata Menke, 1828: synonym of Conus lividus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792

Description

The size of the shell varies between 50 mm and 151 mm. The solid shell is rounded below the shoulder-angle. The spire is flatly convex, slightly striate throughout, more distinctly at the base. The color of the shell is pale yellowish brown, tinged with violet at the base.^[3]

Distribution

This marine species occurs in the Red Sea and in the tropical Indo-West Pacific off Tanzania, Madagascar, Aldabra, Chagos, the Mascarene Islands; India, the Philippines and Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia).