Malacology
Malacology is the study of mollusks. This includes animals like octopus, snails, slugs, and clams. It is the second largest phylum of animals, making them one of the most successful groups on the planet. There are over 80,000 described species of mollusks with many more left to be discovered. Mullusca is composed of 8 recognized classes including Cephalopoda, Gastropoda, Polyplacophora, Scaphapoda, Monoplacophorans, the Aplacophorans, Caudofoveata and Solenogastres, and Bivalvia.
Alphabet Cone
Gmelin, 1791
Conus spurius
Class:
Gastropoda
Order:
Neogastropoda
Family:
Conidae
Image Voucher:
ANSP 398448
Shell Information
Length (mm): 50-80
Dextral
Chirality:
The alphabet cone has a short pointed spire that can sometimes become engulfed by the body whorl creating a flat top. It has a white color patterned with blotches of dark-brown or orange. These blotches can sometimes take the form of irregular axial lines.
Description:
Ecological Information
Distribution:
Depth (m):
East Florida to Venezuala
0 to 64 meters
Diet:
Carnivore; They are prey on a variety of annelids including christmas tree worms (Spirobranchus giganteus), feather dusters (Sabellastarte magnifica), and bistleworms.
Habitat:
Marine; Soft substrates
Misc. Facts
Citations
MolluscaBase eds. (2022). MolluscaBase. Conus spurius Gmelin, 1791. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=420223 on 2022-04-22
Rosenberg, G., F. Moretzsohn, and E. F. Garc�a. 29. Gastropoda (Mollusca) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 579�699 in Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico�Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, Texas.
Morris, P. A. (1987). A field guide to shells: Atlantic and Gulf coasts and the West Indies (3rd ed.). Houghton Mifflin.
Rosenberg, G. 2009. Malacolog 4.1.1: A Database of Western Atlantic Marine Mollusca. [WWW database (version 4.1.1)] URL http://www.malacolog.org/