12 photos - 9 species
Introduction
Very difficult to identify as there are 500 species worldwide.
Several species are so venomous that they kill humans when a venomous fang is thrown out during a hunt or threat.
This venom, which is similar to curare nerve poison,
causes muscle paralysis, numbness, respiratory or cardiac arrest.
If injured, treat similarly to snake bites.
Conus arenatus
Sand-dusted cone
Maximum 8 cm
Cream-colored shell with brown spots.
Hunts bristle worms on sandy areas at night.
Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Photo 2 Astrid: Hurghada Egypt
Conus canonicus
Tiger cone
Maximum length: 6 cm
In the sand under coral rock.
Eats snails.
Photo 1 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North - Sulawesi
Conus leopardus
Leopard cone
Maximum length: 25 cm
Cream-colored to ivory-white body covered with dark brown spots in a spiral.
Photo 1 Johnny: Bangka Island North Sulawesi
Conus litteratus
Lettered cone
Maximum 6.5 cm
Usually buried in sand or under stones during the day.
At night it hunts bristle worms.
Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Conus regius
Crown cone
Maximum size: 7.5 cm
Maximum depth: 0 - 95 m
Distributed in the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
Maroon with brown-white spots, although there are also other versions in white,
yellow-brown and pale brown.
Feeds mainly on fireworms.
Photo 1 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean
Conus Striatus
Striate cone
Maximum size: 12 cm
Depth: 1 - 20 m
Basic color: White to gray, pink or purple shaded in places.
The cone snail hunts mainly at night by crawling up to resting fish and stabbing them with its harpoon.
Its venom takes effect in a matter of seconds and the prey is swallowed within a few seconds.
Photo 1 Astrid: Hurghada Egypt
Conus tessellatus
Tessellated cone
Maximum length: 65 mm
Cone snails have a characteristic conical shell.
The operculum is small.
Cone snails are mainly found in tropical waters.
They feed carnivorously and prey on molluscs, worms and fish.
The venom possessed by some species can also be painful or even fatal to humans.
It is found at depths of up to 20 m and lives on and in the sand in reefs.
Photo 1 Johnny: Bangka Island North - Sulawesi
Conus textile
Textile cone shell
Maximum 13 cm
Potentially very dangerous for humans.
On the 2nd photo, just feeding on another cone species (the grooved screw snail).
Also preys on fish.
Dark pyramid-like markings.
During the day under stones or rubble, or buried in the sand.
Photo 1 Johnny: Bangka Island Indonesia
Conus textile neovicarius
Textile cone
Maximum: 10 - 15 cm
This species is a beautifully marked but also extremely venomous snail,
which uses its venom to catch its prey.
When it gets close enough to its potential victim, it uses its deadly venom.
Lives in shallow waters, so beware, as with all sea creatures,
the rule is, look yes, never touch!
Some species of this snail genus have such a strong venom
that it can even kill humans.
Photo 1 -2 Astrid: Hurghada Egypt
Photo 2 shows the snail eating another species