Conus neptunus, common name the Neptune cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.
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 an adult shell varies between 43 mm and 80 mm. The solid shell is narrow, with a concavely elevated spire and a sharp apex. The body whorl is distantly grooved towards the base. The shell has a flesh color, everywhere veined and clouded with reddish chestnut flexuous lines and spots. The aperture is rosy white.George Washington Tryon, Manual of Conchology vol. VI, p. 72, 1884
Distribution This species occurs off the Philippines, Australia and in the Southwest Pacific Ocean.
References
Kosuge S. (1981) Notes on newly recorded species of the superfamily Conacea from Philippines with descriptions of new species of the genera Terebra, Conus and Glyphostoma. Bulletin of the Institute of Malacology, Tokyo 1(6): 93–96, pls 31–32. Moolenbeek, R. & Röckel, D., 1997. Conus taken off Wallis and Futuna Islands, south-west Pacific (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Conidae). Bulletin du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle 18(3–4)"1996": 387–400, sér. série 4, part. Section A Filmer R.M. (2001). A Catalogue of Nomenclature and Taxonomy in the Living Conidae 1758 – 1998. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden. 388pp. Tucker J.K. (2009). Recent cone species database. September 4, 2009 Edition Puillandre N., Duda T.F., Meyer C., Olivera B.M. & Bouchet P. (2015). One, four or 100 genera? A new classification of the cone snails. Journal of Molluscan Studies. 81: 1–23
Gallery
External links
The Conus Biodiversity website
Cone Shells – Knights of the Sea Holotype in MNHN, Paris