Profundiconus smirna, common name the Smirna cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.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
Like all species within the genus Profundiconus, these cone 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 the shell varies between 39 mm and 98 mm. Distribution This marine species occurs off Southern Japan; off Hawaii, Tonga, Fiji, and New Zealand.
References
Bartsch, P. & Rehder, H. A. 1943. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 56: 87. Kosuge S. (1979) Description of a new and rare cones from the Western Pacific (Conidae, Gastropoda). Bulletin of the Institute of Malacology, Tokyo 1(2): 21–22, pl. 4. [30 November 1979] page(s): 21, pl. 4 fig. 10 Tucker J.K. & Tenorio M.J. (2009) Systematic classification of Recent and fossil conoidean gastropods. Hackenheim: Conchbooks. 296 pp. Monnier E., Limpalaër L., Robin A. & Roux C. (2018). A taxonomic iconography of living Conidae. Harxheim: ConchBooks. 2 vols. 1205 pp. page(s): 135 M. Tenorio, Note on Profundiconus smirna with description of a new species : Profundiconus smirnoides n.sp; Xenophora Taxonomy N° 7 - Supplément au Xenophora n° 150 - Avril 2015
External links
The Conus Biodiversity website Cone Shells – Knights of the Sea