Conus conspersus

Conus conspersus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Conoidea
Family:	Conidae
Genus:	Conus
Species:	C. conspersus
Binomial name
	Conus conspersus; Reeve, 1844
Synonyms
	Asprella conspersa (Reeve, 1844); Conus (Phasmoconus) conspersus Reeve, 1844 · accepted, alternate representation; Graphiconus conspersus (Reeve, 1844);

Conus conspersus, common name the sprinkled cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.^[1]

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

During the 20th. Century, the holotype was misplaced and thought to be lost, but has now (2022) been rediscovered and confirmed^[2] and is once again available to science.

The size of the shell varies between 24 mm and 56 mm.

Distribution

This marine species occurs off the Philippines and Australia.

Venom

C. conspersus uses a specialized radular tooth to inject venom into its prey, which consists mostly of small marine worms and invertebrates. The venom is a complex mixture of conotoxins that can affect the nervous system. While stings on humans are rare, caution is advised. Cone snail venoms are studied for potential biomedical applications, especially in pain management.^[3]

Taxonomy

The species was first described by Lovell Augustus Reeve in 1844. It has been placed in different subgenera such as Asprella and Phasmoconus, but is currently accepted under the genus Conus.^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b Conus conspersus Reeve, 1844. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 27 March 2010.
^ Fenzan, William J.; Dublanka, Mario; Curth, Stefan (2022). "Rediscovery of the Conus conspersus Reeve, 1844 holotype". Zootaxa. 5154 (4): 496–500. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5154.4.7. PMID 36095606. S2CID 249809259.
^ Olivera, B.M. (1997). "Conus venom peptides, receptor and ion channel targets, and drug design". Molecular Biology of the Cell. 8 (11): 2101–2109. PMID 9362051.
^ Puillandre, N. (2015). "One, four or 100 genera? A new classification of the cone snails". Journal of Molluscan Studies. 81: 1–23. doi:10.1093/mollus/eyu055.

Reeve, L.A. 1843. Descriptions of new species of shells figured in the 'Conchologia Iconica'. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 11: 169–197
Filmer R.M. (2011) Taxonomic review of the Conus spectrum, Conus stramineus and Conus collisus complexes (Gastropoda – Conidae) – Part I. Visaya 3(2): 23–85
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

External links

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[WoRMS-1] Conus conspersus Reeve, 1844. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 27 March 2010.

[2] Fenzan, William J.; Dublanka, Mario; Curth, Stefan (2022). "Rediscovery of the Conus conspersus Reeve, 1844 holotype". Zootaxa. 5154 (4): 496–500. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5154.4.7. PMID 36095606. S2CID 249809259.

[3] Olivera, B.M. (1997). "Conus venom peptides, receptor and ion channel targets, and drug design". Molecular Biology of the Cell. 8 (11): 2101–2109. PMID 9362051.

[4] Puillandre, N. (2015). "One, four or 100 genera? A new classification of the cone snails". Journal of Molluscan Studies. 81: 1–23. doi:10.1093/mollus/eyu055.

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