Conus iodostoma

Conus iodostoma
Apertural view of Conus iodostoma
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
(unranked):	clade Caenogastropoda clade Hypsogastropoda clade Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Conoidea
Family:	Conidae
Subfamily:	Coninae
Genus:	Conus
Species:	C. iodostoma
Binomial name
Conus iodostoma Reeve, 1843 [1]
Synonyms[2]
Asprella iodostoma (Reeve, 1843) Conus hedgesi G. B. Sowerby III, 1913 Conus kieneri Reeve, 1849 Conus rosaceus Kiener, 1845 Conus superscriptus G. B. Sowerby III, 1877

Conus iodostoma, common name the violet-mouth cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.^[2]

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 25 mm and 47 mm. The shell is thin, narrow and somewhat inflated. The spire is finely grooved. The apex is sharp. The body whorl is striate towards the base. The color of the shell is violet-white, clouded with chestnut, with revolving lines of chestnut spots. ^[3]

Distribution

This species occurs in the Indian Ocean along Madagascar and Mozambique.

References

1. ^ Reeve, L. A., 1843. Monograph of the genus Conus. Conchologia Iconica, i: figures and descriptions of the shells of molluscs; with remarks on their affinities, synonymy, and geographical distribution, 1. Conus.
2. ^ ^{a b} Conus iodostoma Reeve, 1843.  Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=428160 on 26 July 2011.
3. ^ George Washington Tryon, Manual of Conchology vol. VI, p. 60; 1879

• 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 4th 2009 Edition
• Tucker J.K. & Tenorio M.J. (2009) Systematic classification of Recent and fossil conoidean gastropods. Hackenheim: Conchbooks. 296 pp.

External links

• The Conus Biodiversity website
• Gastropods.com: Asprella iodostoma; accessed: 26 July 2011