Conus mozambicus, common name the Mozambique cone or the elongate cone, is a species of medium-sized sea snail, a predatory marine gastropod mollusc in the family Conidae, the cone snails or cone shells.[1]

Conus mozambicus
Apertural and abapertural views of shell of Conus mozambicus Hwass in Bruguière, J.G., 1792
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Conoidea
Family: Conidae
Genus: Conus
Species:
C. mozambicus
Binomial name
Conus mozambicus
Hwass in Bruguière, 1792
Synonyms[1]
  • Conus (Floraconus) mozambicus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792 · accepted, alternate representation
  • Conus altispiratus G. B. Sowerby II, 1873
  • Conus caffer Krauss, 1848 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus caffer Röding, 1798)
  • Conus informis Hwass in Bruguière, 1792
  • Conus lautus Reeve, 1844
  • Conus macei Crosse, 1865
  • Conus mozambicus lautus Reeve, 1844
  • Conus mozambicus mozambicus Hwass, 1792
  • Sciteconus mozambicus (Hwass in Bruguière, 1792)

Distribution

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Conus mozambicus cone is known off the southern African coast from Lüderitz Bay to Mossel Bay, subtidally in shallow water. The species is endemic to this region.[2] It is also found off Senegal and Mozambique.

Description

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Conus mozambicus has a medium-sized shell which may grow to 65mm in total length. It has a sharply pointed spire. The shell colour is dull and mottled with brown, and there may be darker blotches at the shoulder. The spire of the shell is stepped.[3]

Ecology

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Conus mozambicus feeds on polychaete worms. The egg capsules are vase-shaped and contain 19-23 eggs.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Rosenberg, G.; Bouchet, P. (2015). Conus mozambicus. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=225458 on 2015-11-07
  2. ^ a b Kilburn R. & Rippey E. 1982. Sea Shells of Southern Africa Macmillan ISBN 0-86954-094-7
  3. ^ Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2005. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 0-86486-672-0
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