Conasprella mahogani is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.Bouchet, P. (2015). Conasprella mahogani (Reeve, 1843). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=836699 on 2015-04-02
Like all species within the genus Conasprella, 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 27 mm and 48 mm. Distribution This marine species is native to the eastern Pacific Ocean. Its distribution ranges from the Gulf of California in northwestern Mexico, extending south along the Pacific coasts of Central and South America to northern Peru. It is also found around several offshore island groups, including the Galápagos Islands, Cocos Island, Malpelo Island, and the Revillagigedo Islands.
The species inhabits shallow coastal waters, rocky and coral reefs, and is typically found within the continental shelf zone, from the intertidal area down to depths of approximately 30 meters. It is a notable component of reef ecosystems in the tropical eastern Pacific and is present in several marine protected areas throughout its range. References
Tucker J.K. & Tenorio M.J. (2009) Systematic classification of Recent and fossil conoidean gastropods. Hackenheim: Conchbooks. 296 pp. 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
The Conus Biodiversity website Cone Shells – Knights of the Sea