Conus pictus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.
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.
Subspecies Conus pictus pictus Reeve, 1843 Conus pictus transkeiensis Korn, W. 1998 (synonym: Sciteconus pictus transkeiensis Korn, 1998)
Description The size of the shell varies between 26 mm and 50 mm. The shell is chestnut-colored, with two or three pink bands, and a few narrow lines, ornamented with reddish or chestnut spots. The spire is maculated.G.W. Tryon (1884) Manual of Conchology, structural and systematic, with illustrations of the species, vol. VI; Philadelphia, Academy of Natural Sciences
Distribution This marine species occurs off Jeffrey's Bay - East London, Republic South Africa
References
Sowerby, G. B., III. 1911. Description of a new species of the genus Conus from South Africa. Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London 9(6):352, fig. Tucker J.K. & Tenorio M.J. (2013) Illustrated catalog of the living cone shells. 517 pp. Wellington, Florida: MdM Publishing. 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
Gallery Conus pictus transkeiensis
External links
The Conus Biodiversity website Cone Shells - Knights of the Sea