Conasprella longurionis is a species of predatory venomus sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.

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 shell of Conasprella longurionis is very elongate, narrow and subulate. The spire is high and sharply pointed, forming approximately one third of the total shell length. It consists of about fourteen to fifteen narrow, rounded whorls separated by a deep suture.

The last whorl has an obtuse spiral angle and is covered with relatively coarse transverse grooves. Its base is very acute and distinctly recurved toward the dorsum.

The shell colour is whitish to pale yellow, ornamented with transverse bands that may be distant or interrupted, and marked with irregular quadrangular spots of reddish or orange colour.

The shell length reported by Kiener is approximately 36 millimetres (1.4 in).

Distribution

This species occurs in the Indo-West Pacific region, including waters off East Africa and from Taiwan to Sri Lanka.

Gallery

  • Scientific illustration of the shell of Conus longurionis (now Conasprella longurionis) from Kiener (1847)
  • Additional shell apertural and abapertural views
  • Conus longurionis specimen from the Naturalis Biodiversity Center of the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie in Leiden.

External links

  • . Gastropods.com.