Conus coccineus

Often hidden under the sand, offshore, on the Australian seabeds (Northern Territory and Queensland), of Indonesia, New Caledonia, Philippines, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, the Conus coccineus is a predatory gastropod of small fishes and molluscs of the infralittoral plain up to 20 m of depth. The shell, of a more or less pale brown, is characterized by a showy whitish band decorated by dark points and spots spirally arranged. It can reach the 6 cm of length and the alive animal is to be handled very carefully due to the presence of a dangerous trunk, full of the strong venom it uses for immobilizing the preys. It is a very appreciated shell for collectors © Giuseppe Mazza