Prince Cone Shell, Conus princeps

Prince Cone Shell, Conus princeps. Shell collected off the beach in the greater Los Cabos area, Baja California Sur,  November 2010. Size: 3.5 cm (1.4 inches) x 1.9 cm (0.7 inches).

Prince Cone, Conus princeps. Shell collected off the beach in the greater Los Cabos area, Baja California Sur,  November 2010. Size: 5.9 cm (2.3 inches) x 4.0 cm (1.6 inches).

Phylogeny: The Prince Cone Shell, Conus princeps (Linnaeus, 1758), is a gastropod mollusk that is a member of the Conidae Family of Cones. The genus Conus is one of eight genera in this family, and there are around eight hundred ten species in this genus. They are also known as the Princely Cone and in Mexico as Cono Principesco.

Description: Prince Cone Shells are gorgeous and easily distinguishable by their coral, pink, or orange color.  They have low, well-coronated, spires. These shells have a varying number of wavy dark brown or black lines running from the top of the shell, down the length of the shell. The lines vary in thickness and length from shell to shell. The aperture is the same color as the shell, or a little lighter. They are covered with a thick, brown,  periostracum, which is rough to the point of being bristly. Prince Cone shells reach a maximum of 9.0 cm (3.5 inches) in length.

Habitat and Distribution: Prince Cone Shells are found on and between rocks and under rock ledges. They are often found around brown algae. They live in the intertidal zone, and to depths up to 35 m (115 feet). They are a subtropical to tropical Eastern Pacific species. In Mexican waters they range from Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur to Guatemala. They are found in the Gulf of California as far north as Gonzaga Bay, Baja California.

Ecology and Behavior: Prince Cone Shells are predators that feed primarily on worms, mollusks, fish, and other cone snails. They are gonochoric and reproduce sexually, with internal fertilization. The eggs are laid in protective capsules. There is no mention in the available literature of them engaging in any types of parasitic, commensal, or symbiotic relationships. From a conservation perspective the IUCN Red List considers Prince Cone Shells to be of Least Concern. Prince Cone Shells are venomous and capable of stinging humans. If they must be handled, they should be handled with great care.

Synonyms: Conus (Ductoconus) princeps, Conus lineolatus, Conus princeps var. apogrammatus,  Conus regius, Conus regus, and Ductoconus princeps.