Malacology
Malacology is the study of mollusks. This includes animals like octopus, snails, slugs, and clams. It is the second largest phylum of animals, making them one of the most successful groups on the planet. There are over 80,000 described species of mollusks with many more left to be discovered. Mullusca is composed of 8 recognized classes including Cephalopoda, Gastropoda, Polyplacophora, Scaphapoda, Monoplacophorans, the Aplacophorans, Caudofoveata and Solenogastres, and Bivalvia.
Mouse Cone
Hwass in Bruguiere, 1792
Conus mus
Class:
Gastropoda
Order:
Neogastropoda
Family:
Conidae
Image Voucher:
ANSP 97029
Shell Information
Length (mm): 25-43.5
Dextral
Chirality:
The mouse cone is sculpted with spiral ribs on the body whorl. It has a short spire patterned with alternating white and dark lines. This brown shell continues this pattern on the shoulder of the body whorl and has a line of white spots on the center of this whorl.
Description:
Ecological Information
Distribution:
Depth (m):
North Carolina to Barbados
0 to 18 meters
Diet:
Carnivore
Habitat:
Marine; Coral reefs and other hard substrates
Misc. Facts
Citations
MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Conus mus Hwass in Brugui�re, 1792. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=420216 on 2021-06-23
Rosenberg, G., F. Moretzsohn, and E. F. Garc�a. 29. Gastropoda (Mollusca) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 579�699 in Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico�Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, Texas.
Morris, P. A. (1987). A field guide to shells: Atlantic and Gulf coasts and the West Indies (3rd ed.). Houghton Mifflin.
Rosenberg, G. 2009. Malacolog 4.1.1: A Database of Western Atlantic Marine Mollusca. [WWW database (version 4.1.1)] URL http://www.malacolog.org/