Regular Cone Shell, Conus regularis

Regular Cone Shell, Conus regularis. Shell collected off the beach in the greater Los Cabos area, Baja California Sur, April 2015. Size: 5.5 cm (2.2 inches) x 2.3 cm (0.9 inches).

Phylogeny: The Regular Cone Shell, Conus regularis (G.B. Sowerby I, 1833), is a gastropod mollusk that is a member of the Conidae Family of Cone Shells. The genus Conus is one of eight genera in this family, and there are eight hundred ten species in this genus. They are  known in Mexico  as Cono Normal.

Description: Regular Cone Shells are narrow, and variable in shape and coloration. Some have high, concave, stepped spires; others have lower, more blunt, spires. The shell is ivory in color with a brown, purplish brown, tan or white aperture. They may be marked with irregular streaks running along the body, or with blotches and spots, spiraling down the body. The markings may be orange-brown, brown or purplish brown. Some specimens may be overlayed with tan. Regular Cone Shells reach a maximum of 8.6 cm (3.4 inches) in length and 3.6 cm (1.4 inches) in height.

Habitat and Distribution: Regular Cones are found on sand and mud substrates in the intertidal zone, and to depths up to 90 m (295 feet). They are a subtropical to tropical Eastern Pacific species that are found in all Mexican waters of the Pacific Ocean with the exception that they are absent from north of Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, along the central and northwest coasts of the Baja Peninsula.

Ecology and Behavior: Regular Cone Shells are a poorly studied and understood species. There is very limited documentation of their diet, predation, reproduction or ecosystem interactions. Other species in the genus Conus are predators that feed on fish,  gastropods, polychaetae worms and other cone snails. They are gonochoric and reproduce sexually, with internal fertilization. The eggs are laid in protective capsules. Their engagement in any type of commensal, parasitic, or symbiotic relationship has not been formally documented. From a conservation perspective the Regular Cone Shell is currently considered to be of Least Concern, with stable, widely distributed populations. Cone Shells are venomous and capable of stinging human and should be handled with great care if live organisms are present.

Synonyms: Conus (Dauciconus regularis, Conus angulatus, Conus incurvus, Conus magdalennensis, Conus syriacus and Gradiconus regularis.