Interrupted Cone Shell, Conasperlla ximenes

Interrupted Cone Shell, Conasperlla ximenes. Shell collected off the beach in the greater Punta Chivato area, Punta Chivato, Baja California Sur, February 2023. Size: 3.6 cm (1.4 inches) x 1.6 cm (0.6 inches). Collection, photograph and Identification courtesy of Colin Campbell, DVM, Punta Chivato.

Phylogeny: The Interrupted Cone Shell, Conasprella ximenes (Gray, 1839), is a gastropod mollusk that is a member of the Conidae Family of Cones Shells. The Conasprella Genus is one of eight genera in the Conidae Family, and there are one hundred seventy-six species in the Conasprella Genus. They are also known as the Fine-spot Cone and in  Mexico as Cono Manchas Finas.

Description: Interrupted Cone Shells are long and slender, with a high spire and sharp apex. The spire is slightly concave. These shells are white, though some have a pinkish. lavender, or bluish tinge. Two rows of bolder brown dots are located just above the body whorl. The rest of the body has smaller spots and dashed. Some specimens also have light brown blotches. Any axial striping will be less than similar cones in the region. Inside the aperture is purple to lavender. Interrupted Cone Shells reach a maximum of 6.1 cm (2.3 inches) in length.

Habitat and Distribution: Interrupted Cones are found on sand from the intertidal zone to depths of 91 m (300 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 the west coast of the Baja Peninsula.

Ecology and Behavior: Interrupted Cones are predators that feed primarily on polychaeta worms. They are prey for fish, mollusks, and crabs. 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 Interrupted 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: Conasprella (Ximeniconus) gubernatrix, Conasprella (Ximeniconus) ximenes, Conasprella gubernatrix, Conus interruptus, Conus ximenes, Hermes triggi, Ximeniconus (Ximeniconus) ximenes, Ximeniconus gubernatrix, and Ximeniconus ximenes,