Conus sponsalis
A shell of Conus sponsalis Hwass in Bruguière, J.G., 1792
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Conoidea
Family:	Conidae
Genus:	Conus
Species:	C. sponsalis
Binomial name
Conus sponsalis Hwass in Bruguière, 1792
Synonyms[1]
Conus (Harmoniconus) sponsalis Hwass in Bruguière, 1792 · accepted, alternate representation Conus maculatus Bosc, 1801 Conus puncturatus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792 Harmoniconus sponsalis (Hwass in Bruguière, 1792)

Conus sponsalis, common name the sponsal cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.^[1]

Like all species within the genus Conus, these snails are predatory and venomous. They are capable of "stinging" humans, therefore live ones should be handled carefully or not at all.

Description

The size of the shell varies between 12 mm and 34 mm. The body whorl is somewhat convex on the sides, wide at the shoulder, which is somewhat rounded. its color is yellowish white, with a few chestnut or red zigzag longitudinal markings, forming an interrupted broad superior, and often a narrower inferior band. The base of the shell is violaceous.^[2]

Distribution

This cone snail is found in Aldabra, Chagos, Mascarene Islands, Mozambique, the Red Sea and the West Coast of South Africa; also off New Zealand;^[1] off Australia (New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia).