Conus textile Linnaeus, 1758
Textile cone, ~80mm

This is a relatively common species in Hawaii.

Mollusk eaters, the cones seem especially attracted to Nassarius papillosus. The active Nassarius, however, is often able to escape by twisting its large foot, causing the shell to bounce away.

The cone detects the presence of its prey and extends the pink tentacles that delivers the venomous harpoon (radular tooth).

Nassarius attemps to flip away.

Cone delivers the harpoon to its prey, releasing a small whitish cloud of venom or mucus.

The victorious cone stretches its mouth into the aperture of the prey, surrounding and digesting the Nassarius animal.

Other shells are also on the menu. Here a Textile cone attempts to sting a Bursa rosa.

The pink tentacles delivering the venomous harpoon into the aperture of the Bursa.

But the Bursa fights back, pushing the cone away with its own proboscis. In this case, the Bursa escaped.

A relatively small 50.7mm shell.

Created 22 September 2013
Updated 1 June 2024

Return to Hawaiian shells

Kwajalein Underwater home