Marshall
Islands Conidae
The family Conidae is fairly well
represented at Kwajalein with about 76 species. Several have not yet been found
in the living state. Cones have a specialized radula consisting of separate
harpoon-like venomous teeth used to immobilize prey. Some cones prey upon fish;
their venom is quite powerful in order to quickly kill or paralyze a fish, who
might get away if the venom were too mild. The harpoon teeth of these species
also often have large barbs to hold the prey while the venom does its work.
Bubble cones and a few other species are primarily or exclusively fish eaters.
Cones with tent-shaped markings nearly all eat other species of seashells and
occasionally other cone shells. Most of the remainder eat worms; often the radulae
of the worm eaters are very small and the venom less powerful. Still, if you
don't know how potent the venom might be, it is best to avoid situations where
you might get stung.
Click
these links for a few cones from Hawaii,
the Solomon
Islands, Anilao,
Bali,
Lembeh,
the Sea of
Cortez and California.
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