Cone Shell?

[Ron99]

Finally managed to snag this hitchhiker. Looks like a small cone shell to me. It's no more than a half inch long. So is it a small cone shell or some other snail?? Any insights would be appreciated.

 

[Bongo Shrimp]

It could be a cone but I think the rear part is usually flatter at the tip. If it is a cone, don't touch it because it could be venomous.

 

[Ron99]

Looks like some cone shells are pointy at the back and some are flat. I am being careful. My background is in toxicology so I know a fair bit about what conotoxin can do

 

[Airwolf75]

I vote for Olividae snail

 

[Ron99]

I think that is close but from looking at some examples the olive snails seem to have more cylindrical shells and this one tapers more at one end like a cone snail. So I am still leaning towards cone shell snail unless somebody has some other ideas.

 

[Bongo Shrimp]

Try this site: http://www.topseashells.com/seashells/CONIDAE

It has a list of shells for sale but it may help you ID yours.

 

[greenbean36191]

It's a marginellid, not a cone. IIRC most of them are scavengers or predators of small critters. Don should be able to nail down the ID better and maybe give you a better idea of what this one eats, but I thought I would ease your mind a bit.

 

[Ron99]

Yup, you nailed it. It's a Prunum apicinum.

http://www.jaxshells.org/prunumx.htm

Thanks.

 

[pagojoe]

You guys don't need meeeee...LOL Good job, Mike and Ron, and great pic.