Florida and the Gulf of Mexico

Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native ); atlantic ocean (Native )

Gulf of Mexico

These cones reach 2-3 inches in length. They surface of the shell is smooth. Background color white, with numerous small orangish squares.

This species of cone is at home on coral reefs or shallow ocean bottom.

Aquatic Biomes: reef ; coastal

Depth range based on 22 specimens in 2 taxa.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 11 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 5 - 165
  Temperature range (°C): 20.869 - 26.864
  Nitrate (umol/L): 0.054 - 5.217
  Salinity (PPS): 34.973 - 36.778
  Oxygen (ml/l): 3.523 - 4.984
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.081 - 0.297
  Silicate (umol/l): 1.217 - 4.006

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 5 - 165

Temperature range (°C): 20.869 - 26.864

Nitrate (umol/L): 0.054 - 5.217

Salinity (PPS): 34.973 - 36.778

Oxygen (ml/l): 3.523 - 4.984

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.081 - 0.297

Silicate (umol/l): 1.217 - 4.006
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

This particular cone is a predator that feeds on anything from marine worms to sizable fish. It hunts by extending its proboscis," a muscular extension and retraction of the gut." When it touches prey, the proboscis launches a harpoon-like tooth that pierces the prey and injects deadly venom. The proboscis is then retracted, hauling the prey in. The venom is very deadly and some species of cones have reportedly caused human fatalities.

Cones are sexual reproducing animals. When mating, the female lays a group of eggs that are all attached in a thick kind of mucus. The male is positioned near her body and fertilizes the eggs as soon as they are exit her body. The fertilized eggs remain bonded together in the thick mucus layer until they hatch. Young are not tended by their parents.

These snails play a role in the food chain of the sea as predators.