CONE SHELL

any of several marine snails of the subclass Prosobranchia (class Gastropoda) comprising the genus Conus and the family Conidae. The shell is typically straight-sided, with a tapering body whorl, low spire, and narrow aperture (the opening into the shell's first whorl). Cones inject a paralyzing toxin by means of a dart; a few of the larger species have fatally stung humans. The usual prey is worms and mollusks; a few capture fish. Most species occur in the Indo-Pacific region. The most valuable shell in the worldfewer than 100 specimens are knownis found on the glory-of-the-seas cone (C. gloriamaris) of the Philippines and Indonesia; 10 to 13 cm long, it is golden brown, with a fine net pattern.