Family Conidae

Shell size to 80 mm; shell heavy, conical. Spire concave and elevated only at center. Sides of body whorl smooth. Aperture narrow. Color cream to white with rows of irregular orange, light-, or dark-brown spots. This species has been subdivided into forms that most likely reflect local variations without taxonomic value. The egg capsules shown (from Sanibel) measure about 15 Each capsule may contain anywhere between 15-57 embryos. Upon hatching, the veliconcha larvae (image on right) measure around 1.5 [Data from [Leal, J.H, A.J. Kohn, R.A. Mensch. 2017. A veliconcha unveiled: Observations on the larva and radula of Conus spurius, with implications for the origin of molluscivory in Conus. American Malacological Bulletin 35(2): 111-118] (http://tinyurl.com/yckvuv66). The last supplementary image shows views of a veliconcha shell. Scale line = 1

Shell size to 54 mm; shell smooth, conical. Spire elevated. Aperture long and narrow with posterior notch. Parietal region with weak spiral lines. Color cream with broad reddish-brown spiral bands and darker brown spots. The eggs cases are elongated, spoon-shaped but tapering at distal end, with frilly edges. The live animal and mass spawning were photographed by Amy Tripp near Marco Island. The final image shows spent cases laid inside a pen shell. the name Conus anabathrum Crosse, 1865 is a junior synonym.

Shell size to 26 mm; smallest of the local species of cone snails. The shell is similar to the Caribbean C. jaspideus, but more slender and with spiral lines only on the anterior half. This was considered by some authors as a shallow-water, or inshore, subspecies of C. jaspideus. The Dusky Cone differs from Conasprella pealii by its narrower last whorl, darker color, often with white spiral dashes or dots, and relatively shorter last whorl. The second image shows a female Dusky Cone in the process of laying egg capsules. Photo by Amy Tripp, 2021, on Kice Island, Collier County, Florida.

Size to 29 Shell with light color patterns, rarely with white dashes or dots. Sculpture of spiral ribs never granulose on last whorl, which is broader than in the sympatric Conasprella stearnsii. IN this species, Conasprella pealii, The spire is in average higher than in Conasprella stearnsii.