Conus bizona, commonly known as the “Two-zone Cone”, is a species of venomous sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails, cone shells or cones. These snails are predatory and have a venomous harpoon-like structure called a radula. They are known for their distinctive, often colorful, conical shells.
Description & Characteristics
The shell of Conus bizona is typically 30 to 40 millimeters in length. It is characterized by a light brown or yellow body with two distinct zones of darker brown or reddish-brown coloration. The first zone extends from the apex, the pointed top of the shell, to about halfway down the spire, the conical part of the shell. The second zone is a broad band that extends from the middle of the spire down to the base of the shell. The aperture, the opening of the shell, is narrow and has a distinctive notch on the outer lip. Conus bizona has a smooth, glossy surface.
Habitat and Occurrence
Conus bizona is commonly found in the Indo-Pacific region. This species is typically found in shallow, sandy or rocky areas in the intertidal zone and subtidal zone. Conus bizona is a marine species, inhabiting the neritic zone, which is the shallow water area extending from the shoreline to the edge of the continental shelf.
Taxonomy
Conus bizona is classified within the Class Gastropoda, Order Neogastropoda, and Family Conidae. This family encompasses a diverse group of predatory snails, known for their distinctive conical shells and venomous harpoons. Gastropods, which include snails, slugs, and limpets, are a large and diverse class of mollusks characterized by their single, spirally coiled shell and a distinct head with tentacles. Neogastropods are a suborder of gastropods that includes a wide range of marine snails, often characterized by their predatory habits and more advanced features, such as a siphon, a tube used for breathing.
Feeding
Conus bizona is a carnivorous species that preys on other marine invertebrates, primarily worms and small fish. Like other cone snails, Conus bizona uses a venomous harpoon-like structure called a radula to subdue its prey. This harpoon, modified from the typical snail radula, is attached to a venom gland and is capable of delivering a potent neurotoxin that paralyzes its prey. Conus bizona then uses its radula to draw the paralyzed prey into its mouth.
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