Mauritian conch
NameMauritian conch
Scientific NameConus mauritianus
Common NameMauritian conch
FamilyConidae
GenusConus
Speciesmauritianus
Geographic DistributionIndo-Pacific, including East Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion, Seychelles, Maldives, Chagos, Sri Lanka, Andaman Sea, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and parts of Australia.
Habitatsubtidal
Shell Shapeconical
Average Size (mm)70
Identifying FeaturesBroadly conical shape, low spire, dark coloration with lighter blotches, thick periostracum, and a characteristic pinkish-orange aperture. The visible siphon and eyes of the living animal are also typical of active cone snails.
Raritycommon
Author CitationHwass in Bruguière, 1792
Description
The Mauritian conch, *Conus mauritianus*, is a heavy, broadly conical shell belonging to the predatory cone snail family. Its shell is typically dark brown to black, often adorned with irregular white, yellowish, or bluish-white blotches and bands. The living shell is frequently covered by a thick, greenish-brown periostracum, which can be obscured by algal growth, as seen in the image. The aperture is a distinctive pinkish-orange to reddish-brown. This species is a nocturnal predator, primarily feeding on fish, which it paralyzes using a venomous harpoon-like radular tooth. It is commonly found in tropical Indo-Pacific waters, inhabiting rocky or sandy substrates within coral reef environments.
