Conus gloriamaris

{{Short description|Species of sea snail}} {{Speciesbox | taxon = Conus gloriamaris | image = Conus gloriamaris 01.jpg | image_caption = ''Conus gloriamaris'' | authority = ([[Johann Hieronymus Chemnitz|Chemnitz]], 1777)<ref>Chemnitz, J. H., 1777. Von einer ausserordentlich seltenen Art walzenförmiger Tuten oder Kegelschnekken, welche den Namen Gloria maris führt. Beschäftigungen der Berlinischen Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde, 3: 321 -331</ref> | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 23 August 2024">{{cite iucn |author=Kohn, A. |date=2013 |title=''Conus gloriamaris'' |volume=2013 |article-number=e.T192642A2133671|doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T192642A2133671.en|access-date=23 August 2024}}</ref> | synonyms_ref = <ref>WoRMS (2009). ''Conus gloriamaris'' Chemnitz, 1777. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=428137 on 25 July 2011</ref> | synonyms = * ''Conus (Cylinder) gloriamaris'' Chemnitz, 1777 · accepted, alternate representation * ''Conus gloria'' Bosc, 1801 * ''Conus gloriamaris'' Hwass, C.H. in Bruguière, J.G., 1792 * ''Cylinder gloriamaris'' (Chemnitz, 1777) * ''Cylindrus gloriamaris'' (Chemnitz, 1777) | display_parents = 3 }}

'''''Conus gloriamaris''''', [[common name]] the '''Glory of the Sea Cone''', is a species of [[sea snail]], a marine [[gastropod]] [[mollusk]] in the family [[Conidae]], the cone snails, cone shells or cones. It is commonly found in the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] and [[Indian Ocean]]s.

==Description== [[File:Conus gloriamaris Chemnitz, 1777; specimen from Smithsonian Institution.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|1777 specimen from the Smithsonian Institution]] The [[gastropod shell|shell]] can reach {{convert|16|cm}} in length, but typically measures between {{convert|8|and|12|cm}}. Compared with other cones, ''C. gloriamaris'' is relatively large, slender, with a tall [[spire (mollusc)|spire]]. It is finely reticulated with orange-brown lines, enclosing triangular spaces similar to other textile cones, and two or three bands of chestnut hieroglyphic markings across its body. It is sometimes confused with the common Textile cone, and there is a similarity to the Bengal cone. The tan coloration can vary from a lighter, golden color to a deeper dark brown, with intricate detailing.<ref>[[George Washington Tryon]], Manual of Concholoy vol. VI p. 89; 1879</ref>

==Collector value== The shell of this mollusc species has special significance to shell collectors because it was once regarded as the rarest shell in the world. For about two centuries between its initial discovery and the discovery of its habitat in 1969, specimens were valued in the thousands of U.S. dollars and generally only owned by museums and wealthy private collectors. Furthermore, the shell's popularity among collectors spawned urban legends, most notably the story of a collector purchasing one at auction in 1792 only to destroy it, to maintain the value of another one already in his collection. Improvements in diving technology such as the advent of [[scuba diving|scuba]] led to their discovery in larger numbers, and today shells can often be found from retailers or online auction sites for less than $100 U.S. Nonetheless, the legacy of this shell in addition to its pleasing shape and patterns makes it popular and desirable among shell collectors today.<ref>[http://www.jaxshells.org/conus.htm Conus gloriamaris Chemnitz, 1777]</ref>

==Distribution== This is one of the many [[Indo-Pacific]] species of cone snail. It is found principally off the [[Solomon Islands]] but with a habitat ranging from the [[Philippines]] and eastern [[Indonesia]], through [[New Guinea]], and as far east as [[Samoa]] and [[Fiji]].<ref>[http://biology.burke.washington.edu/conus/recordview/record.php?ID=1225l4ll65lllll&tabs=21111111&frms=0&pglimit=G&offset=&res=gallst&srt=&sql2= Conus gloriamaris Chemnitz, 1777 - Description: CONUS BIODIVERSITY WEBSITE CATALOGUE]</ref>

==Gallery==

<gallery> File:Conus gloriamaris 1.jpg|''Conus gloriamaris'' Chemnitz, J.H., 1777 File:Conus gloriamaris 2.jpg|''Conus gloriamaris'' Chemnitz, J.H., 1777 File:Conus gloriamaris 3.jpg|''Conus gloriamaris'' Chemnitz, J.H., 1777 </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}} * Chemnitz, J. H. 1777. ''Von einer ausserordentlich seltenen Art walzenförmiger Tuten oder Kegelschnekken, welche den Namen Gloria maris führt''. Beschäftigungen der Berlinischen Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde 3:321-331, pl. 8. * Arianna Fulvo & Roberto Nistri (2005). ''350 coquillages du monde entier''. Delachaux et Niestlé (Paris) : 256 p. ({{ISBN|2-603-01374-2}}) * Rosenberg, G. 1992.'' Encyclopedia of Seashells''. Dorset: New York. 224 pp. page(s): 101 * Filmer R.M. (2001). ''A Catalogue of Nomenclature and Taxonomy in the Living Conidae 1758 - 1998''. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden. 388pp. * Tucker J.K. & Tenorio M.J. (2009) ''Systematic classification of Recent and fossil conoidean gastropods''. Hackenheim: Conchbooks. 296 pp. * Tucker J.K. (2009). ''Recent cone species database''. September 4, 2009 Edition. * [https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/mollus/eyu055 Puillandre N., Duda T.F., Meyer C., Olivera B.M. & Bouchet P. (2015). ''One, four or 100 genera? A new classification of the cone snails.'' Journal of Molluscan Studies. 81: 1-23]

==External links== {{Commons category|Conus gloriamaris}} * [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?lin=s&p=has_linkout&id=37336 ''Conus gloriamaris''] at [[National Center for Biotechnology Information]] (NCBI) * {{Gastropods.com|key=3|id=783|title=''Cylinder gloriamaris''|access-date=16 January 2019}} * [http://www.coneshells-am.ru/ Cone Shells - Knights of the Sea]

[[Category:Conus|gloriamaris]] [[Category:Gastropods described in 1777]] [[Category:Taxa named by Johann Hieronymus Chemnitz]]