Description

Miocene

Wettendorf Formation

Muter-Torlon, Germany

Excellent 0.8 inch mollusc with the original color pattern preserved. Highly unusual

Other Mollusc

Conus is a genus of predatory sea snail (the cone snails) containing more than 500 modern species.  It dates back to the Early Eocene of Europe which was tropical at the time and it remains a tropical-to-subtropical group.

Conus uses its radula like a blow dart, shooting out and delivering a potent venom to immobilize its prey (often various worms).  The larger cone snails produce a venom strong enough to kill a human.  That’s nasty.