Conus circumcisus Born, 1778
Circumcised cone, 83mm

Conus circumcisus is a highly variable fish-eating cone shell that lives primarily on lagoon pinnacles, although it can occasionally be found on large patch reefs along the interisland reef. During the day it hides deep in rubble or back in caves and is rarely seen, but it not especially rare at night. The shells are rather cylindrical in shape and can have either a smooth or rugose surface. Coloration also seems to consistently differ between the smooth and rugose forms, so it would be worthwhile examining this species again in more detail to determine if indeed they are all one. We already split off a form found only on the seaward reef under Conus brazieri. Differences between the two are discussed under that species.

Below is one of the more rugose specimens. These also tend to lack the dark spots, instead spiral lines and patche of darker color. And look at the spires. Are these really the same?

The animal below was a large one, observed at night on 19 June 2010 on a Kwajalein Atoll lagoon pinnacle.

Created 4 July 2009
Updated 1 August 2010

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