Conus imperialis Linnaeus, 1758
Imperial cone, 94mm

Conus imperialis is relatively common in a variety of lagoon and seaward reef habitats. We see them exposed or under rocks on hard reefs, in flake-sand-filled surge channels, or in patches of lagoon Halimeda algae. Tiny young ones are often found buried in the flake sand of seaward reef surge channels. This species is reported to feed primarily, perhaps exclusively, on bristleworms.

Like most other cones, Conus imperialis lays its egg capsules on the undersurfaces of rocks or in algae.

Due to its often exposed lifestyle, the shell usually has a heavy coating of growth.

Several shots of a juvenile found in a Kwajalein lagoon algae patch at a depth of about 8m.

Created 4 July 2009
Updated 12 March 2020

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