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Journal Molluscan Studies Advance Access originally published online on April 26, 2007
Journal of Molluscan Studies 2007 73(2):123-127; doi:10.1093/mollus/eym005
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© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Malacological Society of London, all rights reserved

How much can Conus swallow? observations on molluscivorous species

Yuri Kantor

A.N. Severtzov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, 33 Leninski Prospect 33, Moscow 119071, Russia

Correspondence: M.A. López; e-mail: kantor{at}malaco-sevin.msk.ru


  Abstract

Feeding of three species of molluscivorous Conus, C. textile, C. bandanus and C. omaria, was studied in aquaria. Conus spp. are able to kill and remove from the shell prey larger than themselves. Also, Conus swallowed prey with weight up to half that of the predator. Estimates suggest that molluscivorous species of Conus are probably able to swallow prey with a shell volume reaching 85% of that of the predator, depending on the shape of the prey's body. It is confirmed that the thinning of the inner shell walls in Conus is connected with the ability to swallow voluminous prey. Digestion of prey occurs in both the oesophagus and stomach.

(Received 9 August 2006; accepted 4 January 2007)


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