(Cleaned)

(With periostracum)

Conus legatus, Iindo-Pacific specie, is a really collector's appreciated coneshell. Maybe for it's pretty pink color. I personally love this specie. It is a rare coneshell.

Here, in Tahiti, it can be found outside the reef or in the lagoon under small dead corals plates. It's habitat seems to start around 12 meters, however they have been found in only one meter of water, near the edge of the reef.
So it is often found while scuba. It only hunts at night. It is not hard to find it during daytime, because it rarely burrows (like C. canonicus for example). You just have to flip small & medium dead coral fragments.

Normally they are small shells, but shells found at more than 40mm, can be considerated as very big ones. I know that in La Reunion Island (Indian Ocean) it can easily reach 50mm (sometime 60mm). But here in Tahiti,
more than 35mm is considered a monster !! My biggest specimens is 37mm and it is the biggest one found around Tahiti & Moorea, so...

The periostracum is thin, and you can guess it's beautiful colors even live (check the picture).
Of course, the nice dark fresh color will turn to a clear pinky one.

I hope you'll enjoy this small article. If any of you want to add any comments, feel free to e-mail me and i'll update this page.

Bye all,

DAVID TOUITOU

37mm - 33.5mm - 29mm - Tahiti & Moorea