Domain Eukarya

        Kingdom Animalia

                Phylum Mollusca

                        Class Gastropoda

                                Order Sorbeoconcha

                                        Family Conidae

                                                Genus Conus

                                                        Species Conus magus

The classification of Conus magus into each of these groups has come from its shared characteristics with the other organisms that fall under these categories as well. Below are some of the shared characteristics that have classified the Magician's Cone Snail into each of its categories.  

Domain: Eukarya - Like all other eukaryotes Conus magus is made up of cells that contain membrane bound organelles, including a true nucleus, in each of its cells.  

Kingdom: Animalia - Each organism within the kingdom, Animalia, are multi-cellular, made up of more than one cell, and ingest other organisms for nutrition and energy, as does Conus magus.  

Phylum: Mollusca - Conus magus, like the other members of the molluscs, has a soft-body consisting of three parts. It also has a mantel that secretes a protective shell made of calcium carbonate.  

Class: Gastropoda - This Class includes slugs and snails, like Conus magus, that possess a spiral shell that allows them to pull their body into if they feel threatened. They also have a distinct head with eyes.  

Order: Sorbeoconcha - Like other members of Sorbeoconcha, Conus magus lives in a marine environment and possesses gills for respiration.  

Family: Conidae - Each organism within the family Conidae, including Conus magus, are predatory snails that capture their prey using their modified radula and venom.

Genus: Conus - Conus magus, like other members of the genus Conus, is a resident of tropical environments. They have geometrically shaped shells that are often times intricately and colorfully patterned. All members of this genus fall under the common name Cone Snail because of the cone shape of their shell.   

Species: Conus magus, or more commonly the Magician's Cone Snail, is known for its use of conotoxins to block calcium channels in the brain of its prey to first immobilize it and then capture and consume it. The name, Magician's Cone Snail, comes directly from the Latin scientific name, Conus magus. Conus meaning cone and magus meaning sorcerer, or  magician, together mean the Magician's Cone.

Classification helps to determine what other organisms Conus magus is related to and how they are related. To get a better idea of how the species fits into the bigger picture of life be sure to check out its phylogeny in the Ancestry.

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                                                                                                                        Created by Kayla Haas, BIO 203                        To Check out other organism websites visit                            University of Wisconsin-La Crosse                                www.multipleorganisms.net                                                                  www.uwlax.edu