Glory-of-the-seas Cone, Conus gloriamaris

This formerly rare marine species belongs to a huge family of carnivorous snails that use powerful venoms to paralyze their prey. Depending on the species, their target can be fish, worms or other mollusks. Strong demand for their gorgeously patterned shells among nineteenth-century collectors led to the creation of convincing fakes from wood, clay or other shells. Most specimens nowadays are from the Philippines, where the species lives in moderately deep water and is active at night.