The Conus hieroglyphus, locally referred to as Arubaconus hieroglyphus, is a marine gastropod mollusk from the Conidae family and is endemic to Aruba—meaning it’s found nowhere else in the world.
Though the name Arubaconus hieroglyphus is commonly used by local researchers, it has not yet been officially recognized internationally. The species is exclusively located off Arashi beach, at shallow depths between 4 to 6 meters in sandy areas near dead coral reefs or rocky terrain.
The shell of the Arubaconus is spiral-shaped, ending in a sharp pink point, and features rough ridges with black, brown, and white blotches. Adult specimens grow up to 21 millimeters. Inside the shell lives the animal, commonly referred to as a sea slug (slak).
Like all species in the Conus genus, Arubaconus is venomous. It uses a specialized harpoon-like tooth called a radular tooth to inject venom into prey, which is then paralyzed before being consumed. After feeding, the snail ejects the remnants along with the used tooth and regenerates a new one. Natural predators of the cone snail include sea turtles, octopuses, rays, crabs, and lobsters.
Unfortunately, the species is threatened by tourism development, especially through the destruction of its habitat. Activities such as dredging and shell collecting by beachgoers further reduce their population. Due to their small size and unique appearance, some are illegally exported and sold to shell collectors on the international market.
