Aruba has three types of protected endemic snail species.

In previous editions, you could read information about the shells Conasprella wendrosi and Conus hieroglyphus, also known as Arubaconus hieroglyphus, from local researchers. The Conus curassaviensis is the third marine salmon species endemic to Aruba. It is a sea snail species in the family Conidae. It is a living animal in a shell that we call the snail of the genus Conus, and it is a venomous.  With the radula, which resembles a small harpoon, they can stab people or their prey. They secrete the venom to defend themselves or to paralyze and eat their prey.

The radula of this species differs from that of the other species in the group Conus cedonulli; it is taller. They have a variation of bark colors: white with black spots, orange/red with white, and brown with white. The shield feels sturdy but has rough end lines. The shell appears to have a beak. This cocoon can grow to be about 5 centimeters long.

Although the scientific name includes the word curassaviensis, which refers to the island of Curaçao, you can only find this species in Aruba. Documentation from 1742 explains the etymological origin of the name. At depths of 2 to 9 meters, the species inhabits coarse white sand next to coral. 

DNM thanks the local researcher, Leo Ros, for contributing the information and documentation. The local researcher, along with international researcher David P. Berschauer, helped DNM with photographs of the three species of snails endemic to Aruba. This information may contribute to the conservation of the Arashi area; the species’ habitat. The request to the community at large is not to consider these as souvenirs or trinkets, and not to sell them to collectors.