Conus

Conus are among the most characteristic molluscs of Recent tropical and subtropical seas, although a few species are present in cooler waters (e.g. Victoria; northern New Zealand). The earliest definite New Zealand record of the family is from the Bortonian (Hampden Beach); at least three species are known from the Kaiatan and Runangan, but there are very few records from the Landon Series. Cones are relatively common and diverse from Otaian to Clifdenian and rather less so from Lillburnian to Kapitean. Thereafter the family almost completely disappears from the fossil record, presumably because of late Cenozoic cooling.