Cone snails
Geography cone, Conus geographus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Gastropoda Subclass: Orthogastropoda Superorder: Caenogastropoda Order: Sorbeoconcha Suborder: Hypsogastropoda Infraorder: Neogastropoda Superfamily: Conoidea Family: Conidae Linnaeus, 1758
Genera
Asprella Chelyconus Conus Floraconus Leptoconus Conus geographicus (a marine snail) Downloaded from : [[1]] Credits : Kerry Matz National Institute of General Medical Services File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Classes Caudofoveata Aplacophora Polyplacophora Monoplacophora Bivalvia Scaphopoda Gastropoda Cephalopoda † Rostroconchia † Helcionelloida † ?Bellerophontidae The molluscs (British spelling) or mollusks (American spelling) are members of the large and diverse phylum Mollusca, which includes a variety of familiar animals well-known for their decorative shells or as seafood. ... Subclasses Eogastropoda (True Limpets and relatives) Orthogastropoda The gastropods, also previously known as gasteropods, or univalves, and more commonly known as snails and slugs, are the largest and most successful class of mollusks, with 60,000-75,000 known living species. ... Infraclasses Apogastropoda Cocculiniformia Murchisoniina Neritopsina Vetigastropoda In their work, which has become a standard reference in the field, Ponder and Lindberg (1997) showed that the Orthogastropoda is one of two subclasses of the Gastropoda the class of molluscs, the other subclass being the Eogastropoda. ... Caenogastropoda Categories: Animal stubs ... Suborders Discopoda Murchisoniina Hypsogastropoda Sorbeoconcha is an order within the gastropod superorder Caenogastropoda. ... Hypsogastropoda is a suborder within the gastropod order Sorbeoconcha. ... Superfamilies Buccinoidea Cancellarioidea Conoidea Muricoidea The Neogastropoda used to be an order of prosobranch gastropods in the taxonomy of Thiele (1921). ... Families Conidae Terebridae Turridae Conoidea is a superfamily within the gastropod suborder Hypsogastropoda. ... Carl Linnaeus, Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as  , (May 13, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... Species See text. ... This article is about the animal. ...

The cone snails or cone shells, sometimes simply known as '"cones'", (family Conidae), are a taxonomic family of medium-sized to large, sophisticated predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks. Taxonomy (from Greek ταξινομία from the words taxis = order and nomos = law) may refer to either a hierarchical classification of things, or the principles underlying the classification. ... This snapping turtle is trying to make a meal of a Canada goose, but the goose is too wary. ... For other uses, see Snail (disambiguation). ... Marine is an umbrella term for things relating to the ocean, as with marine biology, marine geology, and as a term for a navy, etc. ... Subclass Subclass Eogastropoda     Patellogastropoda Subclass Orthogastropoda   Superorder Cocculiniformia   Superorder Hot Vent Taxa     Neomphaolida   Superorder Vetigastropoda   Superorder Neritaemorphi     Neritopsina   Superorder Caenogastropoda     Architaenioglossa     Sorbeoconcha   Superorder Heterobranchia     Heterostropha     Opisthobranchia     Pulmonata The gastropods, or univalves, are the largest and most successful class of mollusks, with 60,000-75,000 species, and second largest class... Classes Caudofoveata Aplacophora Polyplacophora - Chitons Monoplacophora Bivalvia - Bivalves Scaphopoda - Tusk shells Gastropoda - Snails and Slugs Cephalopoda - Squids, Octopuses, etc. ...

The shells of cone snails are shaped like an ice-cream cone. The narrow end of the cone shell is the anterior end, and the wide end shows the usually very low spire of the gastropod shell. A stack of sugar ice cream cones An ice cream cone or cornet is a cone-shaped pastry, usually made of a wafer similar in texture to a waffle, in which ice cream is served, allowing it to be eaten without a bowl or spoon. ... The Spire in a mollusc shell constitutes all the whorls of a spiral shell exclusive except for the body whorl. ... Shell of Zonitoides nitidus has dextral coiling. ...

These snails hunt and immobilize prey using something resembling a harpoon, which in this case is a modified radular tooth along with a poison gland containing neurotoxins. For other uses, see Harpoon (disambiguation) Harpoon gun redirects here. ... Transverse view of the buccal cavity with the radula Radula types chart. ... A neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells – neurons – usually by interacting with membrane proteins such as ion channels. ...

Cone venom shows great promise as a source of new, medically important, substances. Wasp sting, with droplet of venom Venom (literally, poison of animal origin) is any of a variety of toxins used by animals, for the purpose of defense and hunting. ...

The live animals, however, should be handled with considerable care, as all of them are capable of "stinging" humans with unpleasant results. The sting of a few of the larger species of tropical cones snails can be fatal to a human being.

The shells of cone snails are often brightly colored and intricately patterned.

Distribution

This family is confined to warm and tropical seas and oceans worldwide. There are about 500 different species.

Habitat

Many tropical cone snails live in or near coral reefs. Subtropical species may be found under rocks in the lower intertidal and shallow subtidal zones. Some of the biodiversity of a coral reef, in this case the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. ...

Shell description

The shells of cone snails are often brightly colored, and have interesting patterns, although in some species the color patterns may be partially or completely hidden under an opaque layer of periostracum. The periostracum is a thin organic coating forming the outer-most layer of the shell of many mollusks. ...

Some species of cone snails can grow up to 23 cm in length and are found in tropical or subtropical waters. A centimetre (American spelling centimeter, symbol cm) is a unit of length that is equal to one hundredth of a metre, the current SI base unit of length. ...

Life habits

Cone snails are carnivorous, generally eating marine worms, small fish, molluscs, and even other cone snails. Because cone snails are slow-moving, they use a venomous harpoon (called a toxoglossan radula) to capture faster-moving prey such as fish. The venom of a few larger species is powerful enough to kill a human being. Carnivorism redirects here. ... For other uses, see Worm (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Fish (disambiguation). ... Classes Caudofoveata Aplacophora Polyplacophora - Chitons Monoplacophora Bivalvia - Bivalves Scaphopoda - Tusk shells Gastropoda - Snails and Slugs Cephalopoda - Squids, Octopuses, etc. ... It has been suggested that Snake poison be merged into this article or section. ... For other uses, see Harpoon (disambiguation) Harpoon gun redirects here. ... Transverse view of the buccal cavity with the radula Radula types chart. ... Human beings are defined variously in biological, spiritual, and cultural terms, or in combinations thereof. ...

Harpoon and venom

The cone snail's harpoon is a modification of the radula, an organ in molluscs which acts as both tongue and teeth. The harpoon is hollow and barbed, and is attached to the tip of the radula inside the snail's throat. When the snail detects a prey animal nearby, it turns its mouth - a long flexible tube called a proboscis - towards the prey. The harpoon is loaded with venom and, still attached to the radula, is fired from the proboscis into the prey by a powerful muscular contraction. The venom paralyzes small fish almost instantly. The snail then retracts the radula, drawing the subdued prey into the mouth. After the prey is digested, the cone snail will regurgitate any indigestible material such as spines and scales, along with the disposable harpoon. Transverse view of the buccal cavity with the radula Radula types chart. ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... A humans visible teeth. ... In general, a proboscis (from Greek pro before and boskein to feed) is an elongated appendage from the head of an animal. ...

The venom of cone snails contains hundreds of different compounds, and its composition varies widely from one species of cone snail to another. The toxins in these various venoms are called conotoxins. These are various peptides, each targeting a specific nerve channel or receptor. Some cone snail venoms also contain a pain-reducing toxin, which the snail uses to pacify the victim before immobilising and then killing it. Some cone snail venoms contain a tetrodotoxin, which is similar to the paralytic neurotoxins found in pufferfish, the blue-ringed octopus, and the Rough-skinned Newt. A conotoxin is one of a group of neurotoxic peptides isolated from the venom of the marine cone snail. ... Peptides (from the Greek πεπτος, digestible), are the family of short molecules formed from the linking, in a defined order, of various α-amino acids. ... Tetrodotoxin (anhydrotetrodotoxin 4-epitetrodotoxin, tetrodonic acid, TTX) is a potent neurotoxin with no known antidote, which blocks action potentials in nerves by binding to the pores of the voltage-gated, fast sodium channels in nerve cell membranes. ... (noun) paralytic (a person suffering from paralysis) (adj) paralytic, paralytical (relating to the nature of paralysis) paralytic symptoms (adj) paralytic, paralyzed (affected or subject to paralysis) Drugs which induce paralization are called paralytics, such as Vecuronium, Pancuronium, & Succinylcholine. ... A neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells – neurons – usually by interacting with membrane proteins such as ion channels. ... Genera Amblyrhynchotes Arothron Auriglobus Canthigaster Carinotetraodon Chelonodon Colomesus Contusus Ephippion Feroxodon Fugu Gastrophysus Javichthys Lagocephalus Liosaccus Marilyna Monotretus Omegaphora Pelagocephalus Polyspina Reicheltia Sphoeroides Takifugu Tetractenos Tetraodon Torquigener Tylerius Xenopterus For species see Genera articles. ... Species See text. ... Binomial name Taricha granulosa // Subspecies Species Granulosa is divided into two subspecies: Rough-Skinned newt (Taricha granulosa granulosa) Crater Lake Rough-Skinned newt (Taricha granulosa mazamae) A newt with pebbly, non-slimy skin, that is light brown to black on top and yellow to orange on its belly, is most...

Relevance to humans

The risk of being stung

A live Textile cone, Conus textile, one of the three most dangerous cones to handle.

The bright colours and patterns of cone snails are attractive to the eye, and therefore people sometimes pick up the live animals and hold them in their hand for a while. This is not a safe thing to do, because the snail may fire its harpoon in self-defense. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 423 KB) A Textile Cone Snail (Conus textile) Location: Cod Hole, Great Barrier Reef, Australia Date: 7 August 2005 Photographer: Richard Ling <richard@research. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 423 KB) A Textile Cone Snail (Conus textile) Location: Cod Hole, Great Barrier Reef, Australia Date: 7 August 2005 Photographer: Richard Ling <richard@research. ...

The "sting" of many of the smaller cone species is no worse than that of a bee or hornet sting, but in the case of a few of the larger tropical species, handling the snail can have tragic consequences. About 30 human deaths have been recorded from cone snail envenomation.

One species, the Geography cone, Conus geographus, is also known colloquially as the "cigarette snail," in the belief that the victim will have only enough time to smoke a cigarette before perishing. Especially in the case of these larger species of cone snail, the harpoon can penetrate gloves and even wetsuits. // Leather gloves A glove (Middle English from Old English glof) is a type of garment (and more specifically a fashion accessory) which covers the hand of a human. ... A surfer in a wetsuit. ...

Symptoms of a cone snail sting include intense pain, swelling, numbness and tingling. Symptoms can start immediately or can be delayed in onset for days. Severe cases involve muscle paralysis, changes in vision and respiratory failure that can lead to death. There is no antivenom, and treatment involves providing life support until the venom is metabolised by the victim. “Hurting” redirects here. ... Paralysed redirects here. ... In psychology, visual perception is the ability to interpret visible light information reaching the eyes which is then made available for planning and action. ... Respiratory failure is a medical term for inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system. ... For other uses, see Death (disambiguation), Dead (disambiguation), Death (band) or Deceased (band). ... Antivenom (or antivenin, or antivenene) is a biological product used in the treatment of venomous bites or stings. ... Life support, in the medical field, refers to a set of therapies for preserving a patients life when essential body systems are not functioning sufficiently to sustain life unaided. ...

Medical use of the venom

The venom of some cone snails, such as the Magician cone, Conus magus, shows much promise for providing a non-addictive pain reliever 1000 times as powerful as, and possibly a replacement for, morphine. Many peptides produced by the cone snails show prospects for being potent pharmaceuticals, such as AVC1, isolated from the Australian species, the Queen Victoria cone, Conus victoriae. This has proved very effective in treating post-surgical and neuropathic pain, even accelerating recovery from nerve injury. The first painkiller Ziconotide derived from cone snail toxins was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December 2004 under the name "Prialt". Other drugs are in clinical and preclinical trials, such as compounds of the toxin that may be used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy. This article is about the drug. ... Pharmacology (in Greek: pharmacon is drug, and logos is science) is the study of how chemical substances interfere with living systems. ... Ziconotide is a non-opioid, non local anesthetic used for the amelioration of chronic pain. ... “FDA” redirects here. ...

Shell collecting

Because of the intricate color patterns of cone shells, they have been called the most popular collectible shells.^{[1] [2]} Conus gloriamaris, the Glory of the Seas cone, was historically one of the most famous and sought-after seashells, with only a few specimens known which led to specimens changing hands at high prices until its habitat was finally discovered and sizable populations were located.^[3] Conchology is the scientific study of shells of mollusks, a branch of malacology. ...

As jewelry

Naturally-occuring, beachworn, cone shell "tops" (the broken-off spire of the shell, which often has a hole worn at the tip) can function as beads without any further modification. In Hawaii these natural beads were traditionally collected from the beach drift in order to make puka shell jewelry. Official language(s) English, Hawaiian Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Area  Ranked 43rd  - Total 10,931 sq mi (29,311 km²)  - Width n/a miles (n/a km)  - Length 1,522 miles (2,450 km)  - % water 41. ... Puka shells are pieces of a Cone Snail shell. ...

Because it is hard to find enough of these naturally occuring cone tops, almost all modern puka shell jewelry uses cheaper imitations, cut from thin shells of other species of mollusk, or even made of plastic.

Footnotes

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Conidae

• Cone snail and conotoxins page
• One slip, and you’re dead... (Nature news article)
• The Conus Biodiversity website
• Conidae from worldwide.conchology.com. Scroll down for many photographs.
• Pain-killer comes out of its shell (The Age news article)
• Venomous snails aid medical science (BBC News Article).
• ConeShell Collection Giancarlo Paganelli
• Cone Snail Video