The cone snails or cone shells (family Conidae) are marine snails found in coral reefs. 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. ... The name snail applies to most members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled shells. ... Some of the biodiversity of a coral reef. ...

Cone snails can grow up to 23 cm in length and are found in tropical waters. There are about 500 different species. They 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 catch fast-moving prey such as fish. The venom of some species is powerful enough to kill a human being. 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. ... This tigers sharp teeth and strong jaws are the classical physical traits expected from carnivorous mammalian predators A carnivore (IPA: ), meaning meat eater (Latin carne meaning flesh and vorare meaning to devour), is an animal that eats a diet consisting mainly of meat, whether it comes from live animals... Click here for Computer worm For other uses, see Worm (disambiguation). ... A giant grouper at the Georgia Aquarium Fish are aquatic vertebrates that are typically cold-blooded; covered with scales, and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins. ... 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. ... Radula is the scientific name for the toothed chitinous ribbon in the mouth of gastropods. ... 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 undigestible material such as spines and scales, along with the disposable harpoon. Radula is the scientific name for the toothed chitinous ribbon in the mouth of gastropods. ... 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. ... The visible teeth of a smile. ... 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 and 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 Hapalochlaena fasciata Hapalochlaena lunulata Hapalochlaena maculosa ?Hapalochlaena nierstraszi The blue-ringed octopuses (genus Hapalochlaena) are three or four small octopus species that live in tide pools in the Pacific Ocean, from Japan to Australia. ... 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...

Danger to humans

Textile cone, Conus textile

The bright colours and patterns of cone snails have led curious or inquisitive people to pick them up, sometimes with tragic consequences when the snail fires its harpoon in self-defense. About 30 human deaths have been recorded from cone snail envenomation. One species, Conus geographus, is known colloquially as the "cigarette snail," in the belief that the victim will have only enough time to smoke a cigarette before perishing. The harpoon can penetrate gloves or even wetsuits. 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 involved 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. 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. ... // Long satin gloves Leather gloves A glove (Middle English from Old English glof) is a type of garment which covers the hand of a human. ... A surfer in a wetsuit. ... Hurting redirects here. ... Paralysis is the complete loss of muscle function for one or more muscle groups. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... Respiratory failure is a medical term for inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... 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

The venom of some cone snails, such as the magician cone snail, show 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 cone shell 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. 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 does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... 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 logo The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is responsible for regulating food, dietary supplements, drugs, biological medical products, blood products, medical devices, radiation-emitting devices, veterinary products, and cosmetics in the United States. ...

Collection

Because of the intricate color patterns of cone shells, they have been called the most popular collectible shells.^[1] Conus gloriamaris^[2], the Glory of the Seas, was one of the most famous and sought-after seashells, with only a few specimens known, until sizable populations were discovered.^[3] Conchology is the collection and study of the shells of mollusks. ...

Eroded cone shells are also collected (and mimicked) to make puka shell jewelry. Puka shells are pieces of a Cone Snail shell. ...

External links

• 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