All articles tagged with #cone snails
Cone snails are a diverse group of venomous sea snails that hunt with a harpoon-like tooth that injects neurotoxins, quickly paralyzing prey and sometimes causing death in humans; their striking shells attract collectors, but even empty shells can injure due to residual venom, so people are advised to avoid handling them and to photograph instead, with some areas even restricting shell removal.
A science feature surveys nature’s deadliest weapons—from the mantis shrimp’s 31 m/s punch that cavitates water and can crack shells, to the Dracula ant’s ultra-fast mandibles, the great white shark’s fearsome bite, and cone snail venoms—explaining how different delivery systems work, how venom potency is assessed by LD50, and how evolution shapes these weapons across animals and even plants and human culture.
Researchers at the University of Queensland have successfully reared deadly cone snails in a laboratory aquarium, revealing potential new venoms for drug development. The study found variations in the diet, behavior, and toxicity of cone snails throughout their lifecycle. Juvenile cone snails use a different cocktail of venoms than adult snails to kill their prey, and they primarily feed on polychaete worms. The researchers now have a sustainable system to study the life cycle and venoms of cone snails in a controlled environment.
A video on Reddit shows a person unknowingly holding one of the world's deadliest cone snails, which carry harpoons laced with a complex cocktail of neurotoxins that can instantly paralyze their prey. Cone snails have a modified tooth that forms a spear-like projectile they can use to inject venom, and each species produces its own unique blend of toxins that has evolved to target particular prey. Some species of cone snails also contain large amounts of a unique form of the hormone insulin in their venom, which can sedate their prey by giving them an overdose of insulin. It's best to admire things found on the beach from a safe distance and not touch predatory snails or sand dollars.