What are the functions of cone snails?

Cone snails are mainly distributed in coastal areas and countries with developed ocean lines. The cone snail is named because its shape and appearance resemble a chicken heart. Don't underestimate such a small thing. It is a marine creature that contains highly toxic venom. If you are exposed to its venom, you will lose your life. However, everything has two sides. Although the cone snail contains highly toxic substances, research has found that the highly toxic ingredients contained in the cone snail can be made into medicines, which are of great help in the treatment of some diseases. Although I have said so much, I believe many friends are not very familiar with the word cone snail. The following article will give you a brief introduction to the cone snail.

The first morphological feature

Cone snail is a general term for various cone snails. Class Gastropoda, Family Conidae. The shell is conical or fusiform, the spiral part is generally small and low, and the body whorl is long and large. The shell surface is covered with yellow skin, various patterns and spots, and the shell opening is long and narrow. The operculum is horny, small and cannot cover the shell opening. The shell is thin and pointed at the front and thick at the back. The snail body is in the shape of an inverted cone, shaped like a chicken heart or taro.

The shell is solid, fusiform, with the opening wider near the base than near the shoulder. The top of the shell is flat, or has a protruding spiral part. Some shells have smooth surfaces, while others have spiral decorations. The colors and patterns are colorful.

Second life habit

When hunting, the cone snail buries its body in the sand, leaving only its long nose exposed. This not only allows them to obtain oxygen, but also allows them to monitor the movements of their prey. There is a very small opening hidden at its tip, from which a poisonous needle, scientifically called a "harpoon", can be shot out, which is enough to kill the victim. The cone snail has a flexible "hypodermic syringe" connected to a sac filled with toxins in its body, which can quickly inject the toxins into the body of its prey within a few seconds. Before being attacked by the cone snail, the fish relied on its biological nervous system to control its body. After the cone snail pierces the fish's body with its needle, it stops the fish from struggling in less than a second. Then, the toxin launches the first round of attack, quickly entering the chemical valve that controls the fish's nerve signals, keeping the valve open for a long time, allowing the toxin to continuously invade the fish's body.

The physiologically active substances produced by cone snails are an important source for humans to develop new drugs and treat major human diseases. Therefore, it has important implications for future drug development for humans.