Cone snails are marine animals that
kill their prey with poisonous venom containing conotoxins. Conotoxins affect
ion channels and neurotransmitters in the body and the lethal effect in the
humans cause paralysis of the diaphragm that eventually results in respiratory
arrest. In the homeland security field conotoxins such as; κ-conotoxins,α-conotoxins and δ-conotoxins could be used as aeroaols. However, numerous
technical problems need to be solved to weaponize the conotoxins.
Cone
snails belong to the phylum Mollusca, the class Gastropoda, the order
Sorbeoconcha, and the family Conidae, and the genus Conus. The shells of thecone snails are spiral and conic, hence their name. Cone snails are found in
warm seas and oceans throughout the world but are mostly in the Indo-West
Pacific region. There are approximately 700 species of cone snails and all are
carnivores. Most cone snails are nocturnal hunters. Different species
specialize in eating fish, worms (e.g. polychaete), or other mollusks. The cone
snails that eat fish are piscivores. Molluscivores eat other snails.
Worm-eating cone snails are vermivores.