CONCO

The CONCO project is focused on the study of the marine cone snail species Conus consors. These venomous gastropods are members of the Conidae family which counts approximately 700 species. They are well-known for their hunting abilities, feeding on worms, molluscs or fishes. These predators which are equipped with an extremely sophisticated venomous apparatus, can inject a powerful cocktail of venoms that paralyses or kills the prey.

The venom duct which has a three-fold long shell size is connected from venom gland on one side to the harpoon on the other side. A muscular gland controlling the whole is able to project the harpoon tooth out of shell. Several disposable harpoons are stored in a radular sack while others are being matured.

Schematic view of the cone snail's venom apparatus by Dietrich Mebs:
(A) Venom apparatus and organs involved:
a. harpoon sack; b. venom gland; c. pharynx; d. proboscis; e. siphon; f. eye stalks
(B) Venom harpoon
(C) Close-up illustration of a venom harpoon

When the snail detects a prey animal nearby, it loads its harpoon tooth with venom and injects it from the proboscis into the victim by a powerful muscular contraction. The venom contains a cocktail of toxins, called conotoxins, which target the nerve centres bringing about a partial or total paralysis of the prey. In the case of those cone snails that spear fish (like Conus consors) the fish dies immediately. The snail then crawls up and engulfs the prey.

Cone snail in the act of hunting by J-J. Soin