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Conidae
(redirected from Cone snail)

    Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
Conidae [′kän·ə‚dē]
(invertebrate zoology)
A family of marine gastropod mollusks in the order Neogastropoda containing the poisonous cone shells.
Conidae 

a family of marine gastropods. The shell is from 2 to 16 cm, conical in shape, and brightly multicolored. There are approximately 700 species. They inhabit tropical and subtropical seas. Conidae are predators who attack invertebrates. The radula is equipped with poison fangs, inside which there is a canal for the secretions of special poison glands. The similarity of the poison fangs of Conidae and those of snakes is an example of convergent development (convergence). The bite of Conidae is very painful, and in humans it causes elevated temperature and inflammation of the affected site. The shells of Conidae are used as decorations.
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In protein sequence and structure, anntoxin was very similar to dendrotoxins (the venoms found in cobras and other mamba snakes) and cone snail toxins, though anntoxin only has two disulfide bridges (a strong link that helps keep proteins folded) compared to three in the other types.
Scientists discover first protein-based amphibian toxin in Chinese ... by Asian News International
Already, toxins from a Brazilian viper have provided the key molecule for blood pressure--lowering drugs known as ACE inhibitors, and a medication based on cone snail venom alleviates types of chronic pain that even morphine can't touch.
Venom hunters: scientists probe toxins, revealing the healing powers ... by Sanders, Laura / Science News
Around 500 species of cone snail live in waters around French Polynesia in the southern Pacific.
A snail's pace to find cure by The Mirror (London, England)
 
 
 
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