Conus ermineus

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Conus ermineus
Conus ermineus 1.jpg
Apertural and abapertural views of shell of Conus ermineusBorn, I. von, 1778
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Conoidea
Family: Conidae
Genus: Conus
Species:
C. ermineus
Binomial name
Conus ermineus
Born, 1778
Synonyms [2]
  • Chelyconus ermineus(Born, 1778)
  • Conus (Chelyconus) ermineusBorn, 1778 · accepted, alternate representation
  • Conus aspersus G. B. Sowerby II, 1833
  • Conus caerulans Küster, 1838
  • Conus coerulescens Schröter, 1803
  • Conus eques Hwass in Bruguière, 1792
  • Conus grayiReeve, 1844
  • Conus inquinatus Reeve, 1849
  • Conus leaeneusLink, 1807
  • Conus luzonicusHwass in Bruguière, 1792
  • Conus narcissusLamarck, 1810
  • Conus oculatusGmelin, 1791
  • Conus perryaeClench, 1942
  • Conus portoricanusHwass in Bruguière, 1792
  • Conus rudisWeinkauff, 1873
  • Conus testudinariusHwass in Bruguière, 1792
  • Conus verrucosus piraticusClench, 1942
  • Cucullus barathrum Röding, 1798
  • Cucullus cruciferRöding, 1798
  • Cucullus cutisanguinaRöding, 1798

Conus ermineus, common name the turtle cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies. [2]

Contents

Like all species within the genus Conus, these snails are predatory and venomous. They are capable of stinging humans, therefore live ones should be handled carefully or not at all.

Conus ermineus Born, I. von, 1778 Conus ermineus 2.jpg
Conus ermineusBorn, I. von, 1778

Distribution

This species occurs in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico to South America; in the Atlantic Ocean off West Africa and the Cape Verdes; in the Indian Ocean off Tanzania.

Description

The maximum recorded shell length is 103 mm. [3]

Conantokin-E is a toxin derived from the venom of Conus ermineus.

It is a fishing eating species. Utilizes specialized hollow harpoon like radula tooth to harpoon small fish and paralyze them with venom to facilitate swallowing.

Habitat

Minimum recorded depth is 0 m. [3] Maximum recorded depth is 101 m. [3]

Fresh-dead, crabbed shells are known from traps set at 150 metres depth: West coast Barbados.

Venom

Conus ermineus is a venomous species and capable of stinging humans, so it should be treated with caution. A delta-conotoxin (delta-EVIA) isolated from the venom of C. ermineus inhibits the inactivation of vertebrate Na + neural channels. [4]

References

  1. ↑ Petuch, E. (2013). "Conus ermineus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T192578A2119510. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T192578A2119510.en . Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  2. 1 2 Conus ermineus Born, 1778. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 March 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 Welch J. J. (2010). "The "Island Rule" and Deep-Sea Gastropods: Re-Examining the Evidence". PLoS ONE 5(1): e8776. doi : 10.1371/journal.pone.0008776.
  4. ↑ Barbier, Julien; Lamthanh, Hung; Le Gall, Frédéric; Favreau, Philippe; Benoit, Evelyne; Chen, Haijun; Gilles, Nicolas; Ilan, Nitza; Heinemann, Stefan H.; Gordon, Dalia; Ménez, André (6 February 2004). "A delta-conotoxin from Conus ermineus venom inhibits inactivation in vertebrate neuronal Na+ channels but not in skeletal and cardiac muscles". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 279 (6): 4680–4685. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M309576200 . ISSN   0021-9258. PMID   14615484. S2CID   23432288.


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