Conus tulipa

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Conus tulipa
Gastridium tulipa 01.jpg
Five views of shell of Conus tulipaLinnaeus, C., 1758
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Conoidea
Family: Conidae
Genus: Conus
Species:
C. tulipa
Binomial name
Conus tulipa
Synonyms [1]
  • Chelyconus borbonicusAdams, H.G., 1868
  • Conus (Gastridium) tulipaLinnaeus, 1758 · accepted, alternate representation
  • Conus borbonicusH. Adams, 1868
  • Coronaxis nebulosaSwainson, 1840 (invalid: secondary junior homonym of Conus nebulosusGmelin, 1791)
  • Cucullus purpureusRöding, 1798
  • Gastridium tulipa(Linnaeus, 1758)

Conus tulipa, common name the tulip cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies. [1]

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.

A class of conopeptides named rho-TIA was discovered in Conus tulipa in 2001. [2] This class of conopeptides targets (react with) alpha1-adrenergic receptors. [2]

Description

The size of the shell varies between 45 mm and 95 mm. The shell is variegated with violet and white, clouded with chestnut, with numerous revolving rows of minute chestnut and white articulations. The interior of the aperture is violaceous. [3]

Conantokin-T is a toxin derived from the venom of Conus tulipa.

Distribution

The marine species occurs in the Indo-Western Pacific.

Feeding habits

Conus tulipa preys on fishes. [2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Conus tulipa Linnaeus, 1758. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 March 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 Sharpe, I. A.; Gehrmann, J.; Loughnan, M. L.; Thomas, L.; Adams, D. A.; Atkins, A.; Palant, E.; Craik, D. J.; Adams, D. J.; Alewood, P. F.; Lewis, R. J. (2001). "Two new classes of conopeptides inhibit the alpha1-adrenoceptor and noradrenaline transporter". Nature Neuroscience . 4 (9): 902–907. doi:10.1038/nn0901-902. PMID   11528421. S2CID   23799867.
  3. G.W. Tryon (1884) Manual of Conchology, structural and systematic, with illustrations of the species, vol. VI; Philadelphia, Academy of Natural Sciences