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Conus ventricosus Gmelin, 1791
Conus ventricosus, common name the Mediterranean cone, is a sea snail in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.
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.
Synonymised names:
Conus (Lautoconus) ventricosus Gmelin, 1791· accepted, alternate representation
Conus adansonii Lamarck, 1810
Conus adriaticus Nardo, 1847
Conus amazonicus Nardo, 1847
Conus cailliaudii Jay, 1846
Conus chersoideus Nardo, 1847
Conus cinctus Bosc, 1801
Conus clodianus Nardo, 1847
Conus cretheus Nardo, 1847
Conus epaphus Nardo, 1847
Conus epaticus Renier, 1804 (unavailable name: published in a work placed on the Official Index of Invalid and Rejected Specific Names in Zoology by ICZN Opinion 316)
Conus errosus Renier, 1804 (unavailable name: published in a work placed on the Official Index of Invalid and Rejected Specific Names in Zoology by ICZN Opinion 316)
Conus fortis Renier, 1804 (unavailable name: published in a work placed on the Official Index of Invalid and Rejected Specific Names in Zoology by ICZN Opinion 316)
Conus galloprovincialis Locard, 1886
Conus galloprovincialis var. lineolata Locard & Caziot, 1900 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus lineolatus Valenciennes, 1832)
Conus galloprovincialis var. minor Locard & Caziot, 1900 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus ventricosus var. minor Monterosato, 1878)
Conus galloprovincialis var. producta Coen, 1933
Conus galloprovincialis var. turrita Coen, 1933
Conus glaucescens G. B. Sowerby I, 1834
Conus grossii Maravigna, 1853 (synonym)
Conus guestieri Lorois, 1860
Conus hanleyi G. B. Sowerby II, 1857
Conus herillus Nardo, 1847
Conus humilis von Salis Marschlins, 1793
Conus ignobilis Olivi, 1792 (synonym)
Conus ignobilis var. rufa Scacchi, 1836
Conus inaequalis Reeve, 1849
Conus intermedius Lamarck, 1810
Conus istriensis Nardo, 1847
Conus jamaicensis Hwass in Bruguière, 1792
Conus jaspis Salis Marschlins, 1793 (synonym)
Conus listeri Renier, 1804 (unavailable name: published in a work placed on the Official Index of Invalid and Rejected Specific Names in Zoology by ICZN Opinion 316)
Conus madurensis Hwass in Bruguière, 1792
Conus mediterraneus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792
Conus mediterraneus f. gaudiosus Nicolay, 1978 (unavailable name: established as a "form" after 1960)
Conus mediterraneus var. acuta Requien, 1848
Conus mediterraneus var. alalmus de Gregorio, 1885
Conus mediterraneus var. alba Coen, 1933 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus virgo alba Spalowsky, 1795)
Conus mediterraneus var. albina Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1882
Conus mediterraneus var. alticonica Pallary, 1904 (synonym)
Conus mediterraneus var. amigus de Gregorio, 1885
Conus mediterraneus var. arenaria Monterosato, 1917
Conus mediterraneus var. ater Philippi, 1836
Conus mediterraneus var. atra Philippi, 1844 (synonym)
Conus mediterraneus var. caerulescens Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1883
Conus mediterraneus var. carinata Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1884 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus carinatus Swainson, 1822)
Conus mediterraneus var. castanea Coen, 1933
Conus mediterraneus var. debilis Monterosato, 1917
Conus mediterraneus var. elongata Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1885
Conus mediterraneus var. elpus de Gregorio, 1885
Conus mediterraneus var. emisus de Gregorio, 1885
Conus mediterraneus var. fasciata Requien, 1848 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus fasciatus Schröter, 1803, and several others)
Conus mediterraneus var. flammulata Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1882
Conus mediterraneus var. flavescens Coen, 1933 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus flavescens G.B. Sowerby I, 1834)
Conus mediterraneus var. fusca Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1882
Conus mediterraneus var. interrupta Coen, 1933 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus interruptus Wood, 1828)
Conus mediterraneus var. lutea Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1882 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus luteus G.B. Sowerby I, 1833)
Conus mediterraneus var. major Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1882
Conus mediterraneus var. marmoratus Philippi, 1836 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus marmoratus Holten, 1802)
Conus mediterraneus var. minor Monterosato, 1878
Conus mediterraneus var. oblonga Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1882
Conus mediterraneus var. obtusa Requien, 1848
Conus mediterraneus var. pallida Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1882
Conus mediterraneus var. pereirae de Gregorio, 1885
Conus mediterraneus var. persistens Kobelt, 1906
Conus mediterraneus var. pretunculus Monterosato, 1917
Conus mediterraneus var. rubens Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1882
Conus mediterraneus var. rufatra de Gregorio, 1885
Conus mediterraneus var. scalare Dautzenberg, 1911 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus scalaris Valenciennes, 1832)
Conus mediterraneus var. scalaris Pallary, 1912 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus scalaris Valenciennes, 1832)
Conus mediterraneus var. subconcolor Requien, 1848
Conus mediterraneus var. subviridis de Gregorio, 1885
Conus olivaceus Salis Marschlins, 1793 (synonym)
Conus olivaceus Kiener, 1850 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus olivaceus Salis, 1793)
Conus pallans Nardo, 1847
Conus phegeus Nardo, 1847
Conus postdiluvianus Risso, 1826
Conus rusticus Poli, 1826 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus rusticus Linnaeus, 1758)
Conus stercutius Nardo, 1847
Conus submediterraneus Locard, 1886 (synonym)
Conus thuscus Nardo, 1847
Conus trunculus Monterosato, 1899
Conus vayssierei var. ossea Monterosato, 1917
Conus ventricosus mediterraneus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792
Conus ventricosus var. empismus de Gregorio, 1885
Conus zealandicus Hutton, 1873
Cucullus annulas Noodt, 1819
Cucullus glaucus Röding, 1798
Lautoconus mediterraneus (Hwass in Bruguière, 1792)
Lautoconus mediterraneus var. noeformis Monterosato, 1923
Lautoconus ventricosus (Gmelin, 1791)
Direct children (2):
Subspecies Conus ventricosus mediterraneus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792 accepted as Conus ventricosus Gmelin, 1791
Variety Conus ventricosus var. empismus de Gregorio, 1885 accepted as Conus ventricosus Gmelin, 1791
The genus Conus, which belongs to the family Conidae, is a group of predatory snails.
Between 800 to 1000 different cone snails live in our oceans and are carnivorous.
"Slow as a snail" is a bknown exclamation, how can the slow moving cone snails capture carnivorous food animals?
The venom of cone snails is so potent that it can instantly paralyze and eventually kill prey
These snails detect prey in their environment using an appendage called a siphon. While some species have an eyestalk, the siphon is a more sensitive method of locating prey and also performs additional respiratory functions. The prey that each Conus species hunts varies greatly. Some feed on worms (vermivores), others on mollusks (molluscivores), and the species most toxic to humans feed on fish (piscivores).
The venom of the cone snail is a complex mixture of compounds that cause paralysis through several neuromuscular blocking steps. The combinations of peptides that make up the venom vary from species to species, and it is estimated that each cone snail contains over 100,000 different bioactive compounds in its venom. The complexity of this venom and the different target pathways have prevented the production of an effective antitoxin.
The cone snail's habitats primarily include tropical waters, such as the Red Sea, Caribbean Sea, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. Despite their preference for tropical environments, cone snails also live in warm deep-sea waters off the coast of Florida. They generally live in the deep sea near reefs and hunt mainly at night. During the day, they bury themselves in the sand and primarily encounter humans only when provoked. Various sources report mortality rates ranging from 15% to 75%, but it remains to be noted that cone snail poisoning is a preventable cause of death that all deep-sea divers should be aware of.
Because of the rarity of cone snail poisoning and the lack of data, it is uncertain whether death is due to respiratory toxicity, cardiovascular toxicity, or a combination of both. The effects of poisoning depend on the specific peptides in the venom and are therefore largely unpredictable. These venoms have a variety of neuromuscular effects- via glutamate, adrenergic (chi-conotoxin), serotonin, and cholinergic pathways.
There are several "conotoxins" in species-specific combinations in snail venom. These toxins have a variety of neuromuscular effects via glutamate, adrenergic (chi-conotoxin), serotonin, and cholinergic pathways. Some conotoxins exert their effects on sodium (delta-conotoxin), potassium, and calcium ion channels. In addition, there are other less well-known targets, such as toxins that act on hormone receptors and simulate the effects of oxytocin and vasopressin (conopressins). Another major component of cone snail venom is various alpha-conotoxins. These toxins act specifically on nicotinic receptors responsible for skeletal muscle contraction. This mechanism is similar to that of botulinum toxin in that they act on the same signaling pathway. Alpha-conotoxins block nicotinic receptors, resulting in paralysis that can also affect the diaphragm. Because of the wide range of molecular targets and the different toxins of each Conus species, it is virtually impossible to produce an effective antidote.
The most important action following cone snail intoxication is urgent hospital treatment and ensuring that the patient's airway, breathing, and circulation remain intact. Once the patient arrives at the hospital, mechanical ventilation and supportive therapies are initiated. During transport, some additional methods may be used to prevent spread of the toxin. Pressure immobilization involves bandaging the limb, starting at the distal end (fingers or toes) and moving toward the axial joints. This technique was suggested to prevent further injury after poisoning. The bandage should be tight, but not so tight as to interfere with blood flow. Frequent examinations should ensure that the most distal parts (i.e., fingers, toes) remain pink. It is recommended that these dressings be removed for 90 seconds and reapplied every 10 minutes, but this should not affect the speed of transport to a hospital in any way.
Other reports suggest that hot water (40 to 50 degrees Celsius) may be effective for pain relief after cone snail intoxication. More reports are needed before this becomes standard treatment, but at this time they are based mainly on anecdotal data.
Source:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470586/
Conus ventricosus, common name the Mediterranean cone, is a sea snail in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.
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.
Synonymised names:
Conus (Lautoconus) ventricosus Gmelin, 1791· accepted, alternate representation
Conus adansonii Lamarck, 1810
Conus adriaticus Nardo, 1847
Conus amazonicus Nardo, 1847
Conus cailliaudii Jay, 1846
Conus chersoideus Nardo, 1847
Conus cinctus Bosc, 1801
Conus clodianus Nardo, 1847
Conus cretheus Nardo, 1847
Conus epaphus Nardo, 1847
Conus epaticus Renier, 1804 (unavailable name: published in a work placed on the Official Index of Invalid and Rejected Specific Names in Zoology by ICZN Opinion 316)
Conus errosus Renier, 1804 (unavailable name: published in a work placed on the Official Index of Invalid and Rejected Specific Names in Zoology by ICZN Opinion 316)
Conus fortis Renier, 1804 (unavailable name: published in a work placed on the Official Index of Invalid and Rejected Specific Names in Zoology by ICZN Opinion 316)
Conus galloprovincialis Locard, 1886
Conus galloprovincialis var. lineolata Locard & Caziot, 1900 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus lineolatus Valenciennes, 1832)
Conus galloprovincialis var. minor Locard & Caziot, 1900 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus ventricosus var. minor Monterosato, 1878)
Conus galloprovincialis var. producta Coen, 1933
Conus galloprovincialis var. turrita Coen, 1933
Conus glaucescens G. B. Sowerby I, 1834
Conus grossii Maravigna, 1853 (synonym)
Conus guestieri Lorois, 1860
Conus hanleyi G. B. Sowerby II, 1857
Conus herillus Nardo, 1847
Conus humilis von Salis Marschlins, 1793
Conus ignobilis Olivi, 1792 (synonym)
Conus ignobilis var. rufa Scacchi, 1836
Conus inaequalis Reeve, 1849
Conus intermedius Lamarck, 1810
Conus istriensis Nardo, 1847
Conus jamaicensis Hwass in Bruguière, 1792
Conus jaspis Salis Marschlins, 1793 (synonym)
Conus listeri Renier, 1804 (unavailable name: published in a work placed on the Official Index of Invalid and Rejected Specific Names in Zoology by ICZN Opinion 316)
Conus madurensis Hwass in Bruguière, 1792
Conus mediterraneus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792
Conus mediterraneus f. gaudiosus Nicolay, 1978 (unavailable name: established as a "form" after 1960)
Conus mediterraneus var. acuta Requien, 1848
Conus mediterraneus var. alalmus de Gregorio, 1885
Conus mediterraneus var. alba Coen, 1933 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus virgo alba Spalowsky, 1795)
Conus mediterraneus var. albina Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1882
Conus mediterraneus var. alticonica Pallary, 1904 (synonym)
Conus mediterraneus var. amigus de Gregorio, 1885
Conus mediterraneus var. arenaria Monterosato, 1917
Conus mediterraneus var. ater Philippi, 1836
Conus mediterraneus var. atra Philippi, 1844 (synonym)
Conus mediterraneus var. caerulescens Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1883
Conus mediterraneus var. carinata Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1884 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus carinatus Swainson, 1822)
Conus mediterraneus var. castanea Coen, 1933
Conus mediterraneus var. debilis Monterosato, 1917
Conus mediterraneus var. elongata Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1885
Conus mediterraneus var. elpus de Gregorio, 1885
Conus mediterraneus var. emisus de Gregorio, 1885
Conus mediterraneus var. fasciata Requien, 1848 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus fasciatus Schröter, 1803, and several others)
Conus mediterraneus var. flammulata Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1882
Conus mediterraneus var. flavescens Coen, 1933 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus flavescens G.B. Sowerby I, 1834)
Conus mediterraneus var. fusca Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1882
Conus mediterraneus var. interrupta Coen, 1933 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus interruptus Wood, 1828)
Conus mediterraneus var. lutea Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1882 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus luteus G.B. Sowerby I, 1833)
Conus mediterraneus var. major Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1882
Conus mediterraneus var. marmoratus Philippi, 1836 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus marmoratus Holten, 1802)
Conus mediterraneus var. minor Monterosato, 1878
Conus mediterraneus var. oblonga Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1882
Conus mediterraneus var. obtusa Requien, 1848
Conus mediterraneus var. pallida Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1882
Conus mediterraneus var. pereirae de Gregorio, 1885
Conus mediterraneus var. persistens Kobelt, 1906
Conus mediterraneus var. pretunculus Monterosato, 1917
Conus mediterraneus var. rubens Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1882
Conus mediterraneus var. rufatra de Gregorio, 1885
Conus mediterraneus var. scalare Dautzenberg, 1911 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus scalaris Valenciennes, 1832)
Conus mediterraneus var. scalaris Pallary, 1912 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus scalaris Valenciennes, 1832)
Conus mediterraneus var. subconcolor Requien, 1848
Conus mediterraneus var. subviridis de Gregorio, 1885
Conus olivaceus Salis Marschlins, 1793 (synonym)
Conus olivaceus Kiener, 1850 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus olivaceus Salis, 1793)
Conus pallans Nardo, 1847
Conus phegeus Nardo, 1847
Conus postdiluvianus Risso, 1826
Conus rusticus Poli, 1826 (invalid: junior homonym of Conus rusticus Linnaeus, 1758)
Conus stercutius Nardo, 1847
Conus submediterraneus Locard, 1886 (synonym)
Conus thuscus Nardo, 1847
Conus trunculus Monterosato, 1899
Conus vayssierei var. ossea Monterosato, 1917
Conus ventricosus mediterraneus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792
Conus ventricosus var. empismus de Gregorio, 1885
Conus zealandicus Hutton, 1873
Cucullus annulas Noodt, 1819
Cucullus glaucus Röding, 1798
Lautoconus mediterraneus (Hwass in Bruguière, 1792)
Lautoconus mediterraneus var. noeformis Monterosato, 1923
Lautoconus ventricosus (Gmelin, 1791)
Direct children (2):
Subspecies Conus ventricosus mediterraneus Hwass in Bruguière, 1792 accepted as Conus ventricosus Gmelin, 1791
Variety Conus ventricosus var. empismus de Gregorio, 1885 accepted as Conus ventricosus Gmelin, 1791
The genus Conus, which belongs to the family Conidae, is a group of predatory snails.
Between 800 to 1000 different cone snails live in our oceans and are carnivorous.
"Slow as a snail" is a bknown exclamation, how can the slow moving cone snails capture carnivorous food animals?
The venom of cone snails is so potent that it can instantly paralyze and eventually kill prey
These snails detect prey in their environment using an appendage called a siphon. While some species have an eyestalk, the siphon is a more sensitive method of locating prey and also performs additional respiratory functions. The prey that each Conus species hunts varies greatly. Some feed on worms (vermivores), others on mollusks (molluscivores), and the species most toxic to humans feed on fish (piscivores).
The venom of the cone snail is a complex mixture of compounds that cause paralysis through several neuromuscular blocking steps. The combinations of peptides that make up the venom vary from species to species, and it is estimated that each cone snail contains over 100,000 different bioactive compounds in its venom. The complexity of this venom and the different target pathways have prevented the production of an effective antitoxin.
The cone snail's habitats primarily include tropical waters, such as the Red Sea, Caribbean Sea, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. Despite their preference for tropical environments, cone snails also live in warm deep-sea waters off the coast of Florida. They generally live in the deep sea near reefs and hunt mainly at night. During the day, they bury themselves in the sand and primarily encounter humans only when provoked. Various sources report mortality rates ranging from 15% to 75%, but it remains to be noted that cone snail poisoning is a preventable cause of death that all deep-sea divers should be aware of.
Because of the rarity of cone snail poisoning and the lack of data, it is uncertain whether death is due to respiratory toxicity, cardiovascular toxicity, or a combination of both. The effects of poisoning depend on the specific peptides in the venom and are therefore largely unpredictable. These venoms have a variety of neuromuscular effects- via glutamate, adrenergic (chi-conotoxin), serotonin, and cholinergic pathways.
There are several "conotoxins" in species-specific combinations in snail venom. These toxins have a variety of neuromuscular effects via glutamate, adrenergic (chi-conotoxin), serotonin, and cholinergic pathways. Some conotoxins exert their effects on sodium (delta-conotoxin), potassium, and calcium ion channels. In addition, there are other less well-known targets, such as toxins that act on hormone receptors and simulate the effects of oxytocin and vasopressin (conopressins). Another major component of cone snail venom is various alpha-conotoxins. These toxins act specifically on nicotinic receptors responsible for skeletal muscle contraction. This mechanism is similar to that of botulinum toxin in that they act on the same signaling pathway. Alpha-conotoxins block nicotinic receptors, resulting in paralysis that can also affect the diaphragm. Because of the wide range of molecular targets and the different toxins of each Conus species, it is virtually impossible to produce an effective antidote.
The most important action following cone snail intoxication is urgent hospital treatment and ensuring that the patient's airway, breathing, and circulation remain intact. Once the patient arrives at the hospital, mechanical ventilation and supportive therapies are initiated. During transport, some additional methods may be used to prevent spread of the toxin. Pressure immobilization involves bandaging the limb, starting at the distal end (fingers or toes) and moving toward the axial joints. This technique was suggested to prevent further injury after poisoning. The bandage should be tight, but not so tight as to interfere with blood flow. Frequent examinations should ensure that the most distal parts (i.e., fingers, toes) remain pink. It is recommended that these dressings be removed for 90 seconds and reapplied every 10 minutes, but this should not affect the speed of transport to a hospital in any way.
Other reports suggest that hot water (40 to 50 degrees Celsius) may be effective for pain relief after cone snail intoxication. More reports are needed before this becomes standard treatment, but at this time they are based mainly on anecdotal data.
Source:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470586/
