It's not insulin though, it's something much cooler. Insulin doesn't work that fast, it uses a toxin that supresses the production of glucagon (the opposite of insulin) In it's prey which causes hypoglycemia, which in humans causes a feeling of extreme weakness and confusion. Basically it has venom capable of getting the fishes own endocrine system to work against it.
Recent research has revealed that C. geographus uses a form of insulin as a means of stunning its prey.[11] This insulin is distinct from its own (with shorter chains) and appears to be a stripped down version of those insulins found in fish. Once this venom passes through a fish's gills, the fish experiences hypoglycaemic shock, essentially stunning it and allowing for ingestion by the snail. This poison mixture has been referred to as nirvana cabal. Along with the tulip cone snail C. tulipa, no other species of any known lifeform is known to have used its own biological insulin as a weapon.[12]
Hypoglycemia. The chemical causes too MUCH blood sugar, presumably it would cancel not ENOUGH blood sugar. But most diabetics in that state can just have some orange juice, right?
That's one massive mollusk! Until the snail enveloped fish I swear it looked like the fish was eating off a sponge or coral. I am curious how long the fish jerks around for inside the snail, and if the snail evolved to handle that.
The foot is basically one large muscle so it's more than capable of holding prey still until it dies. Cone snails aren't alone in engulfing prey although the predatory surf snails that eat other snails and hermit crabs don't use any venom, just foot wrapping the prey and scrapping it to death with their radulas.
The venom of cone snails is a mercy. Agaronia snails are equivalent to being wrapped in a slimy sack while a guy saws you apart with a butterknife. The good thing is that they're completely blind so anything with eyes should be able to simply crawl/swim/burrow away from them.
That's fascinating! I don't know much about sea snails, but now I have something to look into this weekend. Also, learning their oral orifice is located on their "foot" is just wild. I know that's what the body part is called, but I had no clue that's where the mouth was too. Thanks!
It's not insulin though, it's something much cooler. Insulin doesn't work that fast, it uses a toxin that supresses the production of glucagon (the opposite of insulin) In it's prey which causes hypoglycemia, which in humans causes a feeling of extreme weakness and confusion. Basically it has venom capable of getting the fishes own endocrine system to work against it.
Maybe for a different snail? The wiki explanation states this one uses a particular kind of insulin.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conus_geographus
Can we use it to treat hyperglycemia in Humans i wonder
Hypoglycemia. The chemical causes too MUCH blood sugar, presumably it would cancel not ENOUGH blood sugar. But most diabetics in that state can just have some orange juice, right?
Nature truly is metal AF
Glucagon raises blood sugar. It wouldn't cause hypoglycemia.
That's one massive mollusk! Until the snail enveloped fish I swear it looked like the fish was eating off a sponge or coral. I am curious how long the fish jerks around for inside the snail, and if the snail evolved to handle that.
The foot is basically one large muscle so it's more than capable of holding prey still until it dies. Cone snails aren't alone in engulfing prey although the predatory surf snails that eat other snails and hermit crabs don't use any venom, just foot wrapping the prey and scrapping it to death with their radulas.
That sounds incredibly painful. Man, nature is really fucked up.
The venom of cone snails is a mercy. Agaronia snails are equivalent to being wrapped in a slimy sack while a guy saws you apart with a butterknife. The good thing is that they're completely blind so anything with eyes should be able to simply crawl/swim/burrow away from them.
The YouTuber ZeFrank did a video on those snails.
That's where I learned about them.
That's fascinating! I don't know much about sea snails, but now I have something to look into this weekend. Also, learning their oral orifice is located on their "foot" is just wild. I know that's what the body part is called, but I had no clue that's where the mouth was too. Thanks!
This is my fear of seeing someone holding in the bare hands when they post pictures asking "What is this?"
I really don't want to be part of a before picture
I should call her
Give us a kiss!!
MWWAAAOOOWWMMM
This is some body horror bullshit. Fuck this thing.
It’s unfathomable to me that there are snails that eat fish
Isn't this the Australian snail that has venom potent enough to kill hundreds of people with just one sting?