Researched and written by Timothy Foley
The cone snail is a venomous mollusc found in tropical oceans, known for its patterned shell formed by chemical interactions predicted by Alan Turing’s equations. It camouflages in sand or algae and hunts using a modified radula that fires venomous harpoons. Some species also release insulin to induce hypoglycaemic shock in prey. Cone snails are among the fastest hunters, with attacks lasting milliseconds. Their venom varies by species and individual attack, with piscivores having the most toxic. They use chemo-receptive cells to detect prey and engulf it whole via an expandable proboscis.
