Harpoon-like Teeth and Venom: Cone shells possess a venomous radula, which is a tongue-like organ with rows of tiny, harpoon-like teeth. When a cone shell detects potential prey, it rapidly extends its radula and shoots out one or more teeth. The teeth are barbed, allowing them to anchor firmly into the prey's body.
Injected Venom: Along with the teeth, the cone shell injects a complex mixture of venom into the prey through the hollow teeth. This venom contains a variety of neurotoxic peptides that quickly paralyze the prey, making it unable to escape or fight back. The venom can be lethal even to large fish and can cause severe pain and neurological symptoms in humans if they are stung by a cone shell.
Sheathing the Prey: After injecting venom and paralyzing the prey, the cone shell will pull the prey closer using its muscular foot. The cone shell then secretes a mucus sheath around the prey to further immobilize it and prevent it from struggling.
Extra-oral Digestion: Cone shells have a unique characteristic known as extra-oral digestion. Once the prey is sufficiently subdued, the cone shell uses a specialized enzyme-rich secretion from the salivary glands to break down the prey's internal tissues and liquefy them. The cone shell essentially digests the prey outside of its body, transforming it into a nutrient-rich soup that can be easily absorbed.
Retracting the Radula: After the prey is completely digested, the cone shell retracts its radula, leaving only the empty shell or exoskeleton of the prey. The cone shell absorbs the liquefied nutrients through the walls of its digestive system.
Cone shells demonstrate remarkable precision and efficiency in capturing and subduing their prey, thanks to their specialized teeth, venomous harpoons, and unique extra-oral digestion process. Each species of cone shell has its preferred prey, and they exhibit different strategies for hunting, depending on whether they target worms, fish, or mollusks.