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Venom kinematics during prey capture inConus: the biomechanics of a rapid injection system
- Source :
- Journal of Experimental Biology. 213:673-682
- Publication Year :
- 2010
- Publisher :
- The Company of Biologists, 2010.
-
Abstract
- SUMMARYCone snails use an extensile, tubular proboscis as a conduit to deliver a potent cocktail of bioactive venom peptides into their prey. Previous studies have focused mainly on understanding the venom's role in prey capture but successful prey capture requires both rapid physiological and biomechanical mechanisms. Conus catus, a fish-hunting species, uses a high-speed hydraulic mechanism to inject its hollow, spear-like radular tooth into prey. We take an integrated approach to investigating the biomechanics of this process by coupling kinematic studies with morphological analyses. Taking advantage of the opaque venom and translucent proboscis of a mollusc-hunting juvenile cone snail, Conus pennaceus, we have determined that a high-speed prey capture mechanism is not unique to cone species that hunt fish prey. Two morphological structures were found to play crucial roles in this process. A constriction of the lumen near the tip of the proboscis, composed of tall epithelial cells densely packed with microfilaments, impedes forward movement of the radular tooth prior to its propulsion. Proximal to the constriction, a muscular sphincter was found to regulate venom flow and pressurization in the proboscis. In C. pennaceus, the rapid appearance and flushing of venom within the proboscis during prey capture suggests a mechanism involving the delivery of a discrete quantity of venom. The interplay between these elements provides a unique and effective biomechanical injection system for the fast-acting cone snail venom peptides.
- Subjects :
- Physiology
Muscle Fibers, Skeletal
Mollusk Venoms
Zoology
Venom
Aquatic Science
Cone snail
Predation
Constriction
Conus
Animals
Molecular Biology
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
biology
Proboscis
Conus Snail
Animal Structures
Epithelial Cells
Anatomy
Conus catus
biology.organism_classification
Biomechanical Phenomena
Microscopy, Fluorescence
Predatory Behavior
Insect Science
Animal Science and Zoology
Conus pennaceus
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14779145 and 00220949
- Volume :
- 213
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Experimental Biology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....78b0423e8153677f6e735923b02fe07d