Conus tulipa

Conus tulipa
Apertural and abapertural views of shell of Conus tulipa Linnaeus, C., 1758
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Clade: Caenogastropoda
Clade: Hypsogastropoda
Clade: Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Conoidea
Family: Conidae
Genus: Conus
Species: C. tulipa
Binomial name
Conus tulipa
Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms[1]
  • Chelyconus borbonicus Adams, H.G., 1868
  • Conus (Gastridium) tulipa Linnaeus, 1758 · accepted, alternate representation
  • Conus borbonicus H. Adams, 1868
  • Coronaxis nebulosa Swainson, 1840 (invalid: secondary junior homonym of Conus nebulosus Gmelin, 1791)
  • Cucullus purpureus Röding, 1798
  • Gastridium tulipa (Linnaeus, 1758)

Conus tulipacommon name the tulip cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.[1]

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.

A class of conopeptides named rho-TIA was discovered in Conus tulipa in 2001.[2] This class of conopetides targets (react with) alpha1-adrenergic receptors.[2]

Description

The size of the shell varies between 45 mm and 95 mm. The shell is variegated with violet and white, clouded with chestnut, with numerous revolving rows of minute chestnut and white articulations. The interior of the aperture is violaceous. [3]

Conantokin-T is a toxin derived from the venom of Conus tulipa.

Distribution

The marine species occurs in the Indo-Western Pacific.

Feeding habits

Conus tulipa preys on fishes.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Conus tulipa Linnaeus, 1758.  Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 27 March 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 Sharpe I. A., Gehrmann J., Loughnan M. L., Thomas L., Adams D. A., Atkins A., Palant E., Craik D. J., Adams D. J., Alewood P. F. & Lewis R. J. (September 2001). "Two new classes of conopeptides inhibit the alpha1-adrenoceptor and noradrenaline transporter.". Nature Neuroscience 4(9): 902-907.
  3. G.W. Tryon (1884) Manual of Conchology, structural and systematic, with illustrations of the species, vol. VI; Philadelphia, Academy of Natural Sciences
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