Conoidean

Conoidean refers to the group of predatory marine gastropods that belong to the superfamily Conoidea. The term is used to describe living and fossil taxa within this lineage, which includes the cone snails and their relatives. The name derives from the characteristic conical shells that many members display, particularly those in the family Conidae.

Taxonomy and morphology: Conoidea is a diverse clade within the Caenogastropoda, traditionally treated as a superfamily within Neogastropoda. Members typically have elongated, often ornamented shells and a siphon. A defining feature is the venom apparatus—a venom gland and a toxoglossan radula with hollow, harpoon-like teeth used to deliver venom to prey.

Diet and venom: Conoideans are carnivorous, feeding on other mollusks, polychaete worms, or, in some fish-hunting lineages, on fish. They capture prey by firing a venomous radula tooth and injecting venom to immobilize it. Many species produce diverse conotoxins; in humans, stings from certain cone snails can be dangerous or even fatal.

Distribution and ecology: They inhabit marine environments worldwide, with highest diversity in tropical and subtropical regions. They are commonly found on coral reefs, sandy bottoms, and rocky substrates. Reproduction is typically sexual, and many species release free-swimming larvae after laying egg capsules.

Conservation and research: Cone snails and their venom components are of interest in pharmacology, offering tools for neuroscience and drug development. Some species are collected for shells, and overharvesting, habitat destruction, and pollution can threaten local populations.