The venom of cone snails is one of the most intriguing substances extant in the natural world. As one of the most potent of venoms, much effort has gone into understanding its biochemistry. Among Gastropods, these snails have some of the most distinctly specialized radulas. The process by which this venom is created and then passed into the victim has been the topic of more recent research. In both the Marshall and Salisbury paper, it is suggested that the biomechanics behind C. Californicus' venom delivery mechanisms is likely quite similar across the Conus genus.
Morphologically, all of the apparatuses involved in venom excretion and delivery are concentrated in the anterior end of the digestive tract. It can be simplified into a three-part structure, each part with unique function: The venom duct (differentiated into the proximal and distal ends of the duct), the radular sac in which the harpoon-like teeth are stored, and the muscular bulb (the function of this portion is the least understood).
Venom is potentially simplified prior to delivery to the prey item (which in C. californicus could be any number of organisms, as this temperate species feeds on a distinctly more diverse diet than it's tropical counterparts). This is supported by the presence of specialized epithelial cells in the duct. It is also reasonable, based upon the findings of Marshall (2002) to believe that the teeth are "pre-loaded" with venom within the radular sac preceding their use.
C. californicus, like all snails of genus Conus, posesses an incredibly well-adapted venom and venom-delivery mechanism. Much investigation is left to be made into the precision hunting instruments of these predators.
