What is Conidae?
{{Taxobox | name = Cone snails | image = Stożki2.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = A group of [[shell]]s of various species of cone snails | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Mollusca]] | classis = [[Gastropoda]] | superfamilia = [[Conoidea]] | familia = '''Conidae''' | familia_authority = Fleming, 1822<ref>Fleming J. 1822. ''The philosophy of zoology, a general view of the structure, functions and classification of animals'' '''2'''. Constable, Edinburgh. Conidae is on the page 490.</ref> }} '''Conidae''' is a [[Family (biology)|family]] of minute to quite large [[sea snail]]s. They are [[Marine biology|marine]] [[gastropod]] [[mollusc]]s in the superfamily [[Conoidea]]. Their beautiful shells are highly collectible.<ref>Sullivan B.N. 2009. Collecting cone shells: special handling required. ''The Right Blue''. [http://therightblue.blogspot.co.uk/2009/03/collecting-cone-shells-special-handling.html]</ref> The snails within this family are sophisticated [[predatory]] animals.<ref>Piper R. 2007. ''Extraordinary animals: an encyclopedia of curious and unusual animals'', Greenwood Press.</ref> The snails have eyes, and are active hunters.<ref>Sullivan B.N. 2009. ''Muck-diving''. The Right Blue. [http://therightblue.blogspot.co.uk/2007/09/muck-diving-tale-of-cross-eyed-cone.html]</ref> They immobilize prey with a modified [[radula]]r tooth. The tooth delivers [[Poison|venom]] with [[neurotoxin]]s; it is launched out of the snail's mouth in a [[harpoon]]-like action. There have been many suggested changes to the classification of cone shells, and the details are still under investigation. The very large genus ''[[Conus]]'' has 600 species, and there are six other subfamilies. == References == {{reflist}} [[Category:Gastropods]]