Figure 2.

The venom apparatus and harpoon-like tooth of Conus purpurascens. Upper panel, a representation of the venom apparatus of C. purpurascens. The venom apparatus in all cone snails comprises: vb, a venom bulb which pushes the venom out; vd, the venom duct where the venom is actually made and stored; rs, a radula sac where the harpoon-like teeth are stored; h, harpoon-like teeth; p, pharynx; pr, proboscis, which is used to deliver the harpoon and venom to the prey. The radula sac has been shown in cross-section, to make the harpoons visible. Each harpoon is used only once; in the radula sac they are found in various stages of assembly. Lower panel, a close-up electron micrograph of a single harpoon-like tooth. Venom is ejected through the tooth.