Steric Hindrance Page

Deadly Toxins from the nature…

1. Cone snails (CONUS) carries its origins from Eocene time (56-34 millions years ago). This shellfish found in warm waters in Indo-West Pacific, South Africa and South California. The shell is shaped in cone shape with protruding ventricles (harpoon filled with venom). Conotoxin (cone snail’s toxin) attributes paralyzing  qualities by affecting Acetylcholine receptors, voltage depended Ca channels, and K channels, therefore producing extreme pain, swelling and numbness. In severe cases, it can lead to muscle paralysis, respiratory arrest and death. No anti-venom  is available.

2. Stone Fish (Synanceja trachynis) this is the most venomous fish known, It reaches 35 cm in length and lives in Australian waters. On the bottom of the ocean or ocean beach the fish look like rock. Interesting attribute of the fish is the  thirteen blades that carry poison (Stonustoxin - lethal protein). The sting causing horrible pain and tremendous swelling that develops with death of the tissues. The effect of the venom is muscle weakness, temporally paralysis that can lead to death if not treated. 

3. Blue-Ringed Octopus - the octopus is found in surrounding of the coastal reefs in Australia, it  mostly active hours are during the night time. If the specie is agitated, its rings increase in size, color (blue color saturation) pulsation. Inside the octopus’s salivary glands there is a bacteria that  produce tetrodotoxin. The toxin usually leads to paralysis and if it’s not treated lead to cardiac arrest.

Reference:

pic 1. http://www.itsnature.org/ground/creepy-crawlies-land/cone-snail/

pic 2. http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/underwater-photography/277085-theme-19-31-march-2009-ugly-mugs.html

pic 3. http://everythingoctopus.blogspot.com/2009/01/pictures-of-blue-ringed-octopus.html