{{short description|Species of sea snail}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Speciesbox | taxon = Conus borgesi | image = Conus borgesi 1.jpg | image2 = Conus borgesi 2.jpg | image_caption = Apertural and abapertural views of shell of ''Conus borgesi'' Trovão, 1979 | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 20 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Tenorio, M.J. |date=2012 |title=''Conus borgesi'' |volume=2012 |article-number=e.T192500A2104554 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T192500A2104554.en |access-date=20 November 2021}}</ref> | authority = Trovão, 1979 | synonyms_ref = <ref name="WoRMS" /> | synonyms = * ''Africonus borgesi'' <small>(Trovão, 1979)</small> * ''Africonus pedrofiadeiroi'' <small>Cossignani & Fiadeiro, 2015</small> * ''Africonus wandae'' <small>Cossignani, 2014</small> (original combination) * ''Conus (Lautoconus) borgesi'' <small>Trovão, 1979</small> · accepted, alternate representation | display_parents = 3 }}
'''''Conus borgesi''''' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.<ref name="WoRMS">{{WRMS species|224814|''Conus borgesi'' Trovão, 1979||27 March 2010}}</ref>
Like all species within the genus ''Conus'', these snails are predatory and venomous. They are capable of stinging humans, therefore live ones should be handled carefully or not at all.
==Description== The size of the shell varies between 19 mm and 35 mm. Conus borgesi has a long, tubular shell with a pointed vertex. The color of the shell is typically white or cream, with intricate patterns of brown, black and yellow. The snail uses its shell as protection and as a tool for burrowing in the sand.
Conus borgesi is a skilled predator that uses its venomous harpoon-like tooth to capture its prey. The tooth is housed in a specialized structure called a proboscis, which the snail can extend out of its mouth to strike its target. Once the prey is paralyzed, the snail will engulf it using its large, muscular foot and slowly consume it.
Like all cone snails, Conus borgesi has a complex venom delivery system that allows it to inject its toxins into its prey or potential predators. The venom of this species contains a variety of different toxins, including peptides and small molecules, that can target different receptors and pathways in the body.
While cone snail venom can be deadly, it has also been used for centuries by indigenous peoples for medicinal purposes. In recent years, scientists have been studying cone snail venom as a potential source of new drugs and therapies, particularly for pain management and neurological disorders. ==Distribution== This species occurs in the Atlantic Ocean off the island of Boa Vista, Cape Verde.<ref name="iucn status 20 November 2021" />
==References== {{Reflist}} * Tucker J.K. & Tenorio M.J. (2009) ''Systematic classification of Recent and fossil conoidean gastropods.'' Hackenheim: Conchbooks. 296 pp * Cossignani & Fiadeiro, Malacologia Mostra Mondiale vol. 86 p. 18; 2015 * [https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/mollus/eyu055 Puillandre N., Duda T.F., Meyer C., Olivera B.M. & Bouchet P. (2015). ''One, four or 100 genera? A new classification of the cone snails''. Journal of Molluscan Studies. 81: 1–23]
==External links== {{Commons category|Conus borgesi}} * [http://biology.burke.washington.edu/conus/catalogue/index.php The ''Conus'' Biodiversity website] * https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=289022&lvl=0 * http://www.coneshells-am.ru/ Cone Shells – Knights of the Sea * {{Gastropods.com|key=7|id=8137|title=''Africonus borgesi''|access-date=15 January 2019}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Conus Borgesi}} borgesi Category:Gastropods described in 1979 Category:Gastropods of Cape Verde Category:Endemic fauna of Cape Verde
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