Cone snail venom may trick mate-seeking worms into becoming meals

The chemicals entice male worms to release sperm and females to swirl around in a mating ritual

a cone snail shell

Aquatic Conus imperialis cone snails (pictured) hunt bristle worms using venom-packed harpoons. That venom contains molecules that mimic the mating pheromones of some worms and induce mating behaviors in the lab, suggesting the snails may use it to lure prey.

Samuel S. Espino

Normally, it takes the waxing and waning of the moon to coax certain worms from hiding on the seafloor to mate.