5. Cone snail
Don’t be fooled by the gracefully mottled and swirled shells or their sedentary nature. In fact, cone snails can be more than that. They are one of the most dangerous creatures that exist, and their toxic venom can be deadly to humans. However, in the right doses, some of its compounds can be useful.
Experts point out that cone snails don’t have too many options when it comes to catching their prey. So, similar to other animals, they use their venom to kill nearby prey. Researchers were able to purify those compounds that may be responsible for venom’s lethality, so it was only fair to include cone snails in the list of animals that have improved human medicine.
In 2004, the FDA approved the use of the pain medication ziconotide called Prialt, derived from one of the proteins in cone snail venom. Other uses for compounds from snail venom include drugs for epilepsy, stroke, heart disease, and neurologic pain.
