A team of international researchers has made a groundbreaking discovery about Remipedia, a type of crustacean. These creatures, which resemble land-dwelling centipedes, live primarily in cave systems connected to the sea and are blind. Despite their unique characteristics, little is known about their biology due to the difficulty of accessing their habitat. However, the researchers have found that Remipedia have developed a cocktail of toxins for hunting their prey, which includes previously unknown toxins.
The researchers, from the University of Leipzig, Brisbane, and London, published their findings in the journal MDPI Toxins. They discovered that Remipedia use a multi-component toxin with 32 different toxin proteins to hunt their prey. Some of these proteins are structurally similar to known neurotoxins, which paralyze the prey, while others dissolve the internal structure of the prey. The prey is then liquefied and ingested.
The researchers also found that Remipedia have developed their own unique toxins, including a potential nerve toxin similar to that of funnel-web spiders. This discovery is significant because this type of toxin has recently become the focus of applied research, as it may help in the development of highly specific insecticides or new pharmaceuticals. The researchers’ findings shed light on the little-known biology of Remipedia and provide valuable insights into the evolution of hunting strategies in the animal kingdom.
