toxin diversity and offers little insight into the evolutionary
aspects of coleoid toxicity. This leaves questions regarding
the genetic origin and the strategies of venom recruitment
of coleoid toxins entirely up to speculation. In this study,
we present for the first time a glimpse into the coleoid
venom phylogenetic history and molecular evolution. We
report a particularly detailed evaluation of the major
coleoid toxins (PLA2, CAP, pacifastin, and serine proteases)
and highlight the prominent role of episodic diversifying
selections in shaping some of these toxins