The risks of a cone snail
One user exclaimed: “Are you serious?!”
“You’re both fortunate and foolish,” another user commented.
A third chimed in: “Dodged a NUCLEAR threat.”
Another user, more informatively, replied: “This is a textile cone snail, Conus textile. All cone snails are venomous, and this species is known to be dangerous to humans.”
Typically residing in sandy areas beneath coral and rocks in shallow waters, cone snails are described by the Aquarium of the Pacific as “among the most venomous creatures on Earth.”
“Among the deadliest are textile, geographic, and tulip snails. The potential for fatality is higher with geographic and textile species,” the aquarium notes. “They hunt using harpoon-like hollow teeth (radula) that quickly inject toxic venom into their prey.”
Regarding human interactions? These typically happen when someone either ‘steps on’ or picks one up from the water or shore.
Small but dangerous (Getty Stock Images)
User u/AArdvarkPaws admitted they had been primarily preoccupied with concerns about ‘sharks, jellyfish,’ and other overt dangers, not realizing the threat posed by this creature.
“I’ll certainly never handle one again,” they pledged, but they expressed curiosity about the medical consequences should they get stung by a cone snail.
What to expect if stung by a cone snail
According to the National Library of Medicine, the effects depend on the snail species and the individual, but pain can range from ‘a sharp prick to excruciating agony.’
The sting may cause local numbness or may spread to ‘entire body sections,’ leading to symptoms ranging from ‘initial weakness, sweating, and vision alterations to generalized muscle paralysis, respiratory failure, cardiovascular collapse, and coma.’
“If untreated, death can occur rapidly, often within one to five hours. Milder envenomations caused by non-lethal species result in less severe effects,” it warns. “These may include numbness, tingling sensations, and immobility of limbs.”
In summary, it’s wise to avoid picking up any cone-shaped ‘shells’ from the ocean floor—or disturbing anything in the sea, for that matter. If you do happen to get stung by a cone snail, seek medical attention as swiftly as possible.
Featured Image Credit: Reddit/AArdvarkPaws