Marbled Cone Snail Attack

Aquarium of the pacific species in detail print full entry.

Marbled cone snail attack. Humans and cone snails. Cone snails use a hypodermic needle like modified radula tooth and a venom gland to attack and paralyze their prey before engulfing it. Interestingly enough this venom is the same neurotoxin that is produced by the deadly blue ringed octopus which generally causes loss of coordination intense pain and typically a very unpleasant experience. When it attacks its prey it sticks out its long white proboscis to shoot a poison laden harpoon sometimes attacking its prey multiple times over.

The marbled cone snail has a harpoon like weapon that it uses on prey such as fish. Watching a cone snail attack is a thing of efficiency. The fact that you may experience the effects immediately but they could take days to appear does little to put my mind at ease. The tooth which is sometimes likened to a dart or a harpoon is barbed and can be extended some distance out from the head of the snail at the end of the proboscis.

Nearby fish don t stand a chance. But the marbled cone snail is often listed as one of the 10 most deadliest animals on the planet. The proboscis not only delivers the toxins but it allows the snail to draw the fish towards it with a sharp barb on the end. It s pretty rare that humans encounter a dangerous situation with this deadly snail but it can happen.

Once the fish is completely paralyzed the cone snail expands its mouth and swallows it whole. Another interesting fact about the marbled cone snail is the fact that its venom is 10 000 times more potent than today s morphine as an anesthetic. All capture their prey by means of harpoon like hollow teeth radula that are rapidly jabbed into their prey to inject the toxic venom. Killer cone snail the underwater version of a tank this cone snail boasts an armored shell and enough venom to kill a human.

A cone snail sting can result in tingling swelling numbness and intense pain. The unique marbled cone snail is found from the southern tip of india to okinawa japan and southeast to new caledonia and samoa. The prey becomes paralyzed and its muscles begin to relax irreversibly. In extreme cases symptoms include respiratory paralysis vision impairment and muscle paralysis.

It feeds on other snails including some within its own species.