Marbled Cone Snail Sting

Conus marmoreus common name the marbled cone is a species of predatory sea snail a marine gastropod mollusk in the family conidae the cone snails cone shells or cones it is the type species for the genus conus this is a species which is believed to feed mostly on marine molluscs including other cone snails.

Marbled cone snail sting. Cone snail sting overview. The cone snail is a venomous sea snail that is an ocean bottom dweller. It is a very slow creature and hence relies on its highly potent harpoon like sting to paralyze and kill its prey. A few varieties of cone snails eat fish and these are the most harmful to humans.

Cone snails mainly hunt worms and other snails. The radula in most gastropods has rows of many small teeth and is used for grasping at food and scraping it into the mouth. Cone snails live in the indian and pacific oceans the caribbean and red seas and along the. What is cone snail sting.

Cone snails are carnivorous and predatory using a venomous harpoon to sting prey different venom can paralyse fish and even kill humans they eat marine worms small fish and even other cone snails. A cone snail has a cone shaped shell a fleshy foot a head and tentacles. Cone snails use a radula tooth as a harpoon like structure for predation. In order to get its prey the cone snail injects a rapid acting venom from a dart like tooth radicula or dagger.

This snail is venomous like all cone snails. They can inflict painful stings with the release of potent venom when they are handled. Cone snail shells range in size from less than an inch to 9 inches long.