Geography Cone's Deadly Sting
Cone Shells belong to family Conidae and are included in the class Gastropoda within the Phylum Mollusca. It is estimated that there are up to 300 species thought to exist in worldwide seas.
Cone Shell animals have gills and anus in front of their visceral mass that is sometimes referred to as the visceral hump. In general they have a single Shell coiled into a tube, similar to a Snail. The tube is open at one end and may be partly sealed by a trapdoor (operculum). The head is well formed, with two eyes; each set at the base of a tentacle. They have a retractable proboscis, or `trunk’, with well -developed, harpoon-like radula teeth.
All species have a mobile lifestyle and are able to move over the substrate in search of food, or mates. Cone Shells occupy almost every marine habitat with the exception of mid-water. Most rely on their Shells for protection and, in general, they appear more active at night, feeding on Worms, Molluscs, and Fish.
Only a few have been investigated for the affect of their venom on humans, for this reason every effort must be taken to avoid being stung as some species have proved to be deadly to humans.
Although the venom of various tropical Indo-Pacific species may affect heart muscles and the central nervous system, the most general and important effect is on the skeletal muscles of the chest wall and of the diaphragm. Any paralytic effect on these muscles can cause breathing to become difficult and cease.
Geography Cone Conus geographus
Whether a tide line fossicker, reef walker, snorkeler, scuba diver, or Shell collector, anybody engaged in looking for Cone Shells should wear heavy gloves and use an implement to dislodge Cones from within hiding places, or beneath rocks.
Cone Shell animals are very agile and the proboscis holding the venomous darts can reach back to the spire of the Shell, so they should never be carried by hand, or placed close to the body, as in a pocket, or even in a scuba diver’s BCD pocket, as their venomous dart can sting through the pocket of the BCD and wetsuit.
All living Cones must be considered as potentially venomous and a risk to humans.
To see one of these giant Cones out in the open at night with its striking black and yellow foot, heavily designed tent-patterned Shell and long hunting proboscis swaying from side to side, is a sight to behold.
The Geography Cone grows to 13 cm (5 in) and is well known throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific area.
It is one of the Fish-eating Cones that produce a deadly mixture of toxins affecting the skeletal muscles and central nervous system of vertebrates.
So lethal is its venom, that the Geography Cone is known to have killed at least 12 humans and seriously stung many more.
HAZARD:
Deadly venomous sting.
PRECAUTIONS:
The Geography Cone shell is a deadly animal, whose barbed dart is able to penetrate most gloves and certainly wet suits. Considerable caution is required at all times during any encounter. They are especially active at night and late afternoon during incoming tides.
Never put one in your wetsuit, or in a bag, or on a belt around your waist, the barb on this species can penetrate through bag and wetsuit.
Never put one in your pocket.
SYMPTOMS:
Sting is felt as a sharp burning pain, which may cause the area around the injury to become numb. Progressive paralysis signals generally begin with difficulty in swallowing and speaking, together with vision anomalies and slow coordination responses. Breathing is likely to be shallow and may cease altogether. Conotoxin causes fast-acting symptoms which peak and fade out.
FIRST AID MANAGEMENT:
= Reassure the casualty
= Reduce shock
= Remove barb if still in the wound, wash wounded area
= Apply the Pressure Immobilisation Technique
= Resuscitation may be required
= Seek Emergency Service Assistance
Learn more about how to be a safe and responsible diver.
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