Latest news with #Conidae
Newsweek
14 hours ago
- General
- Newsweek
Woman Picks Up Shell—Only to Learn It's One of The Deadliest on Earth
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. After spotting a beautiful shell, Beckylee Rawls didn't think twice about picking it up to get a closer look. What she never could have imagined was that she was actually holding one of the world's most venomous creatures, which can paralyze and kill its prey. Rawls, 29, was tide pooling in Okinawa, Japan, in early June when she noticed a shell with a gorgeous marble pattern in the water. As someone with a collection of shells at home, she couldn't resist picking it up and getting a closer look. Indeed, she even captured a video showing the marble cone snail in her bare hand, telling Newsweek that she "had no idea it could be dangerous." Rawls said: "When I first saw the shell, I was just focused on how beautiful it was. I've picked up so many shells while at the beach before without hesitancy. I didn't even realize it was alive at first." Beckylee Rawls, 29, showing the cone snail shells she's collected, and the one she found in Japan. Beckylee Rawls, 29, showing the cone snail shells she's collected, and the one she found in Japan. @beckyleeinoki / TikTok Once she realized it was still alive, she assumed it was "just a harmless snail" and placed it back in the water. Thankfully so, in the end. It was only when she got home and did a reverse image search of the shell that Rawls came to realize that this was no ordinary shell. She was stunned to discover that it was in fact a cone snail—one of the deadliest creatures in the world. Cone snails, part of the Conidae family, are a type of predatory gastropod mollusk that live inside spiral shells. They range in size, reaching up to around 11 inches in length, but their power lies within their toxic venom. They capture their prey by using a harpoon-like hollow tooth known as a radula, which is jabbed into prey to inject the venom which can paralyze and kill. While they typically hunt worms or other mollusks, humans can be stung by inadvertently picking cone snails up in their hands. Research published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information suggests that the venom from one cone snail has the potential to kill up to 700 people. Indeed, most envenomation among humans occurs on the palms and fingers. Rawls had no idea what she was holding at the time, but after learning more about the danger of cone snails, she immediately felt "the fear set in." She continued: "I started thinking through everything I had done—holding and shaking it—and realizing how bad it could've been. I was so paranoid for days that I had been stung and just didn't realize it yet. "But I never felt anything, and eventually I accepted I was okay. The more I researched the cone snail, the scarier it got, especially when I found out there's no antivenom." Thankfully, Rawls wasn't stung, and she didn't experience any symptoms in the days that followed. Nonetheless, she was very shaken up by the terrifying close call. It seemed like such a harmless shell, but the reality was very different. Rawls shared footage of her encounter with the deadly snail which can cause "full paralysis in minutes" on TikTok (@beckyleeinoki). The video went viral with over 25.8 million views and more than 833,500 likes in a matter of days, as many people were desperate to know more. She's been overwhelmed by the response, as plenty of TikTok users thanked Rawls for sharing her story because they would have done the same as her without knowing. "It really showed me how little-known this danger is, which made me feel like sharing it was the right thing," Rawls told Newsweek. "I still love the ocean, and this won't scare me away, but I'm way more cautious now. I treat anything unfamiliar with respect and distance. I'm grateful for whatever reason the snail did not sting me and to have this second chance." Whenever she's exploring the coastline now, Rawls has a new rule that she will be sure to follow: if it's a cone, leave it alone. Social media users were left horrified by Rawls's near miss with the deadly cone snail, leading to more than 7,000 comments on her TikTok post. One comment reads: "so this is the day I stop picking up shells from the beach!" Another TikTok user wrote: "They need to teach this in schools because i also would have 100 percent picked that up." While another person added: "As a biologist, I learned to admire things from afar. Do not touch anything if it's new for you." Is there a health issue that's worrying you? Let us know via health@ We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Beach tourists urged to avoid picking up eye-catching shell - it could kill you
Beachgoers are being advised to steer clear of a particular type of shell known as the cone snail, which may look harmless but is actually one of the ocean's most dangerous creatures Beach visitors are being warned not to touch or pick up a particular type of shell known as the cone snail, as its venom is powerful enough to cause instant paralysis and, in severe cases, even death. Cone snails are easily recognisable by their uniquely shaped shells, which are narrow at the base and gradually widen towards the other end, featuring distinctive spirals or coils. These shells often boast striking colours and intricate patterns, making them attractive to collectors and curious beachgoers alike. However, despite their beautiful appearance, experts caution that handling these creatures is extremely dangerous. There are estimated to be between 600 and 700 different species of cone snails, all belonging to the family Conidae. Remarkably, every one of these species is venomous, capable of delivering a potent toxin through a specialised hunting mechanism. Cone snails are skilled predators. They hunt by using a harpoon-like tooth called a radula, which extends from their mouth like a long, flexible tube. This radula rapidly injects venom into prey such as fish, worms, or other molluscs, quickly immobilising them. One person who experienced just how serious cone snails can be is Becky Lee, who shared her story after finding a cone snail on a beach in Japan. Becky posted a warning video on TikTok describing the terrifying experience of unknowingly handling one of these deadly creatures. 'I was playing with one of the most venomous animals in the ocean, which can cause full paralysis or even death,' Becky explained in her viral post. She shared an unsettling 'fun fact' about the cone snail's nickname, the 'cigarette snail,' which comes from an urban legend claiming that after being stung, you only have enough time to light a cigarette before losing consciousness. Becky described the sting's sensation, saying: 'It can feel like a burning fire at the sting site, or sometimes it feels like nothing at all.' For her, the uncertainty was agonising, as she spent the next 72 hours in constant fear, unsure if she had been poisoned. One of the most frightening aspects of a cone snail sting is that there is no antivenom available, meaning victims are left hoping and praying for survival while receiving medical care. Thankfully, Becky was not stung, and she considers herself lucky that the snail did not feel threatened enough to defend itself. Her experience serves as a crucial reminder: not every pretty shell found on the beach is harmless. She concluded with a simple but powerful piece of advice for anyone who encounters a cone snail: 'If it's a cone snail, leave it alone.' While the radula is primarily used to hunt and paralyse the snail's usual prey, humans can be accidentally jabbed by stepping on or picking up the snail. These creatures are commonly found in shallow tropical and temperate waters, often near coral reefs, buried in sand, or hiding beneath coral ledges. Some species also live in mangrove environments. Cone snails vary significantly in size, ranging from as small as half an inch to as large as nine inches or more. They can be grouped based on their diets into three categories: molluscivores, which eat other mollusks; piscivores, which prey on fish; and vermivores, which feed on worms.
