Latest news with #coneSnail
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Experts warn summer vacationers of beach seashells so toxic they can 'kill in minutes'
Experts are warning summer vacationers to be on the lookout for a hidden flesh-eating beach threat that could kill them within minutes. Hiding inside some seashells could be a cone snail — a highly venomous sea snail that can sting people with a poisonous toxin. People may unknowingly pick up the snail, which is found in coastal rockpools, after being attracted by its stunningly black-and-white patterned shell. However, if the shell is still inhabited, the snail can harpoon a human with its deadly stinger — injecting a cocktail of toxins that can kill in minutes. The snails can be found across the southern US coasts, but the types that can inject deadly venom have only been found near San Diego, California, and along Mexico 's Pacific coast. Larger snails are more likely to deliver deadly stings, scientists say, while children are more at risk of death from stings due to their smaller size. Some researchers fear the population of the snails, also found in the Indo-Pacific region, is now rising amid warming ocean temperatures. Tina Petway, an associate curator of molluscs at Houston's Museum of Natural Sciences, Texas, is among the lucky few to survive a sting from the snails. Petway was alone on a research trip to the Solomon Islands when she picked up a cone snail and, while turning to pick up another, it stung her three times. She tried to pull the barbs from her skin but, finding she couldn't, she then tried to walk back to her hut — already feeling herself losing vision and consciousness. Entering the hut moments later, she wrote a short note to her husband about what happened, took a lot of antihistamines - medications used during allergic reactions - and then climbed into bed. It was three days before she finally woke up again, and realized that she had just survived the deadly snail attack. 'I realized this other hand was on fire,' she said on TikTok, describing the attack, 'so when I looked I could see where it had stung me three times'. Afterward, she took a two-hour boat ride to the island's airstrip — and then waited there for three days for the next flight to get her off the island. She says she is routinely plagued by headaches ever since suffering the sting, but has not suffered from any other long-term complications. Australian marine snail specialist Dr Stephen Smith previously told ABC: 'It's one of the things that I've certainly instilled in my kids, that you don't pick up cone shells. 'Knowing what a cone shell looks like, the habitat you're likely to find them in… It's something we need to get out there so people are aware of the potential risk of this species.' Cone snails are predators, armed with a deadly harpoon that they use to shoot fish and then inject toxins to immobilize them. They do not hunt humans, but may deliver a sting if someone picks up their shell or accidentally steps on them in a rockpool or in the ocean. There are no good estimates on the number of stings and fatalities caused by the snails in the US or among American vacationers every year, although it is thought to be low. A 2016 study reviewing global data suggested there have been 139 cases of stings reported worldwide, of which 36 were fatal — based on information on cases they could find dating back to the 17th century. It particularly focused on the conus geographus species — identified by its brown cone-shaped shell with white bands or white spots and known on Mexico's Pacific coast — which it said was behind half of all cases and fatalities. 'Children succumb more often to C. geographus stings than adults and stings by larger snails are lethal more often than stings from smaller snails, regardless of the victim's age,' the researchers said. Also of concern is the conus textile — identified by a largely white cone-shaped shell covered with brown triangles — which can similarly deliver a nasty cocktail of neurotoxins in its stings. In many cases, stings from the snails are mild and not dissimilar from one due to a wasp or a bee — causing pain in the area. In some cases, however, this may progress to cyanosis — or blueness at the site due to decreased blood flow — and even numbness or tingling. Doctors say that in severe cases, stings can cause numbness in an entire limb that progresses to a loss of sensation around the mouth and then the entire body. Pictured above is the natural range for conus geographus, the most deadly cone snail Paralysis can then occur, which also affects the lungs — stopping someone from being able to breath. There is no antivenom for the stings, but doctors may treat them by immersing the affected area in water that is as hot as is tolerable — with the hot water potentially helping to denature the venom to make it less deadly. Pressure may also be applied to the affected area, which can help to slow the spread of the poison in the body. They may also inject a local anesthetic into the wounded area to try to ease the symptoms. Patients are advised to stay calm and avoid any excessive movement.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Traveler shares stark warning after she 'nearly DIES' from picking up sea shell on luxury beach
A woman has shared the terrifying moment she picked up a sea shell at the beach - only to realize later it was a deadly creature. Becky Lee, an American woman living in Japan, was exploring a beach in Okinawa when she noticed a beautiful shell, picking it up to inspect it. What she didn't know though, is that the brown and cream colored shell was home to the highly venomous cone snail. In the clip, Becky picks up the shell from the water, turning the pointed marbled object over in her hand and inspecting it before placing it back on the sand. In a follow up video posted to TikTok, Becky explained that style of shells is one of her favorite to collect 'because the pattern is so stunning.' 'So I pick up the shell, and that's when I notice it's alive,' Becky recounted. In the video, she then pointed out some 'black and white' tubing noticeable on the inside of the shell, which is the snail's siphon. 'This is also the end of the snail that shoots out to sting and inject its victims with venom that can lead to full paralysis or even fatality,' she continued. Luckily, Becky wasn't attacked by the snail and placed it back in the water - something she's very grateful for now. 'When a cone snail stings you, it can feel like a fire burning at the site, or it can feel like nothing. I spent the next 72 hours in pure paranoia, not knowing if I was stung,' she admitted. According to Aquarium of Pacific, cone snails are among the most venomous creatures on earth. Among the most toxic are the textile cone snail, geographic cone snail, and tulip snails. However, the site noted there is a higher risk of death if the geographic and textile snails are involved. There are about 600 species of cone snails, all of which are poisonous. They live in shallow reefs partially buried under sandy sediment, rocks or coral in temperate to tropical oceans, ranging in size from a penny to the size of eight inches. They are found in Indian and Pacific Oceans, southern Australia, Great Barrier Reef, Hawaii, Baja California, and California. They sting their victims by extending a long flexible tube called a proboscis, before firing a venomous, harpoonlike tooth. Their venom contains chemicals called conotoxins – highly potent neurotoxic peptides, which cause paralysis by blocking parts of the nervous system According to the National Library of Medicine, a cone snail sting can cause mild to moderate pain, and the area may develop other signs of an acute inflammatory reaction such as redness and swelling. Humans are usually stung when a cone snail is picked up from the water or stepped on at the beach. 'Conus toxins affect the nervous system and are capable of causing paralysis, which may lead to respiratory failure and death,' the site noted, adding there is no antivenom available. It is recommended that people avoid picking up cone-shaped shells - even if they think it's empty. According to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, less than 100 people have died after being stung. In 2022, scientists from the University of Glasgow have revealed plans to harness their venom to develop new painkillers that are more effective and less addictive than current options. Dr Andrew Jamieson, who is leading the project, said: 'The cone snail might seem like an unlikely prospect for breakthroughs in drug discovery, but the conotoxins it produces have a lot of intriguing properties which have already shown promise in medicine.' While the snail's venom can prove fatal for anyone standing in the cone snail's way, researchers believe that modified versions of their peptides could be used to safely block pain receptors in humans.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Beachgoers told to never pick up certain shell or it could kill you – it's eye-catching but you must resist urge
BEACHGOERS are being urged not to pick up a certain type of shell as its venom can cause instant paralysis – or even death. Cone snails' shells are narrow at the base and wide at the opposite end and have spires, or coils. Though their shells are often colourful and intricately patterned, anyone coming across them is being advised not to touch them or pick them up. There are at least an estimated 600-700 species of these marine gastropods, from the family Conidae, all of which are venomous. Cone snails are stealthy when hunting prey and have a harpoon-like tooth called a radula. This extends like a long, flexible tube and rapidly injects toxic venom. One person who had a narrow escape after picking up a cone snail's shell is Becky Lee, pictured above. Becky posted a warning on TikTok after finding one of the beach beauties in Japan. "I was playing with the most venomous creature in the ocean, that can lead to full paralysis or even fatality," said Becky. "Fun fact I learned is that the cone snail is nicknamed the 'cigarette snail', because, according to urban legend, you have just enough time after it stings you to light a cigarette ... before you pass." "When a cone snail stings you it can feel like a fire burning at the site, or it can feel like nothing," she added in the viral post. "I spent the next 72 hours in full paranoia not knowing if I was stung. "There is no ant-venom for the cone snail so if you were stung it really is a hope and pray situation. "Thankfully I was not stung and I'm just grateful the snail decided not to defend himself that day, but I hope my story helps spread the word that not all pretty shells are harmless." Mum shares urgent warning for summer beach trips with kids as pal's left in hospital following massive allergic reaction Becky has one last piece of advice for anyone who comes across one of the deadly creatures: "If it's a cone, leave it alone." While the radula is most often used to hunt and paralyze fish and worms before consuming them, humans can be jabbed by stepping on or picking up a cone snail. Why is there no antidote to a cone snail sting? The complexity of the toxins in the venom, and the fact that the venom composition varies widely from species to species, makes the creation of antidotes difficult. Typically, a cone snail's venom will initially cause tingling or numbness at the injection site, then spread to the impacted limb and eventually the entire body, according to the experts at Ocean Conservancy. Cone snails are not currently listed as endangered or threatened, but their populations are at risk of depletion due to being over-harvested for their highly-prized shells, as well as being collected for scientific and medical research on the potential uses of their venom as medicine. These tropical and temperate ocean dwellers tend to live in shallow waters and are commonly found near coral reefs or hiding in the sand or under coral shelves. Some cone snails spend their time among mangroves. Their sizes range from just half an inch to more than nine inches in length, and they comprise three groups according to their diets: molluscivores (mollusk-eaters), piscivores (fish-eaters) and vermivores (worm eaters). There are also several sections where you can learn about some of the fascinating creatures that dwell in the ocean.
