Martina Holmberg

Conidae, commonly known as the cone snail, is a family of sea snails comprising a number of different genera. The shells of the snails vary in appearance. Some are adorned with mosaic patterns or wavy lines in ochre and orange. Others are pale pink, dotted, light green or violet. The beautiful patterns of the shells have made them very popular among collectors. What few people know, however, is that the cone snail is one of the most dangerous predators of the tropical coral reefs. Their venom is a complex mixture of hundreds of different toxins. Some can be life- threatening to humans, or cause respiratory failure, paralysis and visual disturbances. The most dangerous species, Conus geographus, lives in the Indian Ocean and has caused the deaths of many people. The snail typically buries itself in the seabed, where it awaits its prey. The cone snail’s refined sensory organs allow it to detect substances emitted by its prey underwater. With lightning speed, it thrusts its proboscis towards its victim, stinging it with its barbed venomous tooth. The prey becomes paralysed within seconds of being struck and can be swallowed through the snail’s ductile proboscis. The characteristic features and behaviours of this animal can also be seen in some people. A relationship with such an individual can be devastating and take a long time to heal from.