Conus sanguineus

Conus sanguineus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails, cone shells or cones.[1]

Conus sanguineus
Drawing of a shell of Conus sanguineus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Conoidea
Family: Conidae
Genus: Conus
Species:
C. sanguineus
Binomial name
Conus sanguineus
Kiener, 1850
Synonyms[1]
  • Conus (Stephanoconus) sanguineus Kiener, 1850 · accepted, alternate representation
  • Tenorioconus sanguineus (Kiener, 1850)

These snails are predatory and venomous. They are capable of "stinging" humans. Commonly, they are known as cone snails.

Description

The size of the shell varies between 38 mm and 78 mm. The spire is concavely elevated, not coronated. The body whorl is smooth, slightly striate below. It is irregularly marbled with chestnut and white, with equidistant chestnut revolving lines bearing white, granularly elevated spots.[2]

Distribution

This marine species occurs off the Lesser Antilles and from the Bahamas to Venezuela

Interactions with Humans

Cone snails are typically not aggressive, so when humans are stung by them it's usually due to handling the snails. Cone snails have a small dagger like tooth that injects their prey with a "rapid acting venom".[3] Mild stings feel similar to a bee sting with a burning or stinging sensation. Other symptoms include "fainting..., itching, loss of coordination, heart failure, difficulty speaking, difficulty breathing, and double vision.[3] Some stings can cause more severe symptoms such as cyanosis, numbness in the limbs, paralysis, coma or even death. Symptoms may appear just a few minutes after a sting or possibly days after.[3]

References
  1. Bouchet, P. (2015). Conus sanguineus. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=430338 on 2015-11-24
  2. G.W. Tryon (1884) Manual of Conchology, structural and systematic, with illustrations of the species, vol. VI; Philadelphia, Academy of Natural Sciences
  3. http://www.emedicinehealth.com/wilderness_cone_snail_sting/article_em.htm
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