Beachgoers told to never pick up certain shell or it could kill you – it's eye-catching but you must resist urge

The Sun

16-06-2025

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."
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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.