So called because of their conical, cylindrical shape, cone shells are shellfish or marine snails which possess a toxin capable of inflicting serious injury to human beings and in some instances have caused death.
            There are a wide variety of cone shells in Australia, most of which are found in northern, tropical waters. Some species have been found in temperate regions but these have been rare sightings .
            The shell which is colourfully patterned is usually straight sided with a tapering body whorl, a low spire and a narrow aperture or opening into the first whorl of the shell.
            Cone shells are bottom dwelling creatures. During the day, they bury themselves in the sand and at night emerge to crawl around in search of food. Some species kill and eat small fish, others feed on worms, molluscs and other shells.

             Poisonous dart The victim of a cone shell is first speared and then paralysed by small teeth or harpoons which carry poison. These small harpoons have a number of barbs and are hollow. When the prey is sighted, the harpoon is pushed out like a dart and injected into the target.
             Venom is then pumped into the prey which usually remains gripped by the cone shell although sometimes it may remain detached. In this manner, passing fish are speared, paralysed and then eaten.
              Each cone shell possesses a number of harpoons which are about one centimetre in length and are made of a hard, bone like substance. The principle effect is to cause paralysis of the major muscles of the body.

    The most dangerous species of cone shell is the geographer cone which has been known to cause at least one death in Australia. It is about 10 to 15 centimetres long and has banded brown to gold markings on a white background.
    At least six other cone shells found in tropical waters are known to have sufficient venom to kill a man.  The following shells are highly dangerous and are listed in order of their probably toxicity: the geographer cone, cloth of gold cone, tulip cone, marbled cone, court cone and pearled cone. Studies conducted on the striated cone suggest that it does not contain sufficient venom to be considered dangerous.

    Cone shells should not be handled except by those wearing heavy gloves. Those who inadvertently pick up one to examine it are in great danger if the shell is still occupied by the original inhabitant. Even holding one by the broad, blunt end may not guarantee safety because the snout with its poisonous dart can extend from the narrow end to near the base.
    Impaled by one of these darts, a victim will first feel pain which soon gives way to numbness. If the dose of venom has been large, the next sensation will be tingling around the lips and mouth. Soon after this, breathing may become difficult and the victim may lapse into a coma. Death will follow unless medical attention is sought.
    In 1935 a young man picked up a live cone shell on Hayman Island. Stung on the hand, he felt no pain and the only visible evidence was a small puncture mark on the palm of his hand. After 10 minutes he complained of stiffness of the lips and after 20 minutes his sight was blurred. After one hour he was unconscious and in a deep coma and five hours after being stung he was dead. The shell was later identified as the highly toxic geographer cone which nowadays is rarely sighted.

    Unfortunately no antivenine exists to combat the toxin of cone shells. A broad pressure bandage should be applied to the area which has been stung to stop the venom spreading to the vital parts of the body.
    The victim should be kept still and medical attention sought immediately. Prolonged mouthto-mouth resuscitation may be required if breathing becomes difficult. If a victim reaches modern intensive care treatment in a hospital early enough, it is possible to survive the paralysis which can often prove fatal.