TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Cone Snail Envenomation A1 - Zafren, Ken A1 - Thurman, R. Jason A1 - Jones, Ian D. A2 - Knoop, Kevin J. A2 - Stack, Lawrence B. A2 - Storrow, Alan B. A2 - Thurman, R. Jason PY - 2021 T2 - The Atlas of Emergency Medicine, 5e AB - Cone snails, also referred to as cone shells or cone fish, are venomous predatory marine gastropod molluscs capable of inflicting a painful, dangerous sting to humans. They may be found in wide distributions throughout oceans and seas worldwide. Cone snails prey on marine worms and fish, using their venom apparatus to inject the victim with paralytic toxins. The cone snail uses a dart-like tooth that fires out from the shell. Many have beautiful patterns on the shell, making them attractive for unsuspecting divers to collect. When disturbed, the snail may deploy its harpoon like tooth and envenomate the handler. Smaller species inflict a sting similar to that of a wasp, but envenomations from larger species may cause intense pain, swelling, paresthesias, and vomiting. Rarely, severe envenomations may progress to muscle paralysis, respiratory failure, and death. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/18 UR - accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1181051124 ER -