RT Book, Section
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
SR Print(0)
ID 1181051124
T1 Cone Snail Envenomation
T2 The Atlas of Emergency Medicine, 5e
YR 2021
FD 2021
PB McGraw-Hill
PP New York, NY
SN 9781260134940
LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1181051124
RD 2023/10/01
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.