A captivating underwater image has caught the attention of many, leading to discussions about the ‘foolishness’ yet remarkable ‘luck’ of a Reddit user.
When considering creatures you’d prefer not to encounter while swimming in the ocean, familiar names like sharks, octopuses, and sea snakes typically come to mind. However, there’s another marine creature, perhaps less well-known, that you might want to avoid even more.
Last month, Reddit user u/AArdvarkPaws posted on the subreddit r/animalid, sharing a photo from a visit to the Red Sea in Egypt.
The image depicts a pair of hands submerged in water, clutching what seems to be a shell.
The user mentioned that the photo was “taken a while ago” with an underwater GoPro camera.
“I thought I just found a very pretty seashell and was thinking about taking it home as a souvenir, but I noticed it’s still alive, feeling some weight and movement inside, so I decided to at least take some pictures of it,” they explained.
They continued, “Only months later I was told handling it like this might have been a very bad idea. Could you help me ID exactly what it was and what kind of danger I was really in? Was it realistically a threat to my life?”
The post poses the question: “How lucky I am to be still alive?”
It didn’t take long for social media users to respond, highlighting how fortunate the person is, considering what they’re holding isn’t just any shell but a textile cone snail.
One commenter said, “Are you insane?!”
Another added, “You’re lucky and you’re also foolish.”
A third chimed in with, “Dodged a NUKE.”
A more informative response followed: “This is a textile cone snail, Conus textile. All cone snails are venomous and this species is one of those known to be dangerous to humans.”
Typically, cone snails are described by the Aquarium of the Pacific as ‘among the most venomous creatures on Earth,’ often found ‘living in the sand beneath the coral and rocks in shallow waters.’
“They capture their prey using harpoon-like hollow teeth (radula) that quickly jab into their prey to inject toxic venom,” the aquarium explains.
Human encounters usually occur when someone either ‘steps on’ or picks up a cone snail from the beach or water.
U/AArdvarkPaws admitted they had been more worried about ‘sharks, jellyfish’ and other obvious threats, not considering the danger posed by this creature.
“I’ll certainly never pick one up again,” they vowed, yet they still wondered about the medical implications if attacked by a cone snail.
According to the National Library of Medicine, the effects depend on both the snail species and the victim, but the pain can range from ‘a sharp pricking sensation to unbearable pain.’
The sting may cause local numbness or extend to ‘entire regions of the body,’ with symptoms progressing from ‘initial weakness, sweating, and visual changes to generalized muscle paralysis, respiratory failure, cardiovascular collapse, and coma.’
“If a patient is untreated, death is rapid and often occurs within one to five hours. Less severe envenomations, resulting from contact with a molluscivore and vermivorous species, are milder in their toxic effects,” it warns. “These effects are also variable and may include numbness, paresthesias, and limb immobility.”
In essence, it’s best not to disturb any cone-shaped ‘shells’ from the ocean floor—or anything from the sea, really. However, if you do end up stung by a cone snail, it’s imperative to seek medical attention immediately.