The pretty shells of cone snails are very popular among collectors.

Deadly Beauties

Snails are much more than slow-moving salad eaters! Of course, most land snails are vegetarian, but many sea-snails are feared predators. Particularly fascinating is the method of hunting perfected by the Cone snails. They are among the most venomous animals on earth! You can marvel at the pretty snail shells in the shell showcase of the MEERESMUSEUM.

When looking for bristle worms, snails, mussels and small fish, the Cone shells glide along the ocean floor. There are sensitive smell sensors in its breathing tube. If they pick up a scent, the scent trail leads directly to the prey. The Cone snail stalks their prey and fires a poison harpoon! These darts are conversions of the original rasp denticles. Each one is used only once and will be replaced immediately after firing. The fired dart remains attached by a thread to the snail. Victims are paralysed instantly. The Cone snail can open its mouth extremely wide, like a snake. It devours prey that are almost as big as themselves.

Cone snails also use their venom harpoon for defence. Their shells are also in great demand for their exceptional beauty with enthusiasts. But great care is required when collecting them. One sting by a Cone snail can be fatal to humans. The neurotoxin is a mixture of hundreds of different components, which differs depending on the Cone snail species. This means that there is no antidote. Cone snails are interesting for medical research because certain components could be used as a painkiller.