Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:32:50 -0500
Reply-To: Conchologists List <CONCH-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
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From: Aurantius Shells <conus@AURANTIUS.COM>
Subject: Re: Cone Shells
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My wife was "stung" by Conus mindanus on a diving trip last year. Her
hand was a little swollen but it quickly resided.
Andre Poremski
Lyle Therriault wrote:
> In terms of handling Conidae,
>
> On many occasions I have handled live conus jaspideus stearnsi, conus
> anabathrum and conus spurius along Florida's coasts. I can say that I
> have done this without the aid of utensils or any type of protective
> gear for my hands. Usually I pick them up by holding the largest part of
> the shell which would be the shoulder, and spire up. I would never pick
> one up by the shells base. The jaspideus have actually came out of their
> shell and crawled along my palm, slowly. Most of the time the animals
> retreat into their shell and do not come out unless put on sand. One
> time however I picked up a conus anabathrum to measure it, (I guess most
> collectors don't use that name anymore) and it extended it's probiscus
> halfway up the first whorl on the dorsum side of the shell. I think if I
> had not looked at it, it might have speared me, or attempted too. In
> several fresh dead specimens with the animal intact I have noticed that
> the ligament between the barb and poison gland is rather long and kinked
> up (much like this> WWWWWWW) and thus I had the thought that it could
> possibly shoot it's barb almost the length of it's total shell length. I
> would have to study this more in order to be conclusive.
>
> Lyle Therriault
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ellen Bulger
> Sent: Jan 21, 2009 8:01 PM
> To: CONCH-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: [CONCH-L] Cone Shells
>
> Collecting, I used a long-handled spoon, and I put the cones into a
> clear plastic jar (with a few small holes to allow water to drain in
> and out) with a hinged lid. Gingerly, all very gingerly! And this
> while being rolled in the surf. It was, um, exciting. But then these
> days I like to catch wasps.
>
> I wouldn't handle even the tiniest of cones with my bare hands. But
> I have heard that it is the big ones that do you in!
>
> On Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 6:42 PM, Andrew Grebneff
> <goose1047@gmail.com <mailto:goose1047@gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> > I have heard that generally the tent marked cones have the more
> > virlunt poisons.
>
> It would be dangerous to make assumptions as to which are dangerous.
> Conus spurius has been known to give a painful bite, and someone
> with
> an allergy to cone venom (not "poison") could well die if bitten by
> any "harmless" cone.
>
> As to tenting, C. striatus is known to be a deadly species. and
> is not tented.
>
> Tented widemouthed cones are all related to the known danger
> Cylinde.
> textile, and are congeneric eg C. gloriamaris.These shells are
> easily
> identified by the style of white tents with dark-brown frames; other
> tented cones eg Conus marmoreus lack frames. Species of
> Cylinder, one
> of the few members of of the multiplicity of unsupportable "genera"
> often split from "Conus", also have characteristically ciolored
> animals, with a red-edged siphon.
>
> Other widemouthed beasts related to C. omaria and C. pennaceus are
> also dangerous; these probably belong to another distinct genus,
> possibly along with C. geographus. These are tented species, again
> without frames.
>
> I would not want to bet that a small specimen of a dangerous species
> is any less dangerous than an adult; there may be less toxin
> injected
> during a bite, but it's the same toxin.
>
> I think it would be wise to take a modicum of care handling ANY live
> (or suspected live!) cone, and great care with any widemouthed or
> textile-patterned specimen. Remember that the animal's proboscis can
> reach any point of its shell, so handle using tools or a container
> lip, never fingers where possible. And I bet that that proboscis can
> move fast.
>
> --
> Andrew Grebneff
> Dunedin, New Zealand
> Fossil preparator
> Mollusc, Toyota & VW van nut
>
> <goose1047@gmail.com <mailto:goose1047@gmail.com>>
>
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>
>
> Lyle Therriault,
> Property Manager
> Cone Shell Collector
> Toyota Truck Fan
> Hunter-Gatherer
> Artist
> Purveyor of Peace and Quiet
>
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