- Aquarium of the Pacific
Cone snails are among the most venomous creatures on earth. Among the most toxic are the textile, geographic, and tulip snails and there is a higher risk of death if the geographic and textile snails are involved. All capture their prey by means of harpoon-like hollow teeth (radula) that are rapidly jabbed into their prey to inject the toxic venom. Attacks on humans usually occur when a cone snail is either stepped on in the ocean or picked up from the water or the beach.
Facts and Features
- Geographic Distribution
Generally temperate to tropical oceans, including the Indian and Pacific Oceans, southern Australia, Great Barrier Reef, Hawaii, Baja California, and California.
- Amazing Facts
California’s cone snail, Conus californicus, is found from San Francisco to Baja where it lives in sand or gravel near rubble, from the low tide mark down to 30 m (100 ft). It is yellowish-brown with a faint white band, and very small, 1.9-4.1 cm (0.75 -1.6 in) long. It feeds on a wide variety of foods, but it prefers other snails. Although venomous, the California cone snail's toxin is not very potent.
- At the Aquarium
Live cone snails are not on exhibit. There is a graphic exhibit of cone snail shells in the Aquarium's Tropical Pacific Gallery.
