The Textile Cone Conus textile ) is found in the warm, shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific oceans. This one was found in the lagoon of Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands . Its shell has a distinctive and attractive pattern making it a favorite among shell collectors. But beware! Accidentally stepping on a cone snail while wading could result in a nasty wound that could prove fatal

All cone snails are predators and hunt using a harpoon-like stinger (actually a modified tooth) that snaps out and injects their prey. The conotoxin is a fast-acting neurotoxin and quickly paralyzes the victim. Textile Cone’s close cousin Geography Cone Conus geographus ) is even more dangerous. Its venom is composed of hundreds of amino acids for which there is no antivenom . The lethal dose to humans is in the neighborhood 0.01-0.03 mg/kg, making it the most deadly poison in the world. Thus only about 1 mg could kill a 200 lb (90 kg) human. Cones can also stun prey by releasing an insulin-like substance into the gills of fish resulting in hypoglycemic shock