Conus achatinus - published in the "Bednallia" (local Darwin Shell Club Bulletin, about 1996)

"Unlucky Find" by Alan Klishans.

Alan Klishans set out to collect Conus achatinus at low tide, close to the Nightcliff Jetty, Darwin. They were collected for Ron Evans of Buderim, Queensland, who had requested them for venom studies.

This area is usually of flat, sedimentary slabs, lying on top of solid rocky reef, under which these cones can be found. There are also boulders embedded in the reef or lying on top. At this time, this particular area also had an unexpected, one inch deep, layer of silt and coarse sand. Three C. achatinus were actually crawling through the sandy region next to large ironstone rock outcrops. Alan picked these up.

One semi-adult cone actually stung him through the plastic glove he was wearing, penetrating into the thick part of the thumb of the right hand. The pain was very sharp at the moment of the sting. For the next one to two minutes it remained localised. After one hour this pain had extended to the elbow. There were none of the classical symptoms of numbness of lips, nausea or dizziness, etc. The only effect was severe pain which lasted until three o'clock in the afternoon of that day.

The Conus achatinus is supposedly a piscivorous species. It is noted that every year C. achatinus is in the process of egg-laying the second week of August. This year the first cone shell seen laying eggs was on 31 July at Nightcliff Reef. Possibly the cone that stung Alan was more aggressive then than usual because it was the breeding season.

Geographus Cone Victim - by Milton East, Exmouth W.A. Western Australian Shell Club (WASC) 1966 pp.8 &16

This C. geographus sting to Milton.East occurred off Exmouth in early 1988. The East's were long time residents at Exmouth, and retired to Geraldton a few years ago. His wife also photographed the wound on a daily basis, showing the progression of the poison discolouration of the skin through to the clear-up.

Milton East. Age 59 8/12 yrs. Non smoker / drinker. Fit & healthy.

Feb 1 '88.

My wife Aileen & I were diving on hookah in 50' of water in Light House Bay, 2 km west of Mildura Wreck, N.W. Cape.

At 1100 hr. I found 2 live Geographus Cones. I put them into a mesh bag & hung them on my lead belt above my right hip.

1200 hr. I felt a very sharp pain in my right buttock like a red hot needle. It made me jump & I thought for a second that a sea snake had bitten me, then I realized it was a cone shell sting. Signalling Aileen what had happened, she took the bag from my belt & I swam over to free the anchor from the ledge & we both headed up.

1202 h. I was getting a bit disoriented & legs were feeling slightly paralysed and heavy.

1203 h; Got into the dinghy OK. By this time my heart seemed to be having palpitations, racing & thumping a lot. I also had trouble getting enough air, taking short sharp breaths. The sting was like a bee sting all around the area. Aileen had to help me get the vest, belt & gear off as I lost concentration & she kept telling me to breathe deeply.

1204 h After taking off stretch pants, Aileen found the barb hooked in the wet suit. Removing the wet suit & bathers, the puncture mark was just a tiny speck but quickly swelled & reddened to the size of a 2 cent piece.

1205 h Inspection of the puncture mark revealed nothing but Aileen sucked the spot in case venom was still on the skin. In moments the soreness spread into the surrounding area. Legs felt a paralysis coming into them.

1210 h . I started the outboard motor & headed back to shore at Bills Way. A dazed feeling lingered & my heart-beat had settled down again.

1235 h. Arrived at boat ramp at Bills Way. Feeling drowsy & had trouble getting my legs going. I had to concentrate on walking & wobbled like a drunk.

1305 h. Drove home OK. I had a shower & rang the hospital. Sting area fairly sore, slight swelling & hot to touch, reddish about 4" around puncture.

1320 h. Arrived at hospital. Had blood pressure (taken), pulse & temp taken. Lung capacity test & al this repeated every 15 min. for the 1^st hour. Then every 1/2 hour & advised to rest.

1700 h. Left hospital. Ate normal but felt more tired than usual.

2130 h. Went to bed but didn't sleep properly through the night

Feb 2.

0445 h. Got up & rang work to report that I would not come in. Sleep had been very fitful & eyes felt like lead balls, took 2 Panadol caps.

1200 h. Had several hours good sleep. Legs felt stiff & heavy. Feeling drowsy all day.

Feb 3.

0650 h. Got up & went to work. Felt drowsy all day, lacked concentration. Legs felt like Id run a marathon. (work in control room).

Found it hard to sleep on my side as normal, due to a heavy feeling in my chest like indigestion, I felt more comfortable sleeping on my back.

Feb 5. Sleeping better, but still drowsy during the day.

Feb 6. Sting area swelling & red lump appeared, became itchy.

Feb 9. Sting area very red, itchy & spreading with small lumps around the outer edge of the immediate patch, about 4" from the puncture spot. Visited Dr. & he prescribed an antibiotic in case of infection, also cortisone cream to relieve the itchy rash.

Feb 10. Itching areas & rash now 7" by 4", hot & aggravating. This was worse when I touched the area to rub on the Aristocort cream, & even with a very light touch it would flare up & get extremely itchy. Fortunately the flare up didn't last long, as it felt like acid had been poured on the spot. Dr. Knight prescribed Phenargen to relieve this effect while I was sleeping.

Feb 11. Sting area still 7". Red swollen & itchy. Daily visit to Dr.

Feb 13. Sting & rash fading, also swelling going down.

Feb 16. Sting patch faded back to normal with spot where the barb went in & the skin peeling about 2" around the puncture mark, probably from where the most swelling occurred. Legs still feel slight weariness.

Feb 22. Dived again in the same area & depth. No problem !