Cone snails randomness

[melchi]

So was listening to a podcast about stories related to obscure scientific discoveries and one of them was about a kid from the Philippines that liked to collect sea shells.

The prize of his collection was a geographic cone snail shell that he dug out of the sand while his dad was playing tennis.

Fast forward and he becomes a genetic researcher in America but because he was an only child he was expected to come back to support his parents. After trying to import equipment to do genetic research to the Philippines proved impossible he switched to collaboration.

Apparently geographic cone snails can kill a human. They extend a tentacle and shoot a harpoon out of it. But the poison is much more complex than snake venom. So it does weird things. Also how cone snails eat by engulfing fish is kinda disturbing.

So yeah..

 

[georgelee5786]

They've got guns!

 

[Rhaps]

Another thing to contribute to my thalassophobia

 

[melchi]

They've got guns!

I guess if they got armor and a cannon they are some kind of eldritch tank.

 

[J_Chemist]

The ocean is a terrifying place.

Good thing I'm on land.

 

[Iamnotabot]

 

[RepresentingCaution]

The ocean is a terrifying place.

Good thing I'm on land.

There are terrifying things on land, too. Poison dart frogs, black widow spiders, mountain lions, drought. I don't think they have to worry about drought in the ocean.