God’s original creation was so different from the world that we observe today that it it is difficult for us even to imagine life in the Garden of Eden. Before Adam & Even sinned, there was no death…no thorns and no carnivory. Animals did not need poison to protect themselves from predators. Did the venom originally have another purpose? Or was it introduced at the Fall in Genesis 3? We don’t know all the details of how things changed, but we know that God provided an amazing balance between predator and prey. Part of that balance is defensive venom. This month we consider the humble cone snail (pictured above). Fossils of cone snails just like we see today have been found deep in the rock layers, supposedly going back 50 million years. Today these snails are typically found in warm tropical oceans worldwide. They have a harpoon like stinger. The shot is strong enough to penetrate wet suits and can be so toxic as to kill a person in 5 minutes. Some cone snails actually hunt fish with their little harpoon. They crawl stealthily through a shallow reef until they detect a prey animal nearby. Then the snail extends a long flexible tube. The harpoon is fired into the prey by a powerful muscular contraction. The venom paralyzes smaller fish instantly. The snail then retracts the subdued prey into its mouth. After the prey has been digested, the cone snail will regurgitate any indigestible material, such as spines and scales, along with the harpoon. The harpoon attack is one of the fastest movements in the animal kingdom, almost instantly flying at 56mph! Here is a creature that deserves a sign “Handle with care!”
Earth’s Most Venomous Animals – Part 3
