Which species is grimly referred to as the "cigarette snail" due to its fast-acting venom?
Answer
Conus geographus
The species *Conus geographus* holds the grim moniker of the "cigarette snail" because its venom is notoriously fast-acting. This rapid toxicity implies that an individual stung by this particular specimen might only have enough time to smoke a single cigarette before succumbing to potentially fatal respiratory paralysis. This nickname starkly illustrates the severe medical emergency posed by this specific, highly dangerous species among the over 500 documented varieties of cone snails, highlighting the extreme variability in danger levels.
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What specialized structure does the cone snail use to inject venom?What are the toxic peptides that make up cone snail venom called?Which species is grimly referred to as the "cigarette snail" due to its fast-acting venom?What is the required decontamination step immediately following a cone snail envenomation?Why is heat therapy suggested for treating cone snail envenomation?For how long is sustained heat application (hot compress) ideally suggested for a cone snail sting?What system do conotoxins primarily target in the victim's body?What combination of factors heavily determines the survival outcome following a cone snail sting?What is a potential result of a sting from a less potent cone snail species?What difficulty often arises immediately after a cone snail injury affecting prognosis?