[4] The geography cone has a wide, violaceous white or pink aperture and numerous shoulder ridges or spines.

Its walls are also noticeably thinner and lighter compared to other cone shells of similar length and size.

They occur in the Red Sea, in the Indian Ocean off Chagos, Réunion, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique and Tanzania.

The geography cone snail is highly dangerous; live specimens should be handled with extreme caution.

[4][6][7] The venom of the geography cone snail is a complex mix of hundreds of different toxins that is delivered through a toxoglossan radula, a harpoon-like tooth propelled from an extendable proboscis.

There is no antivenom for a cone snail sting, and treatment consists of keeping victims alive until the toxins wear off.

[8][9] In reality, even the most venomous cone snails take about one to five hours to kill a healthy human, though medical care must still be prompt as, without it, death is almost certain.

[10] Among the compounds found in cone snail venom are proteins which, when isolated, have great potential as pain-killing drugs.