MARINE ANIMALS THAT STING 



43 



to be produced in the venom duct, is probably forced under pressure 

 by contraction of the venom bulb and duct into the radular sheath, 

 thereby being forced into the coiled radular teeth (Fig. 18). 



Medical Aspects. Stings produced by Conns are of the puncture 

 wound variety. Localized ischemia, cyanosis, numbness in the 

 area about the wound, or a sharp stinging or burning sensation are 



MOUTH 



DORSAL JAW 



SALIVARY GLAND 



ESOPHAGUS 



VENTRAL JAW 

 BUCCAL MASS 



BASE OF RADULAR 

 SAC 



SALIVARY DUCT 



SALIVARY 

 GLANDS 



CROP 

 ESOPHAGUS 



STOMACH 



INTESTINE 

 HEPATIC 

 DUCTS 



— INK DUCT 



INK SAC 



SPIRAL 

 CAECUM 



LIVER 



Fig. 19. Anatomy of the venom apparatus of the octopus. (Kreuzinger) 



usually the initial symptoms. Numbness and tingling begin at the 

 wound site and may spread rapidly, involving the entire body, but 

 are particularly pronounced about the lips and mouth. In severe 



Fig. 18. Top: Photomicrograph of the harpoon-like tip of the radular tooth 

 of C. striatus. Center: Radular tooth of Conas striatus. Bottom: Semidia- 

 grammatic drawing of a typical radular tooth of Conns. The radular teeth are 

 comprised of a fiat sheet of chitin rolled into a tube-like structure. The venom 

 is contained within the lumen of the tooth. Upper picture illustrates base of 

 tooth attached to ligament. Barbed tip of hollow tooth in lower drawing. 



(Kreuzinger) 



