Chicken heart snail, also known as taro snail.

It is an invertebrate of the genus Taro snail of the family Taroidae of the order Neogastropoda. The shell of the chicken heart snail is conical or biconical, solid, low conch tower, large body conch layer; shell mouth is narrow and long.

Shell surface with long veins, conch veins, conch grooves, particles and shoulder nodules, and in a variety of colors such as dots, cloudy spots, axial and other shapes; shell skin has a thin and thick; tongue only marginal teeth, the end of the barbs; shell surface is smooth. Chicken heart snail because the shell is shaped like a chicken heart, so the name.

The chicken heart snail is distributed in China along the coast of Fujian and Guangdong, as well as Taiwan and the South China Sea islands, etc. It is also found along the coast of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, as well as on various islands, and often inhabits the coastal coral reefs in the equatorial waters.

The chicken heart snail is only active at night, in the hunting will be buried in the sand, only the long nose exposed, its tip part of the hidden openings, can shoot poisonous needles, so that the prey instant paralysis. The chicken heart snail is a carnivore, usually preying on worms, small fish and other mollusks in the sea.

The snail injects its toxin into its prey by touching it, and the toxin rapidly invades the nervous system until it kills the prey. The toxin in one snail can kill up to 10 adults, and if you are stung by a snail, it can cause severe pain and ulceration of the injured area, or it can cause cardiac arrest, which can be life-threatening.

Methods to avoid snail toxin

1. Avoid touching: Since the toxin of the snail is released through contact, you should avoid touching the snail or its habitat directly. When moving on the beach, especially in areas inhabited by snails, you should watch your feet to avoid stepping on them.

2. Avoid swimming or diving in snail-inhabited areas: Because snails are often hidden in coral reefs, rocks or underwater caves, you should be especially careful when swimming or diving in these areas. If you find a snail nearby, leave the area immediately.

3. Wear Protective Clothing: When doing beach activities, you can wear protective clothing with long sleeves and long pants to reduce the area of exposed skin and reduce the risk of being stung by chicken heart snails.