The victim of a cone shell is first speared and then paralysed by small teeth or harpoons
which carry poison. These small harpoons have a number of barbs and are hollow.
When the prey is sighted, the harpoon is pushed out like a dart and injected into the target.

Venom is then pumped into the prey which usually remains gripped by the cone shell although
sometimes it may remain detached. In this manner, passing fish are speared, paralysed and then
eaten. Each cone shell possesses a number of harpoons which are about one centimetre in length
and are made of a hard, bone like substance. The principle effect is to cause paralysis of the
major muscles of the body.