These beautiful seashells can give you a nasty surprise if you hold them for too long

Beach visitors in the Caribbean are being warned that snatching up some of those beautiful seashells can result in a nasty surprise.

The Cayman Islands Department of Environment posted the alert days ago and included a photo of what happened to one beachgoer after he picked up a shell easily found along Gulf Coast beaches.

“While exploring our shores, a Grand Cayman resident picked up a marine snail (pictured) which started to secrete white mucus while on his hand. An hour later, the spot on his hand turned blue-purple,” the department posted on Facebook.

“We believe the resident interacted with Plicopurpura patula, a type of rock or murex snail. When threatened or disturbed, these snails are known to secrete a white fluid which becomes a purple dye when exposure to sunlight and air.”

The mucus secreted by the creatures, also known as widemouth rocksnails, is not known to be harmful, but the department said seeking medical attention is encouraged as a precaution.

“While enjoying our wonderful marine environment, we advise the public to avoid touching and collecting any marine wildlife,” the department said. “Not only may the interaction harm or kill the specimen, but some may also have defense mechanisms (e.g. stings) that may be painful or harmful.”

The ribbed shells are considered highly collectible, with a mix of colors that include variations of black, gold, orange and tan, according to Gastropods.com. High quality examples can sell for about $15, according to online sales sites.

Widemouth rocksnails grow to about an inch, according to iNaturalist.org. Their shells are found along Gulf Coast states and both coasts of Florida, but the snails live primarily from central Florida south to Venezuela, according to the site.

The snails prefer to live “on coral and rocky habitats,” SeaLifeBase.SE reports.

This story was originally published June 9, 2020 at 9:46 AM with the headline "These beautiful seashells can give you a nasty surprise if you hold them for too long."