Marlin spikes [Hastula]

Description

Hastula is a genus of marine snails known as marlin spikes due to their sharply pointed, slender shells that resemble the spike of a marlin's bill. The shell's architecture is streamlined, allowing these snails to burrow easily in sandy substrates. They are distributed in tropical and subtropical seas where they prey on small invertebrates, using a venomous harpoon-like structure for hunting. Their shells are often pale or white, sometimes with faint patterning.