7 of The Most Poisonous Fishes in the Sea

You might think that the most dangerous animals on earth are found on land, but you’d be surprise to find some scary, but sometimes beautiful, dangerous creatures lurking in the water. A few fish species are known for their poison, in fact there have been a few cases where people have died because if them. Below are the most poisonous fishes that you should keep an eye out for the next time you’re swimming or diving in open waters.

Crown of Thorns

This is names after exactly how it looks like, a big crown of thorns. They’re actually related to the starfish, but they’re poisonous. Their bodies are covered in thousands of venomous spikes. a sting from their spines can cause intense pain, swelling, and redness.

Surgeonfish

Although they look absolutely harmless, Surgeon fishes have spines that are dormant when they’re not threatened. The fish uses this by sticking the spines out like tiny knives. Their spines are highly poisonous, causing extreme pain and hypertension. You can even dies of hypovolemia because of a sting.

Pufferfish

Although they are extremely poisonous, Pufferfishes actually can’t inject poison into other creatures. The danger is when you eat them. A powerful toxin called tetrodotoxin is found in a number of their organs, including the liver, skin, and intestines. Even though they are poisonous, they’re still prized as a delicacy, and only certified chefs and restaurants are allowed to serve them.

Scorpionfish

The Scorpionfish is related to two other very poisonous fishes, the lionfish and stonefish. Their prickly skin and fins carry its poison. a single sting from this fish results to swelling and extreme pain, which spreads throughout the whole area in a very short time. Scorpionfishes are commonly seen in warmer, tropical waters.

Stingray

Stingrays can get pretty aggressive when provoked. They’d whip out their venomous tails and try to sting their opponents with it. There are usually seven spines on their tail, sometimes more. If the spine breaks, it often gets lodged into the flesh, causing a lot of pain and extreme bleeding.

Lionfish

One of the most beautiful, but deadly, fishes in the sea, the lionfish has spines on its dorsal side that it uses to defend itself. They’re non-aggressive and timid by nature and would never attack. Envenomation often only happens when you get too close and would hit its spine. The poison results to breathing problems, vomiting, headache, severe pain, and even paralysis of the cardiac muscles.

Stonefish

This fish is a venom storehouse. Glands found at the bottom of their dorsal fin keeps the potent venom and are released through 13 needle-like spines. Most stonefish victims end up injuring themselves because this fish is also a master of camouflage and it’s difficult to see them next to rocks and stones on the sea bed.

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6 Cute Animals that are Actually Very Dangerous

You might think that some wild animals are cute and cuddly, but be warned. There is a reason why professional animal handlers ask you to keep your distance from wild animals and to just let them be. Some of them, no matter how cute they are, may actually be dangerous.
Below are some cute but possibly dangerous animals.

Slow Loris

Although it might look harmless, with its big eyes and soft fur, it’s actually one of the very few poisonous mammals. Slow lorises are actually quit subtle, making them common in the animal smuggling and illegal pet trade. What makes this animal dangerous is a clear toxin that it stores in its elbows. This toxin causes death via anaphylactic shock. When threatened, it mixes this toxin with its saliva. It would even lick its fur to prevent predators from attacking it.

Pufferfish

Pufferfishes get their cuteness when they fully expand and look like a swimming ball. However, these fishes are actually the second most poisonous vertebrates on earth. Fishermen use very thick gloves when handling them. They’re not supposed to be eaten, but certain areas in japan offer these as an exotic delicacy. Pufferfishes poison can cause suffocation by paralyzing the diaphragm, and it doesn’t have an antidote.

Blue-Ringed Octopus

Another creature from the sea, these tiny octopuses look lovely with their blue rings and are even kept by a few as exotic pets. However, these animals are known to be one of the most venomous creatures in the ocean. They live in the waters around Australia up to Japan. They do bite when they feel threated, and there is not anti-venom for their poison.

Cassowary

Native to New Guinea and Australia, these giant birds resemble a flamboyant ostrich because of its colors. Since these birds are extremely territorial, they can get aggressive when defending their territory. They have large claws that they use to thrust forward and disembowel their targets. People are warned to stay away from these animals for their own safety.

Big Cats

These cats may look like giant versions of lazy home cats, but keep in mind those they most likely look at you more as dinner especially when they’re hungry. In the Americas, mountain lions or pumas are known to have occasional threat to small children and hikers. When mishandled, big cats can really threaten lives, so don’t think that these animals would roll-over and play with you when you go near them.

Moose

Commonly used in cartoons as a funny and loveable character, moose are the most regularly encountered and dangerous animals. Although they do prefer to keep away from humans, encounters often have bad endings. When threatened or disturbed, they often respond with aggression and charging. In fact, moose actually have more attacks on people compared to bears in a year.

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Pufferfish Goes Into Defense Mode

 

Pufferfish Goes Into Defense Mode. Have you ever seen what happens with a pufferfish goes into defense mode?

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Absurd Creature of the Week: ‘Pufferfish on Steroids’ Gets as Big as a Truck

If Finding Nemo taught us anything, it’s that we may as well rename the clownfish “that Nemo fish.” Beyond that, it’s a great study in marine ecology: Nemo’s rescue party casts off from the safety of the reef into the perilous open ocean, where one must be fast, inconspicuous or untouchably enormous to survive. Our heroes are none of these, and thus hijinks ensue.

Millions of years ago a small fish embarked on its own Nemo-esque voyage, abandoning reefs in favor of open ocean. Over the millennia it lost its tail and grew absolutely immense; today it can reach more than 10 feet in length and 5,000 pounds, thus putting itself beyond threat of all but the mightiest predators.

Source: Here

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