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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8 Masters of Camouflage in the Animal Kingdome

Camouflage is one of the most important features certain animals have. They use it both for defense and offence, to catch prey and to keep away from predators. Whether it’s the famous chameleon that blends into its background or the jaguar disappearing into the jungle foliage ready to strike at any time, camouflage divides the fine line of eat or be eaten.

Below are 8 animals with extraordinary camouflage skills.

Common Baron Caterpillar

Hungry birds in the woods of western Malaysia would be lucky finding these caterpillars. It’s common for butterfly larvae to blend into the plants around them, but the baron caterpillar has the ability to vanish into the vegetation. They’re common amongst mango trees.

Pygmy Seahorse

Living in coral reefs is rough, so most of the animals that live here use camouflage to see another day. Pygmy seahorse are so good in keeping it low key that they were only recently discovered after wild-caught corals were taken to an aquarium. They stay near gorgonian corals found in the Pacific Ocean and match the coral’s colors and texture perfectly.

Mossy Leaf-Tailed Gecko

Although this gecko looks sort of like it’s being overrun by moss, it’s actually its skin. They’re seen in the forest of Madagascar and blend into the trees. Their mossy, bark-colored skin and texture makes them fit perfectly into the background. These geckos are also able to change colors like chameleons.

Jaguar

The only true big cat that’s native to North and South America, their beautiful spots and patterns help them become invisible and blend into a wide variety of backgrounds. Unfortunately, their camouflage skills didn’t help their population as their natural habitats are being used for human interest. They’re mostly seen in Central America.

Tawny Frogmouth

These birds are known for their huge yellow eyes and gaping beaks. Although they look like owls, these eerie birds are a class of their own. They simply perch on tree branches and blend in, wait for their prey and then take them without even flying.

Katydid

Katydids have leaf like bodies that helps them dodge a number of predators, like frogs, snakes, and birds. Although you might have a hard time spotting them, you can hear them clearly. They rub their wings together and make a "katy-did" sound.

Stonefish

It’s easy to miss this animal when you’re snorkeling around the waters of the Pacific and Indian Ocean. They look exactly like rocks, hence their name. They live around rocks and reefs and spend most of their time on the sea bed, waiting for pray. Stonefishes are also the most venomous fish in the planet, so it’s probably better if you don’t step around rocky areas in these waters.

Arctic fox

One of the most beautiful creatures that can stand the extreme cold in the arctic, the arctic fox has a ghostly, silver-blue toned coat that helps it stay warm and disappear into the snow. A remarkable characteristic of the arctic foxes coat is that it changes color during summer, which can let it hide amongst plants and rocks.

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Reef Stonefish – Poison that Kills

Swimming around rocks and corals is probably one of the most amazing things to do when you’re out in the water. It’s like taking a walk in an underwater garden since you get to enjoy the wonderful colors of the reef and aquatic life that swims by. However, you should always be cautious when swimming in these areas. Some of the most poisonous creatures are masters of camouflage and you won’t even notice them, even if they’re right in front of you.

Reef Stonefishes are one of the best when it comes to camouflage. They look exactly like a part of a coral formation or a rock and it’s really easy to pass by them. They’re commonly found all throughout the tropical waters in the Indo-Pacific. If you’re lucky enough to actually spot one of these fishes, you might want to keep your hands away since it has short dorsal spines that can inject very poisonous venom. In fact, the poison can easily take a grown man down in a matter of minutes.

There are two species of stonefish, the Estuary Stonefish and the Reef Stonefish. The easiest way to tell them both apart is by looking at their eyes. There is a deep depression between the Reef Stonefish eyes while the Estuary Stonefish has a bony ridge between its eyes. They grow to about 35 cm but some 50 cm specimens have been seen. Since they’re very well camouflaged and fast, prey like crustaceans and smaller fishes don’t see what’s coming.  

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