Most people associate the word “poisonous” with fauna such as snakes, spiders or scorpions. Pisces usually appears at the end of the list. This is not surprising, because due to the habitats of these creatures, a person may not see a poisonous fish with his own eyes for the rest of his life (which, in general, is not bad). However, there are daredevils who can’t wait to meet a dangerous representative of the sea world - in addition to their main “trump card,” poisonous fish often have a very unusual appearance, which attracts additional attention to them. Deceptive beauty is not only dangerous in its habitat, some fish can pose a threat once they are already on your plate. In order not to have your last dinner, you must strictly adhere to the cooking technology of a particular fish. So, for thrill-seekers, we present the ten most poisonous fish on the planet.
10. Zebra fish
This striped predator, which lives off the Asian and Australian coasts, has wide fins, reminiscent of true fans, that look truly impressive. However, you should enjoy the spectacle carefully, because the zebrafish poses a danger not only to its “brothers” in the ocean (the motley bandit can easily swallow a 20-centimeter fish). This is due to the very chic fans that contain needles filled with poison. For an unprepared person, an encounter with a zebrafish can turn into a real disaster, and the hellish pain from the injection is only half the problem. If you do not seek help in time, the poison will be activated and will lead to paralysis of the muscles and respiratory organs, and this can already be fatal.
9. Katran shark
Katran does not fit into stereotypes about sharks. This small fish (about three feet long) will never attack a person first. Small sharks live in almost the entire oceanic space of the planet. But are they so harmless and why then are they on this list? Since a person is always looking for a meeting with katrani (game fish), he takes a conscious risk. The mini shark's dorsal fins have spines with poisonous glands hidden in the back. Most injuries occur when removing the catch from the net: the fisherman receives a severe burn, accompanied by prolonged pain. Katran's poison is not lethal, but the wound will hurt for several days.
8. Puffer fish
A flounder the size of an average cucumber swims with its tail off the coast of Japan. The well-known image of a stinging ball with wide-open eyes is adopted by the puffer only in case of danger. In general, such a funny camouflage for the human eye is the only means of protection for this fish. I? Oh yes, almost all the insides of the fugu are filled with tetrodoxin (the poison belongs to the group of nerve agents, the lethal dose for humans is 1 mg). In Japan, fugu is a recognized delicacy; the chef requires a special license to prepare this dish, and the preparation itself consists of 30 strict steps. However, pufferfish venom is responsible for about 10 deaths per year (only recorded).
7. Toadfish
Unlike zebrafish, the next one on our list is far from traditional ideas of beauty and aesthetics. You can find the poisonous toadfish in the coastal waters of South and Central America. The main “trump card” of this small creature (about 35 cm long) is in the dorsal fin, where several spines with a dangerous substance are hidden. In general, there are not many prerequisites for being bitten by a toadfish, but if painful contact has already occurred, there is no need to panic and abruptly draw up a will. The sensations, of course, are extremely unpleasant, but still the toad’s poison is not fatal to humans.
6. Wart
Fish stone or wart are also not particularly beautiful, but are easily camouflaged with sea stones (hence the name). The creature's habitat is shallow waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. Tourists from Europe have a chance to encounter a wart at the resorts of Egypt. The problem with such a meeting is that, having “unexpectedly” stepped on a stone, a person receives an injection of 12 “syringes” of the wart’s dorsal fin, which contain the strongest poison. What can we say about pain if a person is ready to tear off his own leg. It is important for the unfortunate tourist to seek immediate medical attention, as the poison can cause death within 2 hours.
5. Stingray
This flounder, very similar to the panfish, is found in all tropical waters. Parsnips spend most of their lives on the bottom and tend to burrow into the sand to blend in, so an unwary tourist can step on the fish. The stingray's tail contains a spike containing poison (hence the name), but the creature uses its potential only for defensive purposes, and the poison does not pose a mortal danger. However, there is a known case where not a single claim worked. The victim turned out to be the famous naturalist Steve Irwin, who was conducting another underwater investigation. Contrary to expectations, one of the stingrays was the first to hit Irwin in the chest with its tail, causing instant death: the bite went straight to the heart.
4. Sea dragon
This inhabitant of the Black Sea and some parts of the Mediterranean Sea in its normal state resembles a large sprat 30 cm long, painted with unusual patterns. Since the fish lives in shallow water and does not like to advertise its presence (hiding or camouflaging), a person may accidentally step on a dragon. In this case, the creature activates the spines found in the dorsal fin and gills, from which poison glands enter the body of the “criminal”. Severe burning pain occurs, accompanied by swelling and cramps. To avoid serious consequences, a person should provide first aid within 10 minutes.
3. Scorpion fish
In the tropical and subtropical waters of our planet, sea bass lives - a fish with a unique appearance and the ability to break free. It is unlikely that the creature itself is beautiful, but the variegated color of the scorpion in thousands of variations is simply amazing. Like a fish's poisonous arsenal, about 20 dangerous spines were found around the perimeter of the calf. The color of the sea bass makes it easy to camouflage, so the fish may not be noticed and you may accidentally touch or step on it. Despite the staggering number of spines, the venom of sea bass is not fatal, but symptoms such as painful shock, low blood pressure and numbness of the victim last for several days.
2. Inimicus
A small coral fish that lives in tropical waters, as well as off the coast of Japan, can be very dangerous to humans. Like most of the representatives of our list, the main weapon of inimicus (spines with a poisonous substance) is hidden in the dorsal fins. The bite of this creature is rightly equated to the bite of a viper; the main thing here is timely assistance to a bather who has unsuccessfully entered the sea. By the way, our old friends from Japan catch enemies and use them as... well, of course, a delicacy. True, the cooking technology in this case is no longer so tough.
1. Surgeon fish
Finally, the most charming representative on our list. In fact, the surgeon fish looks very cute and cute. However, this 40-centimeter flat beauty always carries poisonous spines like a scalpel (hence, in fact, the name). The fish is not a predator and uses its ace in the hole only when necessary. One of these needs, by the way, may be a person’s desire to touch a cute fish. If unwanted contact occurs, the wound should be washed with warm water or treated with a hairdryer as soon as possible: under the influence of temperature, the poison is destroyed and loses its destructive properties
10. Zebra fish
This striped predator, which lives off the Asian and Australian coasts, has wide fins, reminiscent of true fans, that look truly impressive. However, you should enjoy the spectacle carefully, because the zebrafish poses a danger not only to its “brothers” in the ocean (the motley bandit can easily swallow a 20-centimeter fish). This is due to the very chic fans that contain needles filled with poison. For an unprepared person, an encounter with a zebrafish can turn into a real disaster, and the hellish pain from the injection is only half the problem. If you do not seek help in time, the poison will be activated and will lead to paralysis of the muscles and respiratory organs, and this can already be fatal.
9. Katran shark
Katran does not fit into stereotypes about sharks. This small fish (about three feet long) will never attack a person first. Small sharks live in almost the entire oceanic space of the planet. But are they so harmless and why then are they on this list? Since a person is always looking for a meeting with katrani (game fish), he takes a conscious risk. The mini shark's dorsal fins have spines with poisonous glands hidden in the back. Most injuries occur when removing the catch from the net: the fisherman receives a severe burn, accompanied by prolonged pain. Katran's poison is not lethal, but the wound will hurt for several days.
8. Puffer fish
A flounder the size of an average cucumber swims with its tail off the coast of Japan. The well-known image of a stinging ball with wide-open eyes is adopted by the puffer only in case of danger. In general, such a funny camouflage for the human eye is the only means of protection for this fish. I? Oh yes, almost all the insides of the fugu are filled with tetrodoxin (the poison belongs to the group of nerve agents, the lethal dose for humans is 1 mg). In Japan, fugu is a recognized delicacy; the chef requires a special license to prepare this dish, and the preparation itself consists of 30 strict steps. However, pufferfish venom is responsible for about 10 deaths per year (only recorded).
7. Toadfish
Unlike zebrafish, the next one on our list is far from traditional ideas of beauty and aesthetics. You can find the poisonous toadfish in the coastal waters of South and Central America. The main “trump card” of this small creature (about 35 cm long) is in the dorsal fin, where several spines with a dangerous substance are hidden. In general, there are not many prerequisites for being bitten by a toadfish, but if painful contact has already occurred, there is no need to panic and abruptly draw up a will. The sensations, of course, are extremely unpleasant, but still the toad’s poison is not fatal to humans.
6. Wart
Fish stone or wart are also not particularly beautiful, but are easily camouflaged with sea stones (hence the name). The creature's habitat is shallow waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. Tourists from Europe have a chance to encounter a wart at the resorts of Egypt. The problem with such a meeting is that, having “unexpectedly” stepped on a stone, a person receives an injection of 12 “syringes” of the wart’s dorsal fin, which contain the strongest poison. What can we say about pain if a person is ready to tear off his own leg. It is important for the unfortunate tourist to seek immediate medical attention, as the poison can cause death within 2 hours.
5. Stingray
This flounder, very similar to the panfish, is found in all tropical waters. Parsnips spend most of their lives on the bottom and tend to burrow into the sand to blend in, so an unwary tourist can step on the fish. The stingray's tail contains a spike containing poison (hence the name), but the creature uses its potential only for defensive purposes, and the poison does not pose a mortal danger. However, there is a known case where not a single claim worked. The victim turned out to be the famous naturalist Steve Irwin, who was conducting another underwater investigation. Contrary to expectations, one of the stingrays was the first to hit Irwin in the chest with its tail, causing instant death: the bite went straight to the heart.
4. Sea dragon
This inhabitant of the Black Sea and some parts of the Mediterranean Sea in its normal state resembles a large sprat 30 cm long, painted with unusual patterns. Since the fish lives in shallow water and does not like to advertise its presence (hiding or camouflaging), a person may accidentally step on a dragon. In this case, the creature activates the spines found in the dorsal fin and gills, from which poison glands enter the body of the “criminal”. Severe burning pain occurs, accompanied by swelling and cramps. To avoid serious consequences, a person should provide first aid within 10 minutes.
3. Scorpion fish
In the tropical and subtropical waters of our planet, sea bass lives - a fish with a unique appearance and the ability to break free. It is unlikely that the creature itself is beautiful, but the variegated color of the scorpion in thousands of variations is simply amazing. Like a fish's poisonous arsenal, about 20 dangerous spines were found around the perimeter of the calf. The color of the sea bass makes it easy to camouflage, so the fish may not be noticed and you may accidentally touch or step on it. Despite the staggering number of spines, the venom of sea bass is not fatal, but symptoms such as painful shock, low blood pressure and numbness of the victim last for several days.
2. Inimicus
A small coral fish that lives in tropical waters, as well as off the coast of Japan, can be very dangerous to humans. Like most of the representatives of our list, the main weapon of inimicus (spines with a poisonous substance) is hidden in the dorsal fins. The bite of this creature is rightly equated to the bite of a viper; the main thing here is timely assistance to a bather who has unsuccessfully entered the sea. By the way, our old friends from Japan catch enemies and use them as... well, of course, a delicacy. True, the cooking technology in this case is no longer so tough.
1. Surgeon fish
Finally, the most charming representative on our list. In fact, the surgeon fish looks very cute and cute. However, this 40-centimeter flat beauty always carries poisonous spines like a scalpel (hence, in fact, the name). The fish is not a predator and uses its ace in the hole only when necessary. One of these needs, by the way, may be a person’s desire to touch a cute fish. If unwanted contact occurs, the wound should be washed with warm water or treated with a hairdryer as soon as possible: under the influence of temperature, the poison is destroyed and loses its destructive properties