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Dangerous Fish Scorpaenidae family: Stonefish, Toadfish, Weeverfish etc |
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Photo: Microsoft Encarta © 2001 |
FACTS:
The Stonefish is an ugly brute;
if it had a shoulder, there would be a chip on it. Stonefish, Toadfish,
Lionfish and Weeverfish lurk half under the seabed in tropical and
temperate waters. Venomous Scorpaenidae live around India, South Africa,
Australia, the Philippines, China and North America.
The Weeverfish can be found as
far north as the British Isles. THREAT: The dorsal fins of the Stonefish and Scorpionfish comprise a series of venom-loaded hollow spines. The pain from these can be excruciating. Death is rare but results from heart failure. |
| See Ciguatera Homepage for information about fish that are dangerous to eat. | TREATMENT: The remedy is immersion in very hot water - as hot as you can bear without scalding. Keep at it for up to two hours. There is an anti-venom for Stonefish. |
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The Stargazer Family: Uranoscopidae |
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Photo: University of Florida (see link below) |
FACTS: This chubby fellow lives in the
Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic from Spain down to Senegal.
A variation, the Southern
Stargazer, inhabits the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. THREAT: The Stargazer deserves special mention. Not only does it have a barb to spike your hand or foot, but it can also administer an electric shock. The effect of the shock is greater out of the water, so anglers beware! |
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TREATMENT: See entry above for Scorpaenidae family. |
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