Most people associate representatives of the fauna with the word "poisonous" such as snakes, spiders or scorpions. Fish usually appear at the end of the listing. It is not surprising, because by virtue of the habitats of these creatures, a person may not encounter poisonous fish with his own eyes during his whole life (which, in general, is not bad). However, there are daredevils who only crave to run into a dangerous representative of the marine 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 dangerous not only in the habitat, some fish can pose a threat, being already in the plate. In order not to dine for the last time, you must strictly adhere to the technology of cooking specific fish. So, for those who love thrills, we present the ten most poisonous fish on the planet.
10. Zebra fish
This striped predator that lives near the Asian and Australian shores, has wide fins, reminiscent of real fans - it looks really impressive. However, you should carefully enjoy the spectacle, because a zebra fish is not only a threat to "colleagues" in the ocean (a motley bandit can easily swallow a 20-centimeter fish). The blame is on those very chic fans, in which the needles filled with poison are located. For an unprepared person, a meeting with a zebra fish can turn into a real disaster, and the infernal pain from an injection is only half the trouble. If you don’t ask for help in time, the poison activates and leads to paralysis of the muscles and respiratory organs, and this could already result in death.
9. Shark Katran
Katranas do not fit the stereotypes about sharks. This small fish (length is about a meter) will never attack a person first. Little sharks inhabit almost the entire oceanic space of the planet. But are they harmless, and why are they on this list? Since a person is always looking for a meeting with katranas (commercial fish), he takes a conscious risk. On the dorsal fins of the mini-shark there are spikes, in the back of which poisonous glands are hidden. Most wounds occur when catch is taken from the net - the fisherman receives a severe burn, accompanied by prolonged pain. Katran poison is not fatal, but the wound will ache for several days.
8. Puffer fish
A flat fish the size of an average cucumber, swimming forward with its tail off the coast of Japan. The well-known image of a spiky-eyed prickly ball puffer takes only in case of danger. In general, such a funny camouflage to the human eye is the only means of protecting this fish. Poison? Oh yes, almost all the interiors of the puffer are filled with tetrodoxin (poison belongs to the group of nerve agents, for a person a lethal dose of 1 mg). In Japan, fugu is a recognized delicacy, a cook needs a special license to cook this dish, and the cooking itself consists of 30 rigorous steps. However, fugu poison is the cause of death of about 10 people annually (only registered).
7. Toad fish
Unlike zebra fish, the next representative on our list is very far from traditional ideas about beauty and aesthetics. You can meet poisonous toad fish in the coastal waters of South and Central America. The main "trump card" of this small (about 35 cm in length) creature is located in the dorsal fin, where several thorns with a dangerous substance lurk. In general, there are not so many prerequisites for being stung by a toad fish, however, even if there is painful contact, then you should not panic and sharply make a will. The sensations, of course, are extremely unpleasant, but nevertheless, the poison of the toad fish does not belong to humans that are fatal.
6. Wart
A stone fish or warty fish is also not very beautiful, but it easily disguises itself as sea stones (hence the name). The creature's habitat is shallow areas of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Tourists from Europe have a chance to meet warts in the resorts of Egypt. The trouble with such a meeting is that, stepping on a stone with a “surprise”, a person receives an injection of 12 “syringes” of the dorsal fin of the wart, which contains the strongest poison. Is it worth talking about pain, if a person is ready to tear off his own leg. It is important that an unlucky tourist be provided with immediate medical attention, since poison can cause death within 2 hours.
5. Stingray
This flat fish, very reminiscent of a pan, is found in all tropical waters. The stingrays spend the lion's share of life at the bottom, and they tend to bury themselves in the sand for the purpose of camouflage, so an careless tourist can step on the fish. A spike with poison is located at the slope in the tail (hence the name), however, the creature uses its potential only for defense purposes, and the poison does not pose a mortal danger. Nevertheless, one case is known when neither statement worked. The victim was the famous naturalist Steve Irwin, who led another underwater survey. Contrary to expectations, one of the stingrays was the first to deliver a smashing tail punch to Irwin's chest, causing instant death - the sting landed exactly in the heart.
4. Sea dragon
This resident of the Black Sea and some parts of the Mediterranean in the usual 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 their own presence (hiding or disguising themselves), by inattention a person can step on a dragon. In this case, the creature activates the thorns located in the dorsal fin and gills, from which poisonous glands enter the body of the “offender”. There is a sharp burning pain, accompanied by swelling and convulsions. In order to avoid serious consequences, a person should be given first aid within 10 minutes.
3. Scorpion
Scorpion lives in tropical and subtropical waters of our planet - a fish with a unique appearance and the ability to molt. In itself, the creature is still unlikely to be beautiful, but the mottled coloring in many thousands of options is simply amazing. In the same way as the poisonous arsenal of fish - about 20 dangerous spines are located around the perimeter of the body. The color of the scorpion contributes to their easy disguise, so the fish can not be noticed and accidentally touch or step on it. Despite the impressive number of spikes, the scorpion venom is not fatal, but symptoms such as pain shock, low blood pressure and numbness to the victim are provided for several days.
2. Inimicus
A small coral fish that lives in tropical waters, as well as off the coast of Japan, can carry a great danger to humans. As with most representatives of our list, the main weapon of the inimicus (spikes with toxic substance) is hidden in the dorsal fins. The injection of this creature rightly equates to a bite of a viper, the main thing here is the timely assistance provided to the bather who failed to enter the sea. By the way, our old acquaintances from Japan trap inimicuses and use them as ... well, of course, a delicacy. True cooking technology in this case is not so strict.
1. Fish surgeon
Finally, the most charming representative of our list. Indeed, the surgeon fish looks extremely cute and cute. However, this flat 40-centimeter beauty always carries with it a poisonous blade-spikes similar to a scalpel (hence the name in fact). The fish is not predatory and uses its "ace in the sleeve" only when necessary. Such a need, by the way, can serve as a person’s desire to touch a cute fish. If unwanted contact has occurred, then the wound should be washed as soon as possible with hot water or treated with a hairdryer - under the influence of temperature, the poison is destroyed and loses its destructive properties.