![]() The spines' attack is an involuntary response when stepped on. Each one is basically a hypodermic needle waiting for a victim's body weight to tread on it. The natural spears on their back are responsible for injecting the deadly venom. ![]() What makes stonefish even more dangerous is that they can stay out of water for up to 24 hours, making them all too easy to step on when the tide retreats. As oxygen decreases in the area around the sting, the skin color will turn lighter.Īpart from the excruciating pain and bleeding, the victim may have difficulty breathing and may start to vomit, faint, and feel anxious, confused, and numb. The inflammation spreads to the entire leg or arm within a few minutes. The stonefish sting is excruciating, causes swelling, and could be potentially deadly if not treated. Once the fish strays within optimum striking distance, the stonefish launches an accurate, lightning-fast assault that can last as little as 0.015 seconds. He's an ambush predator in brackish waters and rarely has to wait long for a potential meal to drift into his kill zone. The stonefish waits patiently for its prey, hiding in the rocky seafloor or coral. It tolerates growing on his rough skin and is virtually indistinguishable from his surroundings. The stonefish looks like a medium-sized piece of rock but, in fact, it's a spectacular camouflage used to remain sedentary for some time in the right spot. Sometimes, the stonefish is half-covered with sand or mud.ĭespite not being a good swimmer, this lethal stinging animal is an unlikely predator with a passive-aggressive strategy. They lie half-buried in shallow waters, often among small stones or corals. Stonefish are predominantly found in the ocean, but some species live in rivers. These strangely-looking marine creatures with big bulbous eyes measure around 15 inches (38 centimeters) and weigh about 3.5 pounds (1.5 kilograms). They live in the Indo-Pacific region, more specifically in Northern Australia, Indonesia, Solomon Islands, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and occasionally on the warm waters of the West Coast of the United States. The stonefish belongs to the Synanceiidae family, and there are five different species known to date. ![]() Meet the stonefish, the camouflaged marine predator. It's the world's most venomous fish and is potentially lethal if not treated quickly. ![]()
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