Jellyfish, corals, polyps. The most poisonous fish

The survival of living organisms in the wild depends largely on their adaptability to habitats. But what is the ocean? For a diver, it is full of fabulous wonders: colorful fish, colorful corals. For a gourmet, the ocean is a supplier of various delicacies: seafood, shellfish and other inhabitants of the aquatic environment. But in fact, this is a rather cruel world where everyone eats someone until he himself becomes the prey of a bloodthirsty predator. Therefore, in aquatic environment mimicry is important. Predators try to become invisible in order to get closer to their prey. And the latter with all its might wants to show the potential threat that it cannot be eaten in any way. The bright coloring of the fish seems to shout: "I am poisonous!" And this is often true. The topic of this article will be the most poisonous fish in the world. We will look at where they are found and tell you what needs to be done to alleviate the suffering of the person who became their victim, and even save his life.

Paradoxically, there are also such inhabitants of the seas who combine deadly poison and delicious meat in their bodies. One of these is the poisonous Japanese puffer fish. You can taste it only in specialized restaurants. But even in this case, it is better to draw up a will before dinner. You never know what can happen ...

Pisces and people: a little history

Probably, humanity first encountered the poisonous inhabitants of the seas in the Stone Age. Because already at the dawn of civilization, on the pyramids of the pharaohs of the fifth dynasty (2700 BC) there is a hieroglyph depicting a dog fish. She won a bad reputation in China as well. In the "Book of Herbs" - a medical treatise written in the period 2838-2700. BC NS. - a detailed description of how to treat gourmets who had the imprudence to feast on the meat of this fish is given. The biblical book Deuteronomy (1450 BC) also teaches what to eat and what to avoid for the Jews. Aristotle and Pliny the Elder tried to describe the health-threatening species found in the Mediterranean. In the era of the Great Geographical discoveries in the nets, Europeans began to come across poisonous fish of tropical and equatorial latitudes... James Cook gave a description of the blowfish in 1774. During his second trip around the world, he (with sixteen other crew members) was poisoned by the meat of this fish. Although, as everyone knows, he did not die from this. Unfortunately, such a useful science as zootoxinology, which studies the poisons accumulated in the organisms of living beings, as well as their possible use in medicine, appeared only in the twentieth century.

A little more theory

There are also plenty of poisonous creatures on land. Plants, fungi, insects, amphibians and reptiles ... However, the land cannot be compared with the ocean. Many inhabitants of the seas are poisonous in one way or another: fish, jellyfish, snakes, corals. What makes them that way? Many predators, being less mobile than their prey, lie in wait for it in hiding. Their poison is aimed at quickly immobilizing the victim, paralyzing it. Such predators have dangerous teeth and thorns. Some deafen their lunch with an electric shock. These are the rays. Victims in the course of species evolution acquire means of "personal chemical protection". In addition to the bright, memorable color, many fish have poisonous thorns. A predator, seizing such prey, will not only prick itself, but also poison itself. There are also poisonous fish that have very dangerous mucus on their bodies. Touching it leads to poisoning. In the classification, all these fish are called actively poisonous. "Don't touch me, or you'll regret it!" - says only one of their bristling look. But those who like to feast on seafood should be wary of completely different fish. They are called passively poisonous. Evolution has led to the protection of the population, but not the individual. It looks like an ordinary fish. But eat it and you will be poisoned. A surviving predator will think ten times before trying one of her relatives.

What do fish lovers need to know?

Unless you dive into rough seas to come face-to-face with the inhabitants of coral reefs, and even if you do not run barefoot along the water's edge, do not assume that you are completely protected from poisonous creatures. You can also get poisoned with them in a restaurant. In this sense, distinguish between primary and secondary poisonous fish. The former work out the deadly secret themselves. It can accumulate in thorns, teeth, and scales. Sometimes poison is a product of metabolism. In this case, fish meat or its caviar and milk must not be eaten. Moray eels, for example, have poisonous blood. The other inhabitants of the seas have all the meat. But secondary poisonous fish are no less dangerous. They accumulate in their bodies harmful substances from the reservoir - their habitat. For example, blue-green algae that fish eat produce cyanide. Thus, you can get poisoned by the common gudgeon, if it is caught from such a pond. The washing out of fertilizers from the soil, which with rains flow into water bodies, also makes their inhabitants secondarily poisonous. Nitrates work well only for plants, not people. Therefore, it is important to know where the catch comes from before you try it.

Did you know that the most dangerous inhabitant of the ocean is ... jellyfish. "Transparent killer" refers to this species that lives in tropical waters off the coast of Australia. Its tentacles follow the dome for thirty meters. Its touch paralyzes the human heart muscle, causing sudden death in 100% of cases. Also off the coast of the Green Continent lives a small blue-ringed octopus weighing only 70 grams. However, this baby is capable of killing ten people with its poison in two seconds. Fish keep up with jellyfish, shellfish and snakes. More than 50 thousand people become their victims annually - incomparably more than from sharks. The most poisonous fish in the world is Synanceia verrucosa, or wart, from the Scorpenov family. There is a thorn on its dorsal fin, the prick of which causes such severe pain that the person loses consciousness. The poison injected into the blood leads to vascular collapse and cardiac arrest. At the same time, it is difficult for everyone to see the danger even close. For camouflage purposes, this small fish takes on the shape and color of the environment. It is very difficult to distinguish it from a piece of coral or cobblestone. That is why it is also called "fish-stone". The closest relatives of the wart, the scorpionfish (or, they also have the properties of a chameleon. In addition, they tend to bury themselves in sand or silt at low tide. Therefore, to step on their extremely poisonous thorn, you do not need to plunge into dangerous world coral reefs.

Where are the most poisonous fish in the world found?

Most predators, not chasing prey, but trapping it, live in tropical They are teeming with waters off the coast South-East Asia, East Africa, Australia, Philippines, Indonesia. There are enough dangerous creatures in the Pacific Ocean. The puffer, or blowfish, is found off the coast of Japan. But the most dangerous place on Earth in terms of the density of poisonous inhabitants per cubic liter of water is Australia. And that's not counting sharks, electric rays, jellyfish and shellfish! And there are also 51 species of water snakes, of which Hydrofis bseheris is listed in the Guinness Book for its toxicity. The local sea fish are also considered dangerous: poisonous wart, scorpionfish, lionfish, inimicus. And you need to know this when going on vacation to the Green Continent. Seven of the top ten most dangerous species live off the coast of Australia. But with global warming, many inhabitants of tropical latitudes began to move further and further from the equator. They are met already off the coast of Chile, Japan, South China. But the Red, Mediterranean and even Black Seas also have their own unsafe creatures. In general, scientists have described two hundred and twenty species of poisonous fish. In short, there are simply not many of them.

What to do in case of poisoning?

Most people fall prey to actively poisonous fish. And not because they are chasing inexperienced swimmers. These fish, if they are predators, inject toxins into smaller prey. And more often poisonous thorns serve as a means of individual protection against large and toothed fish. What do swimmers need to remember? Do not step on corals or touch them with your hands. For recreation in the tropics, it is better to purchase special shoes for swimming (since, in addition to fish, there is also a danger of stepping on a sea urchin - also poisonous, by the way). If possible, you need to avoid And do not grab with your hands the inhabitants of the depths swimming close to you - you do not know which fish are poisonous and which are not. If you still feel the prick, immediately get out on land or call for help. Toxins affecting nervous system, act with lightning speed, and a person can die if you do not provide him with timely assistance.

First of all, you need to take measures to eliminate the poison. If it is a hand, the victim himself can suck the poisoned blood from the wound, spitting it out. Toxins in the leg can be squeezed out by pressing on both sides around the affected area. Further, the victim needs to relieve the pain, since it is often unbearable and this can cause fainting or shock. At the site of the lesion, necrosis often occurs, there is a risk of re-infection and even gangrene. Therefore, the wound should be treated with a disinfectant.

Silent killers

If the body of a fish is covered with thorns, bristled with thorns, if its mouth is full of sharp teeth, then even a fool understands that these creatures are very dangerous. And the very name of poisonous fish speaks for itself: blowfish, sea scorpion, dragon, stingray, prickly shark, awful tubercle, inimicus, which in Latin means "enemy" ... But the local population in those places where these dangerous creatures, yet eats them. Having lost their fearsome thorns, being cleared of poisonous mucus, they give very tender and tasty meat. So, the inhabitants of Australia eat and praise the scorpion, and the fishermen of the Black Sea catch katran sharks for restaurants. But passively poisonous fish, photos of which you need to see in order to remember, are more insidious. Nothing in their appearance resembles those scary monsters, with which rescuers in the resorts of the Red Sea scare beach-goers. Nevertheless, in such a harmless-looking fish like a puffer, a poison lurks, much more effective and faster than cyanide potassium... Evolution is concerned not with the preservation of the life of one individual, but with the survival of the species. In addition, this fish alone is capable of swelling up and turning into a ball out of fear. Such prey can get stuck in the throat. Having tasted one or two ... ten fish, all the predators of the Pacific Ocean now know not to swallow a small puffer.

Is it possible to poison "our" fish?

Poisonous seas are of several types. These are, first of all, the spiny shark katran, astrologer, mouse-lyre, dragon. Angler and a stingray-cat enter Azov. The seas washing the Russian Far East coast are inhabited by high-beam perch, stargazer, katran and rock-toothed, called puffer in Japan. In the Baltic, the sculpin and stingrays are considered dangerous fish. As you can see, among this cohort, only fugu is a passively poisonous species. All others, after removing the thorns, can be eaten without any fear. But even here all sorts of troubles happen. There are so-called seasonally poisonous fish of the Black Sea, and fresh water bodies too. These are some types of bream, carp, perch, as well as tench, barbus, barbel, kutum and others. During spawning, caviar and milk from these fish can be poisoned. A serious danger comes from polluted water bodies and from the violent bloom of blue-green algae. In this case, even the most that is edible fish becomes toxic as it accumulates toxins from the environment. In medicine, several bursts of "epidemics" have been described among the lakes around Yuksovskoe (Leningrad Oblast), Ukshozero (Karelia) and Sartlan (Novosibirsk Oblast).

Who is fugu?

Undisputedly the most poisonous fish found in this blowfish. The sailors of the Kuril Islands call him a puffer, and the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun call him a puffer. This fish with a white belly and a gray-brown back has no scales, but at the moment of danger it raises the skin plates and swells like a ball. However, this is not the danger of fugu. The poison contained in its meat, and especially in the liver, skin, genitals, is so toxic that it is twenty-five times higher than curare and 275 times higher than cyanide. The active ingredient - tetrodotoxin - blocks the processes of nerve cells. Symptoms of severe poisoning appear in the first minutes. The lethal outcome occurs during the first day. At first, a person feels a slight tingling sensation in the lips and tongue. Then it starts headache and pain in the abdomen and limbs. Coordination of movements is lost, vomiting begins (in this case, the patient still has a chance to survive). Soon breathing becomes difficult, blood pressure drops and body temperature drops. There is a blue discoloration of the mucous membranes and skin. The patient falls into a coma, his breathing stops. Unfortunately, the antidote against the poison of this fish has not yet been discovered. But despite these chilling details, puffer meat is still considered a delicacy in Japan. Scientists have found that these marine fish are poisonous only in mature age... "Safe fugu" have been grown, but they are not popular with gourmets.

Samurai nation

As we remember, the first European to taste a dish of poisonous fugu fish was James Cook. But the Japanese have used it since ancient times. Fugu firmly entered the culture and art of the Land of the Rising Sun. There is even a monument to this fish in one of the Tokyo parks. What makes millions of Japanese people literally entrust their lives to a chef? After all, statistics show that every year several dozen people die from fugu poison and much large quantity victims are hospitalized. Suicidal moods, balancing on the brink of life and death - all this is in abundance in Japanese culture. The fugu was fashioned by samurai - tough knights, cold-blooded, ready to make hara-kiri in order to save good name. Long time the authorities prohibited fishing for this fish. But in vain. It was sold in black markets. Now, a chef must take special courses and pass an exam to obtain a license to cook fugu dishes. Before the commission, he must butcher the carcass, prepare three dishes from it and ... taste a piece from each. And only with a happy outcome of the case, the poisonous fugu fish, photos of dishes with it, decorate the restaurant menu.

Japanese kind of Russian roulette

Why don't people want to eat fugu meat, which initially does not contain tetrodotoxin? Gourmets who have tried such a safe fish call its taste ordinary and even banal. Poisonous fish is popular in Japan, even with all the ensuing sad consequences. But is it only to tickle the nerves that the Japanese come to the restaurant? Dishes with the possible, and this word must be emphasized, cost from one hundred to five hundred dollars with poison. This is how the taste is described dangerous puffer gourmets: "It is akin to Japanese art - as refined, refined, smooth as natural silk." Europeans, however, claim that the fish is similar to chicken, but in consistency it resembles jelly. In dishes with fugu, it is not the complete absence of poison that is important, but its presence in the smallest doses. The client then experiences something similar to the effect of a drug. After all, tetrodotoxin is one hundred and sixty thousand times more active than cocaine! This was adopted by surgeons using this substance in operations to remove tumors. Of course, it all depends on the dose - both in medicine and in the kitchen. The chef who passes the exam takes into account the client's weight, age, health status and even nationality. A restaurant employee vigilantly watches the meal in order to notice the first warning symptoms and take action. Poisonous Japanese fish is served in several variations. The most popular dish is fugusashi. From the finest slices of raw fish, the chef creates whole pictures. This dish is served with sauces. Also common is a soup made from poisonous fish - fuguzosun. Sometimes the puffer fish is boiled and served with accompanying ingredients.

Zebra lionfish

The zebra lionfish is a predatory fish that lives in the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans - off the coast of China, Japan and Australia. They are some of the most beautiful fish in the world. Their body length is about 30 cm, their weight reaches 1 kg. The lionfish has long ribbons of dorsal and pectoral fins, in which sharp poisonous needles are hidden. The injection with this needle is very painful. A sharp pain is followed by a worsening of the condition, which ends with paralysis of the skeletal and respiratory muscles. If the victim is not immediately dragged ashore, he will drown.

Electric eel is a fish (despite the name) that inhabits rivers in the northeastern part South America as well as tributaries of the Amazon. Found in countries such as Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Average length adult individuals are 1–1.5 m, the largest of the known specimens reached almost three meters in length. Average weight - up to 20 kg (maximum - 45 kg). An electric eel is capable of generating a discharge of current with a voltage of 300-650 V and a strength of 0.1-1 A. Such a voltage is not capable of killing a person, but it will be very painful.

Large tiger fish is a species of large freshwater predatory fish living in the central and West Africa, in the basin of the Congo and Lualaba rivers, as well as in the Upemba and Tanganyika lakes. This fish grows up to 1.5 m in length and reaches a weight of 50 kg. Congo has reported cases of large tiger fish per person. According to local residents, this is the only fish that is not afraid of crocodiles.

Bagarius yarrelli - species large fish living in the rivers of South Asia. Found in countries such as Bangladesh, India, China (Yunnan province) and Nepal. It grows up to 2 m in length and weighs over 90 kg. In three villages on the banks of the Sarda River in Nepal and India, between 1998 and 2007, attacks of these fish on humans were recorded, which were often fatal.

The sixth place in the list of the most dangerous fish is occupied by the Brown Snakehead - a species of large freshwater predatory fish living in the waters of Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and India. They grow in length up to 1.3 meters and weigh up to 20 kg. They are quite voracious and aggressive. Prey is ambushed.

In fifth place in the list of the most dangerous fish in the world is the wart, a predatory marine fish with poisonous spines on its back. The average length of a wart is 35-50 cm. It lives in coral reefs at depths of about 30 m in the Indian and Pacific oceans... It is considered the most poisonous fish in the world. Its poison causes severe pain, shock, paralysis and tissue death. For a person, a large dose of poison can be fatal.

Piranha are freshwater, predominantly predatory fish (more than 50 species) that live in rivers and water bodies of South America. They reach lengths up to 30 cm and weight up to a kilogram. Approximately 30-35 species of piranhas feed on aquatic plants and fruits that have fallen into the water, and 28-30 species are typical predators. Have powerful jaws with sharp teeth. They attack fish and other animals, including humans. The structure of the lower jaw and teeth allows piranhas to be pulled out of prey large pieces meat. A flock of piranhas can completely destroy an animal weighing about 50 kg in a few minutes.

Brown puffer - species sea ​​fish from the blowfish family. They live in the sea and brackish waters of the northwestern Pacific Ocean. They grow up to 80 cm in length. Its insides (especially the liver and ovaries) are extremely poisonous and contain tetrodotoxin, which is deadly to humans even in small doses. Despite this, it is from this fish that the traditional dish of Japanese cuisine is most often prepared - Fugu. Between 2004-2007, 15 people died and about 115 people were hospitalized after eating the delicacy.

The most dangerous fish in the world there is a mackerel hydrolic or "vampire fish" - a species of predatory fish that live in the basins of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers in Venezuela. They can grow up to 117 cm in length and weigh 17.8 kg. The most famous feature of the vampire fish is its aggressiveness and two long fangs protruding from the lower jaw. These canines can be up to 10-15 cm long. Mackerel hydrolic feeds on almost any fish that smaller, including piranhas and the like.

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The most poisonous fish

V underwater world more than 1200 species of poisonous fish live, which are found mainly in tropical sea ​​waters... These dangerous vertebrates produce strong highly toxic substances harmful to humans and other living things, and release them through spines, fins, fangs for protection or hunting.

Poisonous fish have either a bright color that warns their enemies of the threat, or an inconspicuous color that allows them to disguise themselves as their environment, waiting for the approach of prey. Find out the 5 most poisonous fish in the world from this list to avoid injury from them and poisoning of the body.

Scorpionfish (sea ruff) is a poisonous marine fish of the Scorpion family, which is common in tropical and temperate seas (including the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea), but is most often found in the Indo-Pacific region. The scorpion has stings in the form of sharp thorns, which are covered with poisonous mucus; the bones of the dorsal and pelvic fins of fish contain poisonous glands. Scorpena reaches an average of 30 cm in length and 1 kg in weight.

Ruffs are benthic fish that feed on crustaceans, molluscs and smaller fish. They prefer to be in shallow water, where they camouflage themselves under rocks and coral reefs. Scorpions go hunting at night. Their stings cause inflammation, severe pain, and swelling that often spreads to the entire leg or arm in minutes.

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Cube body

The cube-box (fish-box) belongs to the Kuzovkov family and lives in the reefs of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans. This fish grows up to 45 cm and is easily recognized by the cubic shape of the body: on the sides there are fused bony plates covered with thin skin, which form a shell. Bright yellow color and black spots on the body of this fish warn predators of the threat.

Box fish feed on algae, crustaceans, molluscs, small fish. Bodies are also bred in aquariums.

When stressed or threatened, the cube box releases a toxin from the skin into the water, poisoning the surrounding area. The fish secretes the poison ostracitoxin, which destroys red blood cells, disrupting the function of the respiratory system.

Zebra lionfish (lionfish) is a poisonous fish belonging to the Scorpion family that lives in the ecosystem of the reefs of the Pacific and Indian oceans... More recently, zebra lionfish have spread to the Atlantic coast of the United States, which wildlife researchers believe is the result of damage to aquariums caused by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. These fish grow up to 40 cm in length and weigh up to 1.2 kg. Their life expectancy ranges from 5 to 15 years.

The lionfish has more characteristic red, brown and white stripes on the body. It has large pectoral fins and elongated dorsal fins, which it uses to puncture the victim's tissue and inject venom. Injections of poisonous thorns cause severe pain, swelling, and difficulty breathing. Large doses of poison in extreme cases lead to cardiac arrest.

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Pufferfish (puffer fish) is a member of the Skalozubov family, which includes over 90 species of fish that have the ability to swell, recruiting a large number of water or air, and release sharp thorns in danger. Puffers live in areas of warm and temperate climate, mainly in the seas, but also found in freshwater rivers in America, Asia and Africa.

Many television shows and programs about nature are dedicated to educating the public about the most venomous and toxic spiders, snakes and even frogs, but what about fish? Unlike spiders and snakes, we rarely hear that this or that fish is the most poisonous (or toxic). Today we will deal with the most dangerous fish.

First, let's understand some of the concepts. The terms poisonous and toxic are often used interchangeably, but they have different meanings, about which we have written more than once about. A venomous animal has a means of injecting its venom into another animal, whereas a toxic animal can only deliver its toxin in a more passive manner (by touching or eating). A typical example of this distinction is that frogs are toxic and snakes are venomous. It is also important to note that contact with poisonous fish can often be relieved by immersing the wound in hot water (~ 40-46 ° C), since these toxins are thermolabile (which means they can be destroyed or altered by heat).

Photo. Puffer fish

1. Puffer fish was named "the most toxic fish", and it was also noted as the second most toxic vertebrate in the world (the first is the golden dart frog). The toxin responsible for such a high position of this fish is called tetrodotoxin. Tetrodotoxin is neurotoxic and inhibits neuronal transmission leading to weakness, paralysis, and even death at relatively low concentrations (~ 2 mg). One fish contains so much toxin that it can kill 30 adults, and there is no known antidote. This toxin is found in fish liver, ovaries, intestines and skin, leaving muscle tissue with a relatively low and somewhat safe level for consumption of this fish. However, only highly trained and certified chefs are allowed to cook this fish for consumption. It is a common practice in Japan where puffer fish is considered a delicacy.

Photo. Warty

2.In last years warty (stone fish) from pufferfish usurped the name of "the most poisonous fish". It often resembles overgrown stones (hence the name), easily merges with environment... They inject their venom through several spines on their backs, which can be raised when they feel threatened (or stepped on). The poison is inadvertently injected when pressure is exerted on the fish, and the greater the pressure, the more poison is injected. They inhabit the Indo-Pacific region and northern Australia. A shot from one such fish can cause excruciating pain, rapid swelling, tissue death, muscle weakness, temporary paralysis, and in very rare cases, death. In addition, it is known that this fish is able to stay out of water for a maximum of 24 hours. They are often very difficult to spot as they look like rocks or coral.

Photo. Lionfish

3. Until recently lionfish(zebra fish) was considered the most poisonous fish until the warty stole the title. It is noticeable for its warning coloration with red, white, plum and black stripes. These highly visible fish have venomous dorsal, anal and pelvic spines covered with a loose shell that moves and compresses the venom glands when the spine cuts through the tissue.

The injection of these fish can cause extreme pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, shortness of breath, convulsions, dizziness, redness around the injection site, headache, numbness, paresthesia, heartburn, diarrhea and, in very severe cases, cardiovascular collapse. Most lionfish are found in the Indo-Pacific region, but in recent years they have become invasive species especially on the Atlantic coast of the United States, where they have a large impact on Atlantic coral reef communities. Apparently, the lionfish appeared along Atlantic coast due to the fact that it was released from the aquariums. They can live up to 15 years.

Photo. Stingray teniura-limma (lat.Taeniura lymma)

4. Stingrays are one of the most common groups of fish responsible for human intoxication, largely because many stingrays burrow in the seabed where humans inadvertently step on them. Stingray venom is usually cardiotoxic. Taniura limma (Latin Taeniura lymma) inhabiting the Indo-Pacific region and the American stingray (Latin Dasyatis americana) - in the southeastern United States, are among the most venomous of all stingrays. The teniura limma ray, to warn other animals, usually shows its bright blue spots that it has a very strong venomous sting. It is known that stingrays are capable of showing aggression and even attacking people.

Photo. Painted box (lat.Ostracion meleagris)

5. Bodywork closely related to blowfish. While these fish are not as venomous as the blowfish, they have an impressive way of defending themselves with venom. When threatened or stressed, they release toxin from specialized skin cells into the water, poisoning marine life in the area. The painted box (Latin Ostracion meleagris), in particular, secretes a toxin called ostracitoxin or pahutoxin, which is known to destroy red blood cells.

Photo. Stargazer fish

6. Also worth mentioning are some other venomous fish, which have two venomous spines near their eyes, which cause an electric shock, as does the eel-tailed striped catfish. The family of stargazers (lat.Uranoscopidae) includes about 51 species. All species are marine and have been found throughout the world in shallow and deep waters. On their large head, in addition to the eyes directed upward, there is also a large mouth, also looking upward. They usually burrow into the sand and dive upward to lure prey into a trap. They are poisonous. They have two large venomous spines located above their pectoral fins. Varieties of the genus Astroscopus and Uranoscopus can also be electrocuted.

Photo. Toad-like fish

7. Batrakhovye(toad fish). The fish in this family are commonly referred to as toad-like, and their English and scientific name is due to their toad-like appearance. Their eyes are set high on theirs big heads... Their mouths are also large and often adorned with folds of skin and mustaches. They are generally gray in color, although those that live on coral reefs may have brighter colors.

Batrachids are found all over the world. Most of these fish live in a marine environment, although some are found in less salty water. They are ambush benthic predators that favor sandy or muddy bottoms, where their mysterious coloration helps them avoid detection by their prey. Batrachidae are known for their ability to "sing", and males in particular use the swimming bladder as a sound device used to attract congeners. Among the toad-like species, there are poisonous species in which the poisonous glands are located at the base of the hollow spiny rays of the first dorsal fin and the spine of the operculum. An injection from such thorns and thorns causes a very painful sensation in a person, but the force of the poison is insufficient for a fatal outcome.

If you are aware of any other poisonous or toxic fish not mentioned here, or have experience with the species listed here, please share your knowledge and experience below.

Usually, hearing about poisonous animals, people imagine a ball of poisonous snakes or,as a last resort, a couple of tarantulas. In fact, in nature, poisonous fish, dangerous for human life and health, significantly more than poisonous snakes! Recently, the results of the latest "fish population count" were published, and it turned out that scientists have discovered about 1200 species of poisonous fish on our planet. Prior to that, ichthyologists called about 200 poisonous species fish. 1200 is not the limit, as scientists regularly discover and describe more and more new species.

"Poisonous" theory

First, a little about the history of "poisons", or rather, about the theory of "poisons". Poisonous fish (and other

animals) deals with separate science- zootoxinology. This is a part of toxinology - the science of poisons of animal, plant and microbial origin, their chemical nature and mechanisms of action. Zootoxinologists also study in detail the physiology of poisonous animals and try to use them for the needs of mankind. As a rule, rare specific proteins are isolated from poisons, which are used to create drugs. But for some reason, until recently, poisonous fish were the most unclaimed donors in this regard.

All poisonous fish (and other animals) can be divided into two large groups: primary poisonous and secondary poisonous. Primary poisonous animals are those that produce a poisonous secret.

in special glands or having toxic metabolic products. Secondary-poisonous animals include those that accumulate exogenous poisons and exhibit toxicity only when eaten. For example, many fish become poisonous after the accumulation of the poison of blue-green algae in their bodies.

Primary poisonous individuals dangerous for underwater hunters and other fish lovers, in turn, are divided into actively and passively poisonous ones. Actively poisonous animals that have a specialized poisonous apparatus equipped with a wounding device are called armed. In a typical case, the apparatus of such animals has a poisonous gland with an excretory duct and a wounding device: in fish these are thorns and thorns, in snakes - teeth, in insects - a sting. In detail, the structure of the poisonous apparatus can vary, however, all armed insects are characterized by the presence of a wounding apparatus, which allows the introduction of a poisonous secret into the victim's body parenterally, i.e., bypassing the digestive tract. This method of introducing poison should be recognized as the most effective for the poison-forming organism. Unarmed poisonous fish are fish with poisonous internal organs, glands and tissues. With the classification sorted out, now you can move on to the practice of poisoning fish.

To realize how dangerous this or that poisonous fish is for you, you need to understand what was the way of introducing the poison into the human body. If the poison was injected through thorns (or other thorns), then it will most likely be destroyed by your digestive enzymes. But the poisons from the internal organs of fish, on the contrary, in the human stomach are not destroyed, but activate their toxic effect.

When you are pricked by a poisonous fish with its thorn (or other thorn), a so-called primary depot of poison is formed at the site of inoculation (injection) of the poison, from which toxins enter the lymphatic and circulatory system... The rate of spread of the poison largely determines the rate of development of the toxic effect. When the poison leaves your body, the main load will be on the already stressed liver and kidneys of the underwater hunter, hence the widespread damage to these organs in case of poisoning. Even such poisons are excreted through the skin, but in much smaller quantities. To some extent, the fabric of the wetsuit protects you from the injections of poisonous fish, but here you must immediately take into account the totality different factors- and the thickness of the material, and the stiffness of the thorn that inflicted injury on you, and the temperature of the surrounding water, and a number of other factors.

"Poisonous" guard

And now let's move on to specific fish and, therefore, to specific dangers that lie in wait for you. As they say, you need to know the enemy by sight. So far, in this article, we will mainly touch on the common poisonous fish in our water bodies and the "exotics" that you most often visit in recent years. Let's start with actively poisonous fish species.

Active species of poisonous fish

Katran

You all know well the common prickly shark, or katran. This is a medium-sized shark, about 1 meter long, both of its dorsal fins each bear one sharp spiny thorn. It is common in the Black Sea, also found in the Barents and White Seas, where it is known as the butler

(or nail). Numerous in the Far Eastern seas. In coastal waters, it leads a gregarious lifestyle, sinking to a depth of 180-200 meters. It feeds on fish, crustaceans, cephalopods.

Ovoviviparous. Dangerous only by direct contact, hand held, or

if you accidentally hit her, then she can inflict deep wounds with poisonous thorns. The spines are long enough to damage the material of the wetsuit and injure the underwater hunter.

In this case, the top of the thorn is bare, but the lower part is covered with a leathery sheath, under which the poisonous glands are located. When immersed in the victim's body, the cells of the gland are compressed, and the poisonous secretion is poured out. After being damaged by the thorns of katran, you will have hyperemia (redness), severe pain, swelling, and possibly sepsis. Several fatal cases were even described (it is possible that here the victim was allergic to any chemical that is part of the poison).

Also, in all likelihood, local paralysis of the organ that was punctured, as well as tetanus effect, will occur. So, as you can see, not only man-eating sharks are scary, but also such small and interesting shark species for spearfishing.

Stingrays

Our next "enemies" also belong to the class cartilaginous fish... These are stingrays. In Black and

In the Azov seas, there is a sea cat, usually reaching a length of 1 meter. The tail is long,

scourge-shaped. In the middle part of the tail there is a serrated spine on both sides. A much larger giant stingray is rarely found in the Peter the Great Gulf on Far East... The total length of its body reaches 2.3 meters. The tail is short, thick, armed with two long serrated spines. Stingrays usually lie on the bottom, partially burrowing into sandy or silty soil. They feed on fish, crustaceans.

Poisonous glands are located in the grooves on the abdominal surface of the spines. Thorns at large species can reach significant sizes - up to 30 cm! It's not just a wetsuit, but the Chernobyl chemical protection won't help either! With strong blows, they often break off, the fragment is firmly held in the victim's tissues due to the notches directed backward. The glands do not have special ducts, the secret accumulates in the grooves of the thorn. At the moment of impact under the pressure of the victim's tissues, a secret is secreted near the spear-shaped tip of the spike.

In addition to the outstanding length of the spike, the stingrays still have a very large "piercing" force of the tail strike itself. It should be noted that scuba divers and underwater hunters are not the main victims of this dangerous animal - most often it catches up with fishermen and ordinary swimming people. It's not White shark, the stingray itself will not be interested in you, but will take protective measures only when you disturb it. Most often, it strikes people who simply stepped on it, and its spikes often pierced even the durable sole of the shoe. Usually, after a prick with a stingray spike, the victim develops acute burning pain, swelling and hyperemia of the affected area. The pain progresses along the lymphatic vessels, later severe edema develops, sometimes spreading over a considerable distance. Poisoning is characterized by the development of weakness, sometimes with loss of consciousness, diarrhea, convulsions, and respiratory failure. That is, as they say, everything follows the typical algorithm: "convulsions, diarrhea and death." In humans and experimental animals, stingray venom causes a drop in blood pressure and disruption of the heart. If the limbs are affected, recovery may take several days, but an injection in the chest or abdomen can be fatal. It is also very important what blood pressure is the norm for an underwater hunter - if it is low, then, most likely, he will die.

Little dragon

Our next dangerous fish is a large dragon belonging to the family of sea dragons, or snake fish, in which the spine of the gill cover and the first six rays of the dorsal fin have poisonous glands. Distributed in the Baltic and Black Seas. It prefers to bury itself in the ground, exposing its head and spines of the dorsal fin to the surface. Poisonous glands are located in the furrows of the spiny rays of the anterior dorsal fin. On top of the gland there is a cover that leaves the sharp thorns bare, at the base of the rays there is a peculiar system of "locks" that fix the rays in a straightened state. With the contraction of the adductor muscles, the process of one ray enters the opening of the other - in this way all the rays of the fin are fixed in a tense state. Contraction of the antagonist muscles places the rays along the body. The rays of other spiny-finned fish - scorpions, sea bass - have a similar structure.

Most of the big dragon's defeat is due to careless handling. Most often, the victims are people who stepped on it, or fishermen who remove it from the hook, take it out of the net, etc. An injection of this fish rarely leads to death, but it is one of the most painful and causes severe edema, necrosis of the affected area. In severe cases, paralysis, respiratory and hemodynamic disorders are observed, all the same death is possible.

The defeat of this fish is quite common. Doctors recommend washing the wound with sea water or saline, which helps to remove the poison from the primary depot. It is also important to remove any debris of the prickly rays from the wound, but this should be done carefully so as not to damage the tissue. To reduce pain, it is necessary to lower the affected limb into hot water containing a 3% solution of magnesium sulfate. A secondary infection should be feared. In Croatia, they even created a special serum vaccine for spiny-finned fish. In its absence, treatment is carried out according to the symptoms shown.

Sea bass

Sea bass, belonging to the scorpion family, is also a very common poisonous fish. The genus of sea bass Sebastes itself has over 100 species that are widespread in the World Ocean, including the yellow perch in the Far East, and the Pacific beak and golden perch, which are of commercial importance in the Bering Sea. All sea bass are ovoviviparous. Among the Pacific species, there are many inhabitants of coastal waters; Atlantic species are deeper. The dorsal fin bears 13–15 hard and sharp spine rays; the operculum has spines. An abundance of mucous glands on the dorsal and other fins, as well as at the base of the spines of the operculum, is characteristic. When injected, the poison and mucus mix and together enter the wound. It is extremely easy for a spear hunter to become a victim of sea bass. This is a very active and lively fish, which after defeat will defend and resist, it is not without reason that fishermen and fish handlers have suffered from its thorns for many decades.

When prickly rays of sea bass are pricked, after a few minutes at the site of the lesion, severe pain and an inflammatory reaction develop. The poison is carried by the lymphatic system, the lymph nodes swell, and the lymphatic vessels cease to fulfill their transport role. Edema, which is localized first at the injection site, then can spread to the hand and even the forearm (or, if the leg, then to the foot and even to your hip part). A particular danger is the penetration of a secondary infection into the wound. If you are regularly attacked by grouper you will have tissue necrosis and may need to amputate the organ that is most under pressure from these fish. Quite a lot of cases were recorded when, after the attack of these fish (more precisely, "protection"), people, including underwater hunters, stopped breathing and died. Interesting fact: in the same species of fish living in different bodies of water, the poison differs in the strength of its action. For example, in the Barents Sea, the poison of sea bass is much weaker than that of the Pacific species. With all this, these fish are of great economic importance.

Scorpion

Our next species is the closest relative of the sea bass, which is well known to most of our underwater hunters. This is a scorpion fish, or sea ruff.

Fancy colored fish, common in the Black Sea. Spends most of the time at the bottom, where

predominantly hunts for moving prey.

All rays of the anterior dorsal fin have poisonous glands; rays of the pelvic and anal fins can be poisonous. The structure of the poisonous apparatus is typical for spiny-finned fish. The cause of the defeat of the scorpionfish is an accident or careless handling of the fish - it rarely attacks the first. A prick from a fish causes acute pain and paralyzes the activity of the human lymphatic system, with severe damage, tissue death occurs. Often, after a scorpion injection in people with a weakened heart, inflammation of the heart muscle, paralysis and death from respiratory arrest occur. In Yugoslavia and some other coastal states, pharmacies sell a vaccine and serum against the poison of this fish.

It should be noted that most of the poisonous fish are found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, off the coast of the East and South Africa, Australia, Polynesia, Philippines, Indonesia and South Japan. Every year, about 50 thousand people become victims of poisonous fish, and among the symptoms of poisoning are pain, fainting, fever, convulsions, breathing problems, in many cases even death. The most dangerous fish is now considered a stone fish, death from a spike prick which occurs in almost 100% of cases. Local residents of various tropical regions, teeming with poisonous fish, believe that the most reliable way to protect against severe consequences is to immerse the affected limb in very hot water (almost boiling water) for 30–40 minutes. Local natives do not know the basics of biochemistry, but they are absolutely right: high temperatures destroy the structure of protein poisons. The most reliable remedy against the zootic poisons of actively poisonous fish is antivenom serum.

Unfortunately, unlike snake, "anti-fish" serums have not been created so much, but work in this direction is constantly being carried out. In the meantime, there are not enough serums, we play the game "help yourself".

Passive species of poisonous fish

With the other group - with passively poisonous fish - unfortunately, not everything is so obvious. After all, the degree of toxicity of this group of fish is variable and depends on the time of year, the age of the fish, the composition of plankton, the degree of water pollution and other factors. So, about 300 species of marine fish are known, incl. and commercial, in the body of which, under certain conditions (presumably when changing the usual diet), mainly in summer period, there is an accumulation of ichthyosarcotoxin - a poison that has a neurotoxic effect. Eating these fish in food leads to the development of severe poisoning, called "cigatera". And some fish (for example, pike, pike perch, burbot, perch, eel) may temporarily acquire toxic properties... Eating these fish in food causes acute poisoning, manifested by toxic damage to the skeletal muscles and kidneys - we will talk about this below.

Poisonous marinka

Our most famous fish of this group are marinka, osman, barbel, hramuli and others. They are common in the rivers flowing from the Kopetdag, in the upper reaches of the Syr Darya and Amu Darya, Tarim, in the basin of the Balkhash and Issyk-Kul lakes.

Osman lives in mountain rivers and lakes, weighs up to 3 kilograms. It is most numerous in Lake Issyk-Kul, where it serves as an object of fishing. Just like the marinka, barbel and khramuli, the caviar and entrails of the osman are poisonous. It should be borne in mind that the Ottomans, or Altai Ottomans, are sometimes also called several other closely related species of Central Asian fish.

Dangerous poisonous properties these closely related species exhibit almost the same behavior. Severe poisoning in humans is caused by the eggs of these fish, milk and abdominal films. To protect yourself from poisoning, you must thoroughly cleanse these types of fish from their reproductive products and peritoneum. If you have not done this, then within the first hour after eating these fish or their caviar (milk), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache and general weakness, cyanosis of the skin of the face and mucous membranes develop. Progressive weakness forces the victim to lie down. Breathing is difficult, in severe cases, paralysis of the lower extremities and diaphragm develops. Death occurs from respiratory arrest. An autopsy reveals stagnant blood in the internal organs. First aid should be limited to removing food debris from the human stomach. After the patient has vomiting and stool, it is useful to give inside a warm solution of potassium permanganate 1: 100. In severe cases, a qualified health care... The poisonous substance in these fish is called "cyprinidine" - an insidious substance of non-protein nature, which is not completely destroyed during heat treatment. Paradoxically, ichthyotoxicologists believe that poisoning with the famous tetrodotoxin (one of the strongest poisons of animal origin on earth) and cyprinidine have the same origin and a similar clinical picture. Thus, the famous puffer fish has its own analogue in Russia.

Amur

The bile of grass carp also has quite dangerous properties for humans. When poisoning with this fish, a person experiences malfunctions in the work of the cardiac system.

But, in spite of everything, these are very nutritious fish. Eating marinkas, Ottomans, temples, longhorns, grass carp and "temporarily poisonous" lampreys, salmon, sturgeon, catfish and other fish is possible only after careful removal of the viscera, especially the genital products and peritoneum. Experts also recommend rinsing the abdominal cavity of the fish with a strong saline solution.

Given the increased curiosity of our underwater hunters, shown by them in different parts the globe, in today's article we cannot ignore such famous, even, one might say, legendary fish like blowfish. In the near future, we will have separate articles about dangerous tropical fish and sharks "manual", and now we will slightly expand the topic of dangerously passive fish on the example of representatives of the order of tetroodons. With these wonderful fish, everything is not so simple, it is not for nothing that dishes from fugu and their relatives are among the seven most dangerous dishes on the planet! And it's not so much about their super-duper-gastronomic qualities, there is still a psychological moment here, which is especially important for our compatriots - it's not for nothing that eating these dishes is called “Russian roulette”. After all, one drop of poison contained in a puffer fish can cause paralysis of the body and its limbs, and after a while, almost guaranteed death. In Japan, with its samurai traditions, this fish is the main delicacy, and for some reason our Russian tourists support them more actively than tourists from other countries. In spite of known fact that the art of safe and proper preparation of these fish has been learned for years and only certified, specially trained chefs are allowed in restaurants to prepare these delicacies, anyway, the slightest mistake of the chef (and we are all people, and the Japanese too) costs the client's life. In ancient times, the fate of the cook himself was also unenviable: following the code of honor, he had to go after the poisoned guest. Nowadays, of course, no one follows these barbaric customs, so the poisoning chef can continue his career. The only thing that calms down is that death from a failed fugu tasting is considered honorable in the Land of the Rising Sun.

According to official statistics, in Japan, on average, about 100 local residents and tourists die “without leaving the table” per year. And this is only the data taken into account, and after all, how many more "catering" coastal small establishments are there, where graduation certificates special courses chefs and does not smell, and the prices there are much lower ... By the way, prices in Japan for fugu reach from 250 to 750 dollars per kilogram! For this money, the gourmet kamikaze receives paper-thin mother-of-pearl fillet plates, artistically laid out on a plate. It is rightfully one of the most expensive delicacies in the world, especially if you agree with the chef and ask him to leave a small dose of poison in the dish, which, if used correctly and accurately, gives a mild narcotic effect. We will not talk here about the method of safe preparation of this fish, especially since our ichthyologists do not have such data.

The horrors of our town

Let's return to our "rams", more precisely, to our fish. Unfortunately, underwater hunters can get poisoned by poisonous fish not only in Japan or in Issyk-Kul. At the beginning of the 20th century, fishermen of the Baltic Sea and Gaffsky Bay were dying from an unknown misfortune, which was soon dubbed the Yukso-Sartlan disease (or Gaff disease, acute alimentary myositis, etc.). This acute epidemiological disease occurred in the form of isolated epidemic outbreaks among the population of fishing villages. Poor fishermen were affected by skeletal muscles and kidneys, in many cases the disease ended in death. Later such

"Epidemics" were recorded in Leningrad region, in Siberia, near Kharkov and in other regions. Medical scientists consider this disease as toxicosis associated with the consumption of even thermally well-processed fish, temporarily acquiring toxic properties (pike, pike perch, burbot, perch, eels, etc.) ).

Despite the fact that this disease has been known for more than a hundred years, doctors still cannot give a clear clinical picture, and its pathogenesis has practically not been studied. It is only known that kidneys (renal failure), skeletal and cardiac muscles are affected, and a person, even if he remains alive, will live like in the joke: "shitty-shitty." If symptoms are present, then you should see a doctor, unless you are already late, of course. The disease usually occurs in the spring-summer period, begins 10–68 hours after eating fish. Suddenly there are sharp pains and weakness in the muscles of the legs (legs are "taken away"), arms, lower back, chest. The pain increases with the slightest movement, in severe cases, they quickly spread to almost all skeletal muscles, except for the muscles of the face and head. Difficulty breathing is noted due to a sharp soreness of the respiratory muscles. Cyanosis of the skin (blue discoloration), dry mouth (not only in the morning), hyperhidrosis (salivation), and sometimes vomiting are observed. Diagnosis is very difficult, especially if you are a single diseased specimen. It is not uncommon to misdiagnose various kidney diseases and, accordingly, deprive you of your chance of recovery.

Unfortunately, fish poisoning is one of the most common and difficult to treat poisonings, and fish does not have to be poisonous in nature. For example, it is not uncommon to eat river lamprey in the spring, causes severe bloody diarrhea or non-infectious dysentery. Of course, all possible cases cannot be described here to warn you, and the notorious heat treatment is guaranteed to save you only from helminthic invasion(which is already good). For your future safety, we below give a plate of external signs, which any underwater hunter should remember at least in the first approximation, because often the fish begins to show poisonous toxic properties after it acquires a “second freshness”. The table summarizes the main visual differences between fresh (recently asleep) and stale fish.

And most importantly, we wish that you do not have to use the materials from this article of ours in practice. As they say, forewarned is forearmed!