Brief Summary Of Australian Stonefish: Marine Species
STONE FISH
The Stonefish is another of Australia's deadly marine creatures. They inhabit shallow waters along the coast. The stonefish is well camouflaged in the ocean, as it is a brownish colour, and often resembles a rock. This is why it is called the Stonefish.
It has thirteen sharp dorsal spines on its back, which each have extremely toxic venom.
Description
The Stone Fish is a a mottled brown-greenish in colour (which makes them camouflaged) with many venomous spines along its back. The Stone Fish is only dangerous if stepped on or caught. 13 dorsal spines project from venomous glands along the back . The venom is involuntarily expelled when pressure is applied to them. It takes a few weeks before the gland regenerate again. …show more content…
The stonefish or dornorn is officially considered the most venomous fish in the world.
It takes its name from the fact that, well, it looks like a stone. It can blend in well in the shallow tropical waters it inhabits, mostly in the Indian and Pacific oceans. The nasty part of the stonefish is on its dorsal fins. There is where you’ll find a row of spines filled with a toxic venom.
If you have the bad luck to get stuck with one of the stonefish’s venomous fins, you’ll find yourself in a world of hurt. The venom hurts so much that some people who’ve been stung have wanted the limb amputated. It can cause shock, paralysis, tissue death, and even fatalities if not treated within a few hours. The stonefish has at least one beneficial use. It’s a very expensive sashimi called okoze in
Japan.
IDENTIFICATION
Total length to 47 cm, common to 28 cm. Head, body and fins are generally dark brown. The skin is warty, scaleless and often covered in a short coat of filamentous algae. Thirteen sharp dorsal spines are each contained in a thick sheath of skin. The head has deep pits and grooves. The eyes are small and situated on a raised bony structure. The pectoral fins are enlarged and fleshy.
Habitat
The stonefish lives primarily above the tropic of Capricorn. Its main habitat is on coral reefs, near and about rocks, or can be found dormant in the mud or sand.
It feeds on small fish and shrimps.
LOCATE: Bays, estuaries and reef flats, usually among or adjacent to aquatic plants, fallen trees, rocks or coral. Found in northern Australia from Shark Bay, WA to Tweed River, NSW.
Venom
The sting causes excruciating pain and a great deal of swelling rapidly develops causing death to tissues. The severity of the symptoms depends on the depth of penetration and the number of spines penetrated. The symptoms of the venom are muscle weakness, temporary paralysis and shock, which may result in death if not treated.
HOW ?
Stings usually occur to the feet of swimmers or waders who have ventured away from clean sandy substrate and closer to the more complex bottom structure preferred by the stonefish. Multiple spines can often penetrate affected limbs, resulting in more extensive envenomation. The pain is immediate, excruciating and may last for many days. Muscular paralysis, breathing difficulties, shock, and sometimes heart failure and death can ensue.
PREVENT
To prevent stonefish stings, sturdy footwear should be worn on reef flats, or while wading on soft-bottom substrates adjacent to rocky or weedy areas. An antivenene for stonefish stings has been developed. In the event of a sting, the victim should leave the water, apply first aid and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Do not attempt to restrict the movement of the injected toxin.
Bathing or immersing the stung area in hot water may be effective in reducing the pain. transport the patient to the nearest medical centre. Hospitalisation for intravenous narcotic analgesia, local anaesthetic infiltration or regional block may be required.
Definitive management consists of administration of stonefish antivenom. Indications for antivenom include severe pain, systemic symptoms or signs of (weakness, paralysis) and injection of a large amount of venom.
The Stonefish is another of Australia's deadly marine creatures. They inhabit shallow waters along the coast. The stonefish is well camouflaged in the ocean, as it is a brownish colour, and often resembles a rock. This is why it is called the Stonefish.
It has thirteen sharp dorsal spines on its back, which each have extremely toxic venom.
Description
The Stone Fish is a a mottled brown-greenish in colour (which makes them camouflaged) with many venomous spines along its back. The Stone Fish is only dangerous if stepped on or caught. 13 dorsal spines project from venomous glands along the back . The venom is involuntarily expelled when pressure is applied to them. It takes a few weeks before the gland regenerate again. …show more content…
The stonefish or dornorn is officially considered the most venomous fish in the world.
It takes its name from the fact that, well, it looks like a stone. It can blend in well in the shallow tropical waters it inhabits, mostly in the Indian and Pacific oceans. The nasty part of the stonefish is on its dorsal fins. There is where you’ll find a row of spines filled with a toxic venom.
If you have the bad luck to get stuck with one of the stonefish’s venomous fins, you’ll find yourself in a world of hurt. The venom hurts so much that some people who’ve been stung have wanted the limb amputated. It can cause shock, paralysis, tissue death, and even fatalities if not treated within a few hours. The stonefish has at least one beneficial use. It’s a very expensive sashimi called okoze in
Japan.
IDENTIFICATION
Total length to 47 cm, common to 28 cm. Head, body and fins are generally dark brown. The skin is warty, scaleless and often covered in a short coat of filamentous algae. Thirteen sharp dorsal spines are each contained in a thick sheath of skin. The head has deep pits and grooves. The eyes are small and situated on a raised bony structure. The pectoral fins are enlarged and fleshy.
Habitat
The stonefish lives primarily above the tropic of Capricorn. Its main habitat is on coral reefs, near and about rocks, or can be found dormant in the mud or sand.
It feeds on small fish and shrimps.
LOCATE: Bays, estuaries and reef flats, usually among or adjacent to aquatic plants, fallen trees, rocks or coral. Found in northern Australia from Shark Bay, WA to Tweed River, NSW.
Venom
The sting causes excruciating pain and a great deal of swelling rapidly develops causing death to tissues. The severity of the symptoms depends on the depth of penetration and the number of spines penetrated. The symptoms of the venom are muscle weakness, temporary paralysis and shock, which may result in death if not treated.
HOW ?
Stings usually occur to the feet of swimmers or waders who have ventured away from clean sandy substrate and closer to the more complex bottom structure preferred by the stonefish. Multiple spines can often penetrate affected limbs, resulting in more extensive envenomation. The pain is immediate, excruciating and may last for many days. Muscular paralysis, breathing difficulties, shock, and sometimes heart failure and death can ensue.
PREVENT
To prevent stonefish stings, sturdy footwear should be worn on reef flats, or while wading on soft-bottom substrates adjacent to rocky or weedy areas. An antivenene for stonefish stings has been developed. In the event of a sting, the victim should leave the water, apply first aid and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Do not attempt to restrict the movement of the injected toxin.
Bathing or immersing the stung area in hot water may be effective in reducing the pain. transport the patient to the nearest medical centre. Hospitalisation for intravenous narcotic analgesia, local anaesthetic infiltration or regional block may be required.
Definitive management consists of administration of stonefish antivenom. Indications for antivenom include severe pain, systemic symptoms or signs of (weakness, paralysis) and injection of a large amount of venom.