Watch the video of the camouflaged fish below.
[rumble video_id=v5es81 domain_id=u7nb2]
Video credit: Rumble
Going to the beach and, for the more adventurous, going snorkeling and even scuba diving can be one of the most rewarding activities when it comes to recharging oneself away from the stresses of daily life. However, just because you’re on vacation and trying to de-stress doesn’t mean the Mother Nature will always follow your playbook.
For all its beauty, there are very real dangers when navigating the oceans. It’s not just the tides or inclement weather that one has to worry about but also highly poisonous creatures that could just as easily send you home in a body bag if you’re not careful.
One of these beautiful yet dangerous creatures is the scorpionfish, widely regarded as one of the deadliest fish in the world. It’s also called the rockfish or stonefish because of the tendency of these fish to dwell among rocks on the seafloor.
What sets the fish apart is the very deadly venom found in its spines. Located at the back of the fish, these needles act like hypodermic needles that can easily pierce the skin to inject the toxin inside. The underside of the scorpion fish’s fins have bright colors and they flutter these fins in order to keep potential predators at bay. However, they also have very good camouflage and it’s easy to inadvertently come in contact with them without even trying.
There are at least 200 species of scorpionfish and they mostly reside in the Indian and South Pacific Oceans because of the temperatures and abundance of coral reefs. During the day, they stay motionless on the shallow ocean floor and become active at night. They use their wide mouths to suck in unsuspecting prey and they will do this even during the day. Despite being plentiful in shallow waters, they have also been known to stay at depths of up to 2,625 feet (800 m) deep.
Scorpionfish poison is highly toxic and can be fatal to humans if left untreated. If one is stung, seek medical attention immediately so that an anti-venom injection can be administered. As first aid, the best way is to soak the area that has been stung in hot water. Never attempt to remove any spines that may have been stuck in the puncture wound.
It always pays to be aware of one’s surroundings but then again, with the excellent camouflage of the scorpionfish some accidents may happen.