Читать книгу The World's Most Dangerous Animals - Kevin Baker Baker - Страница 9

A stone fish in a public aquarium. Image courtesy of SeanMack.

People who have accidentally stepped on a stonefish have reported that the pain can last up to a staggering 6 months. Sometimes the infected area can blacken and produce a hole over time in the skin of the unsuspecting diver or beachcomber, requiring special treatment. A stonefish does not sound that dangerous. If anything, one would perhaps initially imagine that these fish are simply very sharp and stepping on one would result in a cut foot. Although while stepping on this unsuspecting fish will result in a sharp pain in your foot, it will be from a nasty venom, that should be tended to immediately, because the stonefish happens to be one of the most poisonous fish in the world.

Not to worry though, as the stonefish really isn’t as aggressive as say a shark or a grumpy hippo. These fish are simply defending themselves from others who would see them as food. The stonefish feeds mostly on small fish and shrimp. They would be completely vulnerable to bottom feeders if not for their 13 sharp, venomous spines and their flawless camouflage. They live amongst coral and rocky areas and tend to blend almost seamlessly into their environment. They don’t get much bigger than 50 centimetres tops, and because of their mottled brownish green camouflage, they can be extremely difficult to spot.

The first thing that happens when numbed by the shock of stepping on a stonefish is a light tingly sensation, similar to the feeling of when a limb starts to fall asleep. However, it does not stop there as the numb feeling quickly spreads, followed by intense pain and massive swelling. The pain level will depend on how many spines were involved in the stinging and how deep they went. Obviously, more spines involved means more venom in the blood.

After the numbing, pain, and swelling, more grizzly effects await the victim, as muscle weakness, paralysis and shock then set in. These are the symptoms that are the most worrying as these complications are what people die from. Interestingly, people are more likely to die from a stonefish sting in the Indo-China waters and not so much in Australian waters, two of the main places where stonefish are found.

Naturally, it is imperative to treat anyone who has been stung by a stonefish, especially if they are unable to identify the type of stonefish and the severity of the sting. The first thing to do is immerse the area in hot water. This can help alleviate some of the pain, but if it intensifies or spreads more the person should be hospitalized immediately. The typical treatment for stonefish stings includes a series of IV treatments, as well as plenty of observation in case of infection.

On a positive note, there were only 14 calls to the Queensland Poisons Information System about stonefish poison in the year 2008 for example. With care and some thick rubber shoes, walking in stonefish inhabited waters can be relatively safe. It just means being aware of your surroundings and looking very carefully at the seafloor.

And finally, stonefish are actually considered as food in parts of Asia. This should come as no surprise because in some parts of Asia they tend to class everything as a delicacy that moves, breathes and isn't on a conventional menu. The poison is harmless after they have been heated up when cooked, and in some areas of the world they are even considered to be good for your health. When cooked, typically with ginger in a soup, the white meat is dense and sweet. They can also be served raw as sushi.