5 Facts About the Most Poisonous Rock Fish – Do you know what fish are the most dangerous in the world? Maybe you will answer sharks, piranhas, and various other types of predatory fish.
It’s not wrong, because some types of predatory fish can indeed attack humans and endanger safety. But besides that, there are also other dangerous fish called stone fish or the Latin name Synanceia verrucosa.
This fish, which lives in the shallow and tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific, does not attack by biting or tearing its prey, such as sharks or piranhas, but through spraying poison from its body. Curious? Come on, see five facts about the following stone fish!
1. Is the most poisonous fish in the world and deadly
This poison is contained in the spines and skin of the fish. The poison of this fish will cause unbearable pain and paralysis in the prey. If not handled in time, it can even kill the individual. The toxins released by these fish can even kill adult humans.
Stony fish have dorsal fins that are shaped like needles. Pressure sensitive glands are located at the base of these fins. On the dorsal fin, there are 13 sharp spines that the fish can lift at any time whenever they feel threatened.
The poison of rockfish in humans can have fatal effects that can be felt immediately by the victim, starting with swelling and excruciating pain. These symptoms then progress rapidly, causing paralysis, tissue necrosis, and even heart failure.
Fortunately, now there are anti-toxic substances that have been developed since the late 1950s and can be used for medicinal purposes. people who are exposed to stone fish poison should be immediately taken to the nearest clinic or hospital. This is because the poison can kill humans within 2 hours without treatment.
Although very poisonous, rockfish are not actually aggressive fish. This fish is even classified as a slow swimmer. Rockfish will not attack humans or other predators with their venom unless they are feeling threatened. The defense mechanism only activates if someone accidentally steps on it
2. Very good at camouflage
Rockfish are often camouflaged so that they look like rocks. According to the Oceana website, rockfish are very skilled at camouflage and can blend in perfectly with their environment. These fish almost always sit still on the seabed, in their favorite coral reef habitat, or rock.
The color often looks similar to rocks or coral reefs. Some individual fish are even known to have algae growing on them. The small size of rock fish which is between 30-40 cm also makes them look very much like rocks or parts of coral reefs.
By camouflage, rock fish can outwit their prey so that it will be easier for them to ambush the prey. This camouflage also provides them with protection from predators. Diving prey, predators and humans will have a hard time seeing them. Therefore, not a few people accidentally step on this fish.
3. Rockfish tend to be passive in looking for food. But once they get their prey, they are able to prey on it very quickly
stone fish are carnivores. These fish eat fish around coral reefs and some invertebrates that live on the seabed. However, stone fish do not actively chase their prey.
Rockfish will only wait for the prey to come to them. Stonefish often wait patiently for hours on their prey, and only begin to attack their prey when it is near.
Stonefish have powerful jaws and large mouths that create a lot of pressure. With this pressure, stone fish easily suck up its prey and then swallow it whole in just a matter of seconds, even as fast as 0.015 seconds!
4. Can survive out of water for up to 24 hours
as long as the surrounding environmental conditions are humid, rock fish can survive out of water for up to 24 hours. In such circumstances, the stone fish will absorb oxygen through its skin.
That way, those who live in the Indo-Pacific coastal areas must be extra vigilant when walking on the beach and not to step on these fish.
This phenomenon is often seen during low tide, which causes rock fish to be outside of sea water. Even so, often stone fish will eventually suffocate due to dehydration.
5. Rock fish are never afraid of the presence of predators around them
Stone fish is not a top predator, meaning that this fish still has predators or predators that can threaten it at any time. However, The Odyssey Online page reports that rockfish are never at all afraid of the presence of potential predators, no matter how many predators are nearby.
Researchers suspect that the stone fish’s “courage” was due to whatever creature approached it, the rockfish could easily sting it to death.
At least, predators will get away first after recognizing the stone fish around them. Wow, this is clearly very different from other types of fish that are afraid of meeting predators, right?
So, those are the five facts about rock fish that you need to know. Have you ever heard of this fish before, or have you even seen it in person? If so, share your experience in the comments column, let’s!