Dangerous inhabitants of the yellow sea. Dangerous inhabitants of the Mediterranean Sea

Every year, accidents involving tourists on vacation occur around the world. Improper behavior on the water, abuse of alcoholic beverages, and ignorance of basic safety standards lead to disastrous consequences.

Exotic holidays are also popular among Russian tourists, where you can get acquainted with the diverse fauna of the warm seas. For example, in Egypt, an excursion offered scuba diving in the open sea, where vacationers could take pictures of beautiful fish and touch them with their hands. However, no one warned that almost half of them are poisonous and pose a danger to humans, including death.

Due to the deterioration of the environmental situation throughout the world, large predators in search of prey migrate to places unusual for their habitat and swim close to the shore. For example, in 2011, a record number of shark attacks on people were recorded around the world. In Primorye, where sharks had never previously swum to the shore or shown aggression, several such cases have occurred. Also in 2015, sharks attacked tourists in the most popular resorts in Egypt. Therefore, before going on a sea holiday, it is important to know simple safety rules when swimming in the sea.

Basic safety rules at sea

1. Before going on a sea holiday, study the inhabitants that pose a danger to humans.
2. While in the water, do not touch sea creatures with your hands.
3. Do not swim in the sea at night or at dawn, or alone.
4. Avoid swimming in conditions of poor visibility and turbid water.
5. Look carefully at your step when entering the sea.
6. Wear special shoes near coral reefs.
7. It is not recommended to swim during strong winds or after a storm, as many jellyfish wash ashore.
8. Choose soft-colored swimsuits and swim trunks to avoid attracting the attention of sharks and other dangerous fish.
9. Do not swim further than 10 meters from the shore.
10. Pay attention to the signs and flags on the beach. The color of the flag can signal danger.

Let us examine in more detail the main marine inhabitants that pose a danger to humans.

Jellyfish

Jellyfish have special stinging cells with poison on their bodies that can cause severe burns. As a rule, they are in a fringe that hangs under the dome. Many jellyfish that live in Russian seas are absolutely harmless, and touching them will practically not cause a burn.

Very often you can see children playing with jellyfish and throwing them at each other. However, among a large number of harmless jellyfish, a dangerous jellyfish may accidentally swim in after a strong wind or storm. Therefore, it is worth preparing your family members in advance for the fact that you cannot pick up jellyfish.

Jellyfish habitat: warm waters of the Mediterranean, Aegean, Black, Caspian, Azov, Red Seas, Indian Ocean, Amur Bay (Vladivostok).

Particularly dangerous jellyfish:

Tunisia (Mediterranean Sea) - black jellyfish, Canary Islands - Portuguese man-of-war

Coast of the Black, Caspian and Azov Seas - jellyfish corner mouth

Precautionary measures:

• plan in advance and choose safe seasons (for example, during the rainy season in Asian countries, the number of jellyfish near the coast increases, August and September are jellyfish season in Tunisia),
• do not swim in the sea immediately after a storm, do not touch jellyfish with your hands.

In case of defeat:

• Do not wash the wound (burn site) with sea or fresh water - this can lead to an even greater spread of the poison.
• It is necessary to lubricate the skin with vinegar solution or alcohol, remove remnants of the jellyfish from the skin, treat the wound with wound-healing ointment, and also take antihistamines.

Sea urchins

Sea urchins can be found in warm seas on sandy bottoms, on rocks, cliffs in the sea or on coral reefs. They often form large accumulations on sloping rocky surfaces near the shore, can be found on metal stairs when descending into the water, and grow on piers and bridges. Unlike other sea inhabitants, the urchin's spines do not contain poison. However, its injection is very painful and can take quite a long time. There is also a high risk of wound suppuration or healing with remaining needles inside.

Sea urchin habitat: warm waters of the Mediterranean, Aegean, Red Seas, Amur Bay (Vladivostok), Indian Ocean.

Particularly dangerous:

Sea urchin tiara , upon contact with which paralysis may occur.

Precautionary measures:

• be careful when entering water where there are accumulations of stones,
• Do not swim in muddy water or in the dark.

In case of defeat:

• If a sea urchin needle gets into your leg, you should contact a medical facility as soon as possible.
• If there is no such thing nearby, then you can try to remove the needle yourself, after first holding the affected area in hot water and treating it with alcohol.
• In Greece, sea urchin spines are removed as follows: the wound is lubricated with olive oil and the spines are squeezed out.

Octopuses

The word “octopus” or “octopus” has been a metaphor for something dangerous and frightening for almost 200 years. Cases of attacks by huge three-meter octopuses on people have been described in fiction. In fact, there are only a few actually confirmed such cases.

The huge octopuses described in the novels of Victor Hugo live at great depths and do not attack people themselves, but rather hide from them. Divers have been known to encounter such octopuses in the holds of sunken ships or in underwater caves. Therefore, if you decide to scuba dive, avoid such places.

Small octopuses that live in the Red or Mediterranean Sea, as well as in the Indian Ocean, pose a danger only if you pick up the sea animal. The octopus has jaws similar to the beak of a parrot, which, when bitten, release poison that can cause paralysis and suffocation.

Octopus habitat: Mediterranean, Aegean, Red Sea, Amur Bay (Vladivostok), Indian Ocean.

Particularly dangerous:

Blue-ringed octopus - lives in Japan and Australia and causes severe paralysis of the entire body.

Precautionary measures:

• do not handle octopuses,
• do not swim into underwater caves and grottoes.
• If you are scuba diving, be sure to have a sharp knife with you so that if an octopus attacks, you can cut its dexterous tentacles.

In case of defeat: Since an octopus bite can cause paralysis and suffocation, you need to urgently call for help and call an ambulance. Experienced fishermen recommend urinating on the bite site, this way the poison can be neutralized.

Sharks

Until recently, Russian seas were considered practically safe in terms of the likelihood of shark attacks on people. However, in 2011, white sharks began to attack divers near Vladivostok, 10 meters from the shore. In 2016, as well as in May 2017, sharks dangerous to humans were also spotted in these areas.

Shark habitat: The Black, Azov and Caspian seas are considered the safest due to desalinated water and pollution. Mediterranean Sea(resorts of Greece, Turkey, Italy, Croatia, Cyprus, France) - over the past 100 years, 21 cases of fatal attacks have been recorded. The most likely inhabitants are the tiger shark, mako shark, hammerhead shark and gray reef shark.

Red Sea (Egypt, Israel): There are about 30 species of sharks, some of which come close to the shore. Attacks by especially dangerous white and tiger sharks are possible.

Indian Ocean: Most attacks were recorded near the coast of Australia and Africa, South Africa (Kosi Bay). The gray, tiger and great white sharks that are dangerous to humans live here.

Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean: beaches near California, Florida and Hawaii are considered the most dangerous with the highest number of sharks.

Particularly dangerous:

Great white shark (man-eating shark) is one of the largest and most dangerous predators, reaching five meters in length. It lives in all seas and oceans, including Primorye and Sakhalin.

Mako shark (blue-gray shark) - the fastest and most aggressive shark in the world. It lives in almost all seas, including the eastern region of our country in the summer (with the exception of the Black, Azov and Caspian). Numerous cases of attacks by this shark on people standing on the shore or on the pier have been recorded.

Blue shark (blue shark) - There are a few known cases of attacks on people. Inhabits all seas and oceans, including Kamchatka.

Tiger shark - one of the most dangerous species of sharks for humans. In 2011, 169 cases of this shark attacking people were recorded, 29 of which were fatal. Lives in tropical and subtropical waters (Red Sea, India, Australia, North and South America).

Precautionary measures: The main reason for shark attacks on people is the shark’s poor vision; it mistakes a floundering person for a fish. Vacationers often provoke the shark themselves and swim closer to it. They even came up with such dangerous entertainment for tourists as swimming with sharks. Those who choose this method of “relaxation” forget that sharks are predators, and they can react to bright swimsuits, jewelry, as well as fresh wounds or cuts on the body, since they sense blood over long distances.

Do not swim alone, especially near schools of fish, fur seals, and dolphins. Sharks love loners and most often attack solo divers. For safety reasons, modern repellents and repellents have been created as a means of protection against sharks.

In case of meeting and defeat:

• If you are swimming and see a shark in the water, do not tease it, but catch a wave and try to go ashore.
• Sharks will even attack a person in a boat (for example, a mako shark), so if you are in a boat and a shark swims towards you with the intention of attacking, you need to hit it on the nose with an oar and immediately swim to shore. This will scare away the shark and buy time.
• Try to overcome panic and fear: the shark feels fear, this can provoke an attack.
• When meeting a shark, you need to swim away slowly, without rushing and without floundering in the water, but you should not pretend to be dead, since this method does not work with sharks.
• Just because a shark is just swimming by doesn't mean it wants to attack.
• A possible shark attack is indicated by the shark heading straight towards you or circling around you.
• As a rule, the shark attacks in one sharp movement, it is at this moment that you can strike back at it in the nose, eyes and gills.
• The blows must be struck quickly and many times, everything in your hands will be useful. For example, a camera, a mask, fins, a stick, a stone.
• If there is a large rock nearby, you can press yourself against it. This will reduce the angle of attack of the shark.
• If a shark attacked and swam away, then you need to call for help as quickly as possible and get ashore - the predator may return.

Sea fish

The most dangerous and poisonous sea fish live in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, where tourists are invited to scuba dive and observe the beautiful underwater world. However, it is worth remembering that no matter how beautiful the fish are, you cannot touch them.

The most dangerous and poisonous fish of the seas and oceans

Spiny Arotron (relative of the deadly Fugue fish) - releases powerful poison — tetrodotoxin can cause death. Lives in the Red Sea, Indian Ocean.

Lionfish (Lionfish) — The fins of this beautiful fish contain needles that emit poison that causes severe pain and paralysis, and can cause death. Found in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.

Arabian surgeon - This fish's tail-spike contains a dangerous poison, very painful. Lives in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.

Stonefish (wartfish) — the poison secreted by its thorns is very dangerous, causes unbearable pain, leads to paralysis, tissue death and, if deeply penetrated, can cause death. Lives in the Red and Mediterranean seas.

Scorpionfish, sea ruff - sea ruffe injections cause very severe pain. It lives in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Stingray - The stingray spine, which can be stepped on, contains poison. The prick of a thorn is extremely painful and dangerous, and can even cause death. It lives in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as in the Black and Azov Seas.

Dangerous inhabitants of the seas and oceans

Name of the sea	Jellyfish	Sea urchins	Octopus	Sharks	Dangerous sea fish
Black(Resorts of the Krasnodar region, Ukraine, Crimea, Abkhazia, Georgia, Bulgaria, Turkey)
Azovskoe(Russia, Ukraine, Crimea
Caspian(Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Dagestan)
Amur Bay(Primorye, Vladivostok)
Aegean(Greece, Türkiye)
Mediterranean(Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Malta, Morocco, Egypt, Monaco, Tunisia, Turkey, France, Croatia, Montenegro)
Red(Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia)
Indian Ocean(India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Indonesia, Africa, Madagascar Seychelles, Maldives, Mauritius Thailand)

Preface

When conceiving this site, I intended to limit myself to only circular panoramas, photographs were added by themselves, then eerie and terrible inhabitants of the Mediterranean surfaced from the depths of the sea.

Upon closer inspection, the monsters turned out to be some kind of third-rate monsters, suitable only for scaring small children with them. In a word, our sea clearly does not reach the Maldives with their abundance of all kinds of poisonous tropical reptiles. However, I read what was written and was horrified. It turns out that the gentle and warm Mediterranean Sea is simply teeming with all sorts of creatures, ready to grab onto the tender, defenseless body of a swimmer, tear out a piece of meat from it, poison it, or, at worst, just sting painfully.

However, over 15 years of searching for adventure and snorkeling, the biggest trouble that happened to us was hopelessly ruined swimming trunks, on which a frightened octopus “spit” ink when it was pulled out of the water.

The main principle for anyone who wants to dive into the depths of the sea is simple and unpretentious, like a rake: "If you don't know, don't touch". The more dangerous the living creature and the more trouble it can cause to the bather, the more careless it behaves and allows it closer to itself, naively believing that everyone around is well acquainted with its bad temper and will not touch it.

If you're going to swim in the wild stone beaches, then to the main principle “don’t touch anything” it would be nice to add special slippers, then no sea urchin is scary.

The holiday kit will not be complete if you forget it at home sunglasses And sun cream. Glasses must block not only the visible spectrum of solar radiation, but most importantly, block ultraviolet radiation to avoid burns to the cornea. Sunglasses in Cyprus will not be superfluous even in winter. You can save cream with protective factor SPF 5, 10, 15 for central Russia, the rainy Baltic states or Foggy Albion. The Cyprus thermonuclear sun requires reliable protection. If you have not forgotten any of the above, then you will be happy in the form of a good rest and pleasant memories.

Seaweed may be a source of discomfort. Being a fan of swimming with a mask and fins in the crystal clear water of Protaras, a couple of times I climbed out onto the steep stone shore and sat down on the soft algae growing in the surf to take off my fins. The consequences made me remember the old advice: “to get a full bust, stick it in a beehive.” A beehive, not a beehive, but there was a very strong feeling that I had sat in the nettle bushes. The stung area then itched terribly, which added piquancy to the situation. Probably, in such cases, it is possible to recommend the use of fenistil gel, or any other allergy cream.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a camera for filming underwater, so I had to be content with pictures found on the Internet. All photos indicate which site I stole them from.

Let's start with the thunder of the seas - sharks, rightfully considered the most terrible inhabitant of the Mediterranean Sea.

Unfortunately or fortunately, the state of affairs at the moment is such that we need to worry not about meeting a dangerous predator, but about the fact that sharks living in the Mediterranean Sea are in danger of imminent and complete extinction. But still, what is the likelihood of meeting a shark on the beaches of Cyprus?

Fireworms look very picturesque: their body consists of many segments of a bright orange-red color. Each segment contains a bunch of beautiful and fluffy-looking white bristles. Many worms reach a respectable size of 30-40 cm.

Jellyfish off the coast of Cyprus are quite rare, in contrast to the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Malta and Israel, which is teeming with jellyfish. But this does not mean that contact with jellyfish is completely excluded. Warming climate in general and sea water in particular is contributing to an increase in the number of these dangerous marine inhabitants in the Mediterranean Sea. The jellyfish on the left was photographed off the coast of Spain.

Sea urchins cause problems for vacationers on the beaches of Cyprus, perhaps more often than any other dangerous inhabitants of the Mediterranean Sea. Encounters with sea urchins with unpleasant consequences for both parties are, unfortunately, not uncommon. The Mediterranean Sea with salty and warm water is simply a paradise for hedgehogs. They often form large clusters on inclined rock surfaces, starting from the shallowest water near the shore. A careless swimmer crawling ashore or wandering along the rocks along the water's edge risks stepping on, or even grabbing, a sea urchin. But there are no poisonous sea urchins in Cyprus.

Anemones belong to the order of marine cnidarians. Sea anemones are quite widespread along the entire coast, growing either singly or in colonies. Most of all, they look like harmless grass, only meatier. Often, entire colonies of anemones settle in the surf, withstanding both the pressure of waves during high tides and low tides.

Moray eels and their close relatives, eels, have long, snake-like bodies. They can be truly dangerous if you try to catch or feed them. Moray eels are not the first to attack, but when disturbed they can become very aggressive. The mouth, equipped with large, sharp teeth curved inward, does not raise any doubt about the danger of such a weapon. Despite the absence of poison, their bites are very painful and do not heal for a long time: there are more than enough infections on the teeth of this cute fish.

For those who choose the beaches of Cyprus for a summer holiday, I will say right away: the rabbit fish does not pose any danger. It does not burrow into sand like scorpionfish. It does not attack humans, it is in different weight categories with them, and it is found quite far from the shore. This story is mainly for those who are going sea fishing.

A wide variety of animals live in the ocean. According to the calculations of special expeditions, today about 85 thousand different organisms live in the ocean. And many of them pose a huge danger to humans. Let's get acquainted with the most dangerous of them.

Zebra fish. Lionfish

This fish is found in the Red Sea and mainly in the Indian and Pacific oceans. It can be found off the coast of China, Japan or Australia. Her body is 30-40 centimeters long. It has light pink stripes on its body.

The decoration of this fish is considered to be long ribbons of fins. These very fins contain poisonous needles. When injected with this needle, the person immediately loses consciousness and is in deep shock. There is an opinion that this fish is capable of killing a person, but not a single case has been recorded.

When poison enters the human body, convulsions begin, disruption of the heart, and there is a danger of developing gangrene. The poisoning process and the time after it are considered very difficult.

Cone. cone snail

This mollusk lives mainly in warm waters. It has a special poisonous gland, which consists of toxic substances. When you touch it, a thorn pricks you, and the person loses consciousness from acute pain. This makes breathing and the work of the heart muscle difficult.

Of the three stings from the thorn of this mollusk, one is considered fatal. But this mollusk also brings benefits to humans; medicines are produced based on its poison.

This jellyfish is considered the largest in the world. Lives in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Its diameter is about 75 centimeters. There are tentacles in her body, upon contact with which, poison enters the victim’s body.

This poison is capable of killing small animals, but also causes significant damage and painful shock to larger animals.

Scorpionfish, or Sea Ruff

This fish lives in the Atlantic Ocean. It spends most of its life in various thickets, and during the hunt, it lies hidden at the bottom. When prey approaches, the sea urchin suddenly attacks the victim and swallows it along with the water.

The bites of this fish are very painful for humans. Severe pain occurs and infection enters the body.

It can be found off the coast of northern Australia and Indonesia. Her entire body is covered with special cells, thanks to which she causes severe burns upon contact with them. The burns cause severe pain, and their force can kill up to 60 people in three minutes. Due to frequent deaths, it is considered the most dangerous jellyfish in the world.

Puffer fish, puffer fish, ball fish, dog fish

Yes, this fish has many names and is considered very poisonous. When danger arises, it has the characteristic feature of increasing three times. This fish received its nicknames because of the special structure of its body, namely its teeth.

While searching for food, it splits the shells of shrimp and crabs and feeds on them. Her gland contains a lethal dose of poison. This fish is eaten, but the liver and caviar cannot be eaten. Despite the highly qualified chefs, up to 100 deaths occur per year from poisoning with this delicacy. Why a delicacy? Because one serving of this fish in a restaurant costs about $1,000.

Wart. Stone fish

This is the most dangerous of all known poisonous fish. Its length is about 40 centimeters. It lives near the coast and is very similar to an ordinary stone. Produces poison and injects it into the victim. Upon contact with it, a person immediately loses consciousness, as his nerve endings are affected. If the poison enters the blood vessels, a person’s death occurs within three minutes.

Blue-ringed octopus

This octopus is small in size and lives in the Pacific Ocean. It has very modest dimensions, its weight is only 100 grams. When he senses danger, he becomes covered with spots that have a bluish tint.

It has a deadly poison in its gland - a neurotoxin. It affects the nervous and muscular systems, and causes inevitable paralysis. At the moment, the only way to save a person from a bite is to immediately perform artificial respiration.

There are about 900 species of sea urchins in the world, which have a variety of spines in their bodies that aid in movement and aid in defense. They live in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Their needles are poisonous. When such a needle enters the human body, severe inflammation occurs. No deaths were recorded.

Original taken from billfish561 in Beautiful, but dangerous inhabitants of the seas and oceans.

There are quite a lot of creatures living in sea and ocean waters, an encounter with which can cause a person trouble in the form of injury or even lead to disability or death.

Here I have tried to describe the most common sea inhabitants that you should be wary of when you encounter them in the water, while relaxing and swimming on the beach of a resort or while diving.
If you ask any person "...Which inhabitant of the seas and oceans is the most dangerous?", then we will almost always hear the answer “... shark..." But is this so? Who is more dangerous, a shark or an outwardly completely harmless shell?

Moray eels

It reaches a length of 3 m and a weight of up to 10 kg, but as a rule, individuals are found about a meter long. The fish has bare skin, without scales. They are found in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and are widespread in the Mediterranean and Red Seas. Moray eels live in the bottom layer of water, one might say at the bottom. During the day, moray eels sit in crevices of rocks or corals, sticking their heads out and usually moving them from side to side, looking for passing prey; at night they get out of their shelters to hunt. Moray eels usually feed on fish, but they also attack crustaceans and octopuses, which are caught from ambush.

After processing, moray eel meat can be eaten. It was especially valued by the ancient Romans.

Moray eel is potentially dangerous to humans. A diver who has become a victim of a moray eel attack always somehow provokes this attack - he sticks his hand or foot into the crevice where the moray eel is hiding, or chases it. A moray eel, when attacking a person, inflicts a wound that is similar to the bite mark of a barracuda, but unlike a barracuda, the moray eel does not immediately swim away, but hangs on its victim like a bulldog. She can grab the arm with a bulldog death grip, from which the diver cannot free himself, and then he can die.

It is not poisonous, but since moray eels do not disdain carrion, the wounds are very painful, do not heal for a long time and often become inflamed. Hides among underwater rocks and coral reefs in crevices and caves.

When moray eels begin to feel hungry, they jump out of their shelters like an arrow and grab a victim swimming by. Very gluttonous. Very strong jaws and sharp teeth.

Moray eels are not very attractive in appearance. But they do not attack scuba divers, as some believe; they are not aggressive. Isolated cases occur only when moray eels are in mating season. If a moray eel mistakes a person for a source of food or he invades its territory, then it may still attack.

Barracudas

All barracudas live in tropical and subtropical waters of the World Ocean near the surface. There are 8 species in the Red Sea, including the large barracuda. There are not many species in the Mediterranean Sea - only 4, of which 2 moved there from the Red Sea via the Suez Canal. The so-called “malita”, which has settled in the Mediterranean Sea, provides the bulk of the entire Israeli catch of barracudas. The most ominous feature of barracudas is the powerful lower jaw, which protrudes far beyond the upper jaw. The jaws are equipped with fearsome teeth: a row of small, razor-sharp teeth dot the outside of the jaw, and a row of large, dagger-like teeth inside.

The maximum recorded size of a barracuda is 200 cm, weight is 50 kg, but usually the length of a barracuda does not exceed 1-2 m.

She is aggressive and fast. Barracudas are also called “living torpedoes” because they attack their prey with great speed.

Despite such a formidable name and ferocious appearance, these predators are practically harmless to humans. It should be remembered that all attacks on people occurred in muddy or dark water, where the moving arms or legs of a swimmer were mistaken by the barracuda for swimming fish (This is exactly the situation the author of the blog found himself in in February 2014, when he was on vacation in Egypt, Oriental Bay Resort Marsa Alam 4+* (now called Aurora Oriental Bay Marsa Alam Resort 5*) Marsa Gabel el Rosas Bay . A medium-sized barracuda, 60-70cm, almost bit off the first f alang of the index finger on the right hand. A piece of a finger was hanging on a 5mm piece of skin (dive gloves saved me from complete amputation). At the Marsa Alam clinic, the surgeon put 4 stitches and saved the finger, but the rest was completely ruined ). In Cuba, the reason for attacking a person was shiny objects such as watches, jewelry, knives. It will not be superfluous if the shiny parts of the equipment are painted dark.

The barracuda's sharp teeth can damage the arteries and veins of the limbs; in this case, the bleeding must be stopped immediately, since blood loss can be significant. In the Antilles, barracudas are more feared than sharks.

Jellyfish

Every year, millions of people suffer from “burns” from contact with jellyfish while swimming.

There are no particularly dangerous jellyfish in the waters of the seas washing the Russian shores; the main thing is to prevent these jellyfish from coming into contact with mucous membranes. In the Black Sea, the easiest jellyfish to encounter are Aurelia and Cornerot. They are not very dangerous, and their “burns” are not very strong.

Aurelia "butterflies" (Aurelia aurita)

Cornermouth jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo)

Only in the Far Eastern seas does it live enough cross jellyfish, dangerous to humans, the poison of which can even lead to the death of a person. This small jellyfish with a cross pattern on its umbrella causes severe burns at the point of contact with it, and after a while causes other disorders in the human body - difficulty breathing, numbness of the limbs.

Cross Medusa (Gonionemus vertens)

consequences of a cross jellyfish burn

The further south you go, the more dangerous the jellyfish are. In the coastal waters of the Canary Islands, a pirate awaits unwary swimmers - the “Portuguese man-of-war” - a very beautiful jellyfish with a red crest and a multi-colored bubble-sail.

Portuguese man of war (Physalia physalis)

The "Little Man of Portugal" looks so harmless and beautiful at sea...

And this is what the leg looks like after contact with the "Portuguese man-of-war"....

Many jellyfish live in the coastal waters of Thailand.

But the real scourge for swimmers is the Australian “sea wasp”. She kills with a light touch of multi-meter tentacles, which, by the way, can wander on their own without losing their murderous qualities. You can pay for getting acquainted with the “sea wasp” with severe “burns” and lacerations at best, and with life at worst. Sea wasp jellyfish have killed more people than sharks. This jellyfish lives in the warm waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans, and is especially numerous off the coast of Northern Australia. The diameter of its umbrella is only 20-25 mm, but the tentacles reach a length of 7-8 m and they contain venom similar in composition to cobra venom, but much stronger. A person who is touched by a “sea wasp” with its tentacles usually dies within 5 minutes.

Australian box jellyfish or "sea wasp" (Chironex fleckeri)

burn from jellyfish "sea wasp"

Aggressive jellyfish also live in the Mediterranean and other Atlantic waters - the “burns” caused by them are stronger than the “burns” of Black Sea jellyfish, and they cause allergic reactions more often. These include cyanea ("hairy jellyfish"), pelagia ("little lilac sting"), chrysaora ("sea nettle") and some others.

Atlantic cyanide jellyfish (Cyanea capillata)

Pelagia (Noctiluca), known in Europe as "purple sting"

Pacific sea nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens)

Jellyfish "Compass" (Coronatae)
Compass jellyfish chose the coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea and one of the oceans - the Atlantic - as their place of residence. They live off the coast of Turkey and the United Kingdom. These are quite large jellyfish, their diameter reaches thirty centimeters. They have twenty-four tentacles, which are arranged in groups of three each. The body color is yellowish-white with a brown tint, and its shape resembles a saucer-bell, which has thirty-two lobes, which are colored brown at the edges.
The upper surface of the bell has sixteen brown V-shaped rays. The lower part of the bell is the location of the mouth opening, surrounded by four tentacles. These jellyfish are poisonous. Their venom is potent and often leads to the formation of wounds that are very painful and take a long time to heal..
Yet the most dangerous jellyfish live in Australia and its adjacent waters. Burns from box jellyfish and Portuguese man-of-war are very serious and often fatal.

Stingrays

Stingrays of the stingray family and electric rays can cause trouble. It should be noted that the stingrays themselves do not attack a person; injury can be caused if you step on him when this fish is hiding at the bottom.

Stingray stingray (Dasyatidae)

Electric Stingray (Torpediniformes)

Stingrays live in almost all seas and oceans. In our (Russian) waters you can find a stingray, or otherwise called a sea cat. It is found both in the Black Sea and in the seas of the Pacific coast. If you step on a stingray buried in the sand or resting at the bottom, it can cause a serious wound to the offender, and, among other things, inject poison into it. He has a barb on his tail, or rather a real sword - up to 20 centimeters in length. Its edges are very sharp, and also jagged, along the blade, on the lower side there is a groove in which dark poison from the poisonous gland on the tail is visible. If you touch a stingray lying at the bottom, it will strike with its tail like a whip; at the same time, it sticks out its spine and can cause a deep chopped wound. A wound from a stingray blow is treated like any other.

The Black Sea is also home to the sea fox stingray Raja clavata - large, up to one and a half meters from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail, it is harmless to humans - unless, of course, you try to grab it by the tail, covered with long sharp spines. Electric stingrays are not found in the waters of Russian seas.

Sea anemones (anemones)

Sea anemones inhabit almost all the seas of the globe, but, like other coral polyps, they are especially numerous and diverse in warm waters. Most species live in shallow coastal waters, but they are often found at the maximum depths of the World Ocean. Sea anemones Usually hungry sea anemones sit completely calm, with tentacles widely spaced. At the slightest changes occurring in the water, the tentacles begin to oscillate, not only they stretch out towards the prey, but often the entire body of the sea anemone bends. Having grabbed the victim, the tentacles contract and bend towards the mouth.

Sea anemones are well armed. Stinging cells are especially numerous in predatory species. A volley of fired stinging cells kills small organisms and often causes severe burns in larger animals, even humans. They can cause burns, just like some types of jellyfish.

Octopuses

Octopuses (Octopoda) are the most famous representatives of cephalopods. “Typical” octopuses are representatives of the suborder Incirrina, bottom-dwelling animals. But some representatives of this suborder and all species of the second suborder, Cirrina, are pelagic animals that live in the water column, and many of them are found only at great depths.

They live in all tropical and subtropical seas and oceans, from shallow waters to depths of 100-150 m. They prefer rocky coastal zones, looking for caves and crevices in the rocks for habitat. In the waters of the Russian seas they live only in the Pacific region.

The common octopus has the ability to change color to adapt to its environment. This is explained by the presence in his skin of cells with various pigments that, under the influence of impulses from the central nervous system, can stretch or contract depending on the perception of the senses. The usual color is brown. If the octopus is scared, it turns white; if it is angry, it turns red.

When enemies approach (including divers or scuba divers), they flee, hiding in rock crevices and under stones.

The real danger is an octopus bite if handled carelessly. The secretion of the poisonous salivary glands can be injected into the wound. In this case, acute pain and itching is felt in the bite area.
When a common octopus bites, a local inflammatory reaction occurs. Heavy bleeding indicates a slowdown in the blood clotting process. Usually, recovery occurs within two to three days. However, there are cases of severe poisoning in which symptoms of damage to the central nervous system occur. Wounds caused by octopuses are treated in the same way as injections from poisonous fish.

Blue-ringed octopus (Blue-ringed Octopus)

One of the contenders for the title of the most dangerous marine animal for humans is the octopus Octopus maculosus, which is found along the coast of the Australian province of Queensland and near Sydney, found in the Indian Ocean and, sometimes, in the Far East. Although the size of this octopus rarely exceeds 10 cm, it contains enough poison to kill ten people.

Lionfish

Lionfish (Pterois) of the family Scorpaenidae pose a great danger to humans. They are easily recognized by their rich and bright colors, which warns of the effective means of protection these fish have. Even marine predators prefer to leave this fish alone. The fins of this fish look like brightly decorated feathers. Physical contact with such fish can be fatal.

Lionfish (Pterois)

Despite its name, it cannot fly. The fish got this nickname because of its large pectoral fins, which look a little like wings. Other names for lionfish are zebra fish or lion fish. She got the first due to the wide gray, brown and red stripes located throughout her body, and the second due to her long fins, which make her look like a predatory lion.

The lionfish belongs to the scorpionfish family. The body length reaches 30 cm, and the weight is 1 kg. The coloring is bright, which makes the lionfish noticeable even at great depths. The main decoration of the lionfish is the long ribbons of the dorsal and pectoral fins, which are what resemble a lion's mane. These luxurious fins conceal sharp, poisonous needles, which make the lionfish one of the most dangerous inhabitants of the seas.

The lionfish is widespread in the tropical parts of the Indian and Pacific oceans off the coasts of China, Japan and Australia. It lives mainly among coral reefs. lionfish Since it lives in the surface waters of the reef, it therefore poses a great danger to swimmers, who can step on it and be injured by sharp poisonous needles. The excruciating pain that occurs is accompanied by the formation of a tumor, breathing becomes difficult, and in some cases the injury leads to death.

The fish itself is very voracious and eats all kinds of crustaceans and small fish during the night hunt. The most dangerous include puffer fish, boxfish, sea dragon, urchin fish, ball fish, etc. You only need to remember one rule: the more colorful the fish and the more unusual its shape, the more poisonous it is.

Star pufferfish (Tetraodontidae)

Cube body or box fish (Ostraction cubicus)

hedgehog fish (Diodontidae)

fish ball (Diodontidae)

In the Black Sea there are relatives of the lionfish - the noticeable scorpionfish (Scorpaena notata), it is no more than 15 centimeters in length, and the Black Sea scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus) - up to half a meter - but such large ones are found deeper, further from the coast. The main difference between the Black Sea scorpionfish is its long, rag-like flaps, supraorbital tentacles. In the noticeable scorpion fish these outgrowths are short.

conspicuous scorpionfish (Scorpaena notata)

black sea scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus)

The body of these fish is covered with spines and growths, the spines are covered with poisonous mucus. And although the scorpionfish’s venom is not as dangerous as that of the lionfish, it is better not to disturb it.

Among the dangerous Black Sea fish, the sea dragon (Trachinus draco) should be noted. An elongated, snake-like, bottom-dwelling fish with an angular large head. Like other bottom-dwelling predators, the dragon has bulging eyes on the top of its head and a huge, greedy mouth.

sea ​​dragon (Trachinus draco)

The consequences of a poisonous injection from a dragon are much more serious than in the case of scorpionfish, but not fatal.

Wounds from scorpionfish or dragon thorns cause burning pain, the area around the injections turns red and swells, then general malaise, fever, and your rest is interrupted for a day or two. If you have suffered from ruff thorns, consult a doctor. Wounds should be treated like regular scratches.

The “stone fish” or wart (Synanceia verrucosa) also belongs to the order of scorpion fish - no less, and in some cases more dangerous than lionfish.

"stone fish" or wart (Synanceia verrucosa)

Sea urchins

Often in shallow waters there is a risk of stepping on a sea urchin.

Sea urchins are one of the most common and very dangerous inhabitants of coral reefs. The hedgehog's body, the size of an apple, is studded with 30-centimeter needles sticking out in all directions, similar to knitting needles. They are very mobile, sensitive and react instantly to irritation.

If a shadow suddenly falls on a hedgehog, it immediately points its needles towards danger and puts them together, several at a time, into a sharp, hard peak. Even gloves and wetsuits do not guarantee complete protection from the formidable peaks of the sea urchin. The needles are so sharp and fragile that, having penetrated deep into the skin, they immediately break off and it is extremely difficult to remove them from the wound. In addition to spines, hedgehogs are armed with small grasping organs - pedicillariae, scattered at the base of the spines.

The venom of sea urchins is not dangerous, but it causes burning pain at the injection site, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, and temporary paralysis. And soon redness and swelling appear, sometimes there is loss of sensitivity and secondary infection. The wound must be cleaned of needles, disinfected, and to neutralize the poison, hold the damaged part of the body in very hot water for 30-90 minutes or apply a pressure bandage.

After meeting a black “long-spined” sea urchin, black dots may remain on the skin - this is a trace of pigment, it is harmless, but it can make it difficult to find the needles stuck in you. After first aid, consult a doctor.

Shells (molluscs)

Often on the reef among the corals there are wavy valves of bright blue color.

tridacna clam (Tridacna gigas)

According to some reports, divers sometimes get caught between its doors, as if in a trap, which leads to their death. The danger of tridacna, however, is greatly exaggerated. These clams live in shallow reef areas in clear tropical waters, so they are easy to spot due to their large size, brightly colored mantle, and ability to spray water at low tide. A diver caught in a shell can easily free himself by inserting a knife between the valves and cutting the two muscles that compress the valves.

Poisonous Clam Cone (Conidae)
Do not touch beautiful shells (especially large ones). Here it is worth remembering one rule: all mollusks that have a long, thin and pointed ovipositor are poisonous. These are representatives of the conus genus of the gastropod class, having a brightly colored conical shell. Its length in most species does not exceed 15-20 cm. The cone injects with a needle-sharp spike that protrudes from the narrow end of the shell. Inside the thorn there is a duct of the poisonous gland, through which very strong poison is injected into the wound.

Various species of the genus cone are common on coastal shallows and coral reefs of warm seas.

At the moment of the injection, a sharp pain is felt. At the site where the spike was inserted, a reddish dot is visible against the background of pale skin.

The local inflammatory reaction is insignificant. A feeling of acute pain or burning appears, and numbness of the affected limb may occur. In severe cases, there is difficulty speaking, flaccid paralysis quickly develops, and knee reflexes disappear. Death may occur within a few hours.

In case of mild poisoning, all symptoms disappear within 24 hours.

First aid consists of removing thorn fragments from the skin. The affected area is wiped with alcohol. The affected limb is immobilized. The patient is taken to the medical center in a supine position.

Corals

Coral, both living and dead, can cause painful cuts (be careful when walking on coral islands). And the so-called “fire” corals are armed with poisonous needles that dig into the human body in case of physical contact with them.

The basis of the coral is made up of polyps - marine invertebrate animals measuring 1-1.5 millimeters or slightly larger (depending on the species).

As soon as it is born, the baby polyp begins to build a cell house in which it spends its entire life. Micro-houses of polyps are grouped into colonies from which a coral reef ultimately appears.

When hungry, the polyp sticks out tentacles with many stinging cells from its “house”. The smallest animals that make up the plankton encounter the tentacles of the polyp, which paralyzes the victim and sends it into the mouth. Despite their microscopic size, the stinging cells of polyps have a very complex structure. Inside the cell there is a capsule filled with poison. The outer end of the capsule is concave and looks like a thin spirally twisted tube called a stinging filament. This tube, covered with tiny spines directed backwards, resembles a miniature harpoon. When touched, the stinging thread straightens, the “harpoon” pierces the victim’s body, and the poison passing through it paralyzes the prey.

Poisoned coral harpoons can also injure humans. Dangerous ones include, for example, fire coral. Its colonies in the form of “trees” made of thin plates have chosen the shallow waters of tropical seas.

The most dangerous stinging corals from the genus Millepora are so beautiful that scuba divers cannot resist the temptation to break off a piece as a souvenir. This can be done without “burns” and cuts only with canvas or leather gloves.

Fire coral (Millepora dichotoma)

When talking about such passive animals as coral polyps, it is worth mentioning another interesting type of marine animal - sponges. Typically, sponges are not classified as dangerous marine inhabitants, however, in the waters of the Caribbean there are some species that can cause severe skin irritation to a swimmer upon contact with them. It is believed that the pain can be relieved with a weak solution of vinegar, but the unpleasant consequences from contact with the sponge can last several days. These primitive animals belong to the genus Fibula and are often called touch-me-not sponges.

Sea snakes (Hydrophidae)

Little is known about sea snakes. This is strange, since they live in all the seas of the Pacific and Indian oceans and are not among the rare inhabitants of the deep sea. Maybe it's because people just don't want to deal with them.

And there are serious reasons for this. After all, sea snakes are dangerous and unpredictable.

There are about 48 species of sea snakes. This family once left land and completely switched to an aquatic lifestyle. Because of this, sea snakes have acquired some features in the structure of the body, and in appearance they are somewhat different from their terrestrial counterparts. The body is flattened laterally, the tail is in the form of a flat ribbon (in flat-tailed representatives) or slightly elongated (in swallowtails). The nostrils are located not on the sides, but on the top, so it is more convenient for them to breathe, sticking the tip of the muzzle out of the water. The lung stretches throughout the body, but these snakes absorb up to a third of all oxygen from the water with the help of the skin, which is densely permeated with blood capillaries. A sea snake can stay underwater for more than an hour.

The venom of the sea snake is dangerous to humans. Their venom is dominated by an enzyme that paralyzes the nervous system. When attacking, the snake quickly strikes with two short teeth, slightly bent back. The bite is practically painless, there is no swelling or hemorrhage.

But after some time, weakness appears, coordination is impaired, and convulsions begin. Death occurs from paralysis of the lungs within a few hours.

The great toxicity of the venom of these snakes is a direct result of their aquatic habitat: to prevent the prey from escaping, it must be immediately paralyzed. True, the venom of sea snakes is not as dangerous as the venom of snakes that live with us on land. When a flattail bites, 1 mg of poison is released, and when a swallowtail bites, 16 mg is released. So, a person has a chance to survive. Out of 10 people bitten by sea snakes, 7 people remain alive, of course, if they receive medical assistance in time.

True, there is no guarantee that you will be among the last.

Among other dangerous aquatic animals, especially dangerous freshwater inhabitants should be mentioned - crocodiles that live in the tropics and subtropics, piranha fish that live in the Amazon River basin, freshwater electric stingrays, as well as fish whose meat or some organs are poisonous and can cause acute poisoning.

If you are interested in more detailed information about dangerous species of jellyfish and corals, you can find it at http://medusy.ru/

The sea occupies more than 70% of the surface area of ​​the globe. Scientists estimate that there are more than 12,000 species of animals living in the ocean that are potentially dangerous to humans. More than 50 thousand people every year receive injuries of varying degrees of complexity from contact with dangerous marine life. But this does not mean that you need to stay on the shore and not go into the water. Most creatures themselves never come into contact with humans, so the most important safety rule in the ocean when interacting with the underwater world is not to touch anything!

These gastropods are among the most dangerous creatures in the world. Don't be fooled by their cuteness, these little snails are armed with tiny harpoons formed from modified teeth. Inside the harpoon there is a cavity connected to the poison gland. Having approached a sufficient distance, the snail fires a harpoon and a strong toxin that has a paralytic effect is injected into the victim.

The geographic cone (Conus geographus) is especially dangerous for humans. In the Pacific Ocean, 2-3 people die annually from cone bites. According to statistics, one out of three cases of being pricked by a cone thorn ends in death. Most often, attracted by the beauty of the shell, the person would try to pick it up and force the cone to defend itself.

Stone fish or wartfish is a marine fish of the wart family with poisonous spines on its back, which lives on the bottom near coral reefs and mimics a stone. It is considered the most poisonous fish in the world. These creepy-looking fish lie on the bottom, waiting for some poor soul to step on them. Sometimes they can be found in shallow water right next to the shore.

The venom causes severe pain with possible shock, paralysis and tissue death depending on the depth of penetration. At the slightest irritation, the wart raises the spines of the dorsal fin; sharp and durable, they easily pierce the shoes of a person who accidentally steps on a fish, and penetrate deep into the foot. If the injection penetrates deeply, it can be fatal to a person if he does not receive medical attention within a few hours. If poison gets inside, depending on the depth of penetration, apply a strong tightening bandage or a hemostatic tourniquet, which is placed between the wound and the nearest bend. If the thorn gets into a large blood vessel, death can occur within 2-3 hours. Survivors sometimes remain ill for months.

The venom consists of a mixture of proteins, including hemolytic stonustoxin, neurotoxin and cardioactive cardioleptin. Since the venom is protein based, it can be denatured by applying a very hot compress to the wound site. Some relief may be obtained by treating the wound with a local anesthetic. However, this is only a temporary measure to reduce pain and shock. Medical assistance should be provided as soon as possible.

The lionfish or zebra fish is a fish of the scorpionfish family. He has a very noticeable appearance. Her body, 30-40 centimeters long, is painted with bright stripes. The main decoration of the lionfish is the long ribbons of the dorsal and pectoral fins. They resemble fans made of ostrich feathers or a lion's mane. Hence another name for lionfish - lion fish.

Getting close to this beautiful fish is very dangerous. Reacting to a change in the situation, she turns her dorsal fin towards the troublemaker to inflict a poisonous injection on him, which causes a sensation as if a hot nail had been driven into his hand. Swelling develops at the site of the lesion. The patient's well-being deteriorates sharply within the first 10 to 15 minutes after the injury. The burning pain is accompanied by general symptoms of poisoning: a drop in blood pressure, paralysis of the skeletal and respiratory muscles and, as a consequence, respiratory and cardiovascular failure. Gangrene may develop at the puncture site. There is a possibility of fatalities. In case of recovery, a necrotic focus at the site of inoculation of the poison causes concern for a long time.

Lionfish venom is protein-based, so after the injection it is necessary to take alternately hot and cold baths so that the venom coagulates, as well as take an antihistamine and seek medical help as quickly as possible.

Lionfish are more active at night, so in some places, such as Dahab, where there are quite a lot of them, swimming at night without a flashlight can be dangerous.

4) Sea wasp

Box jellyfish, also known as sea wasp or Chironex fleckeri (lat.) is a species of marine cnidarians from the class of box jellyfish (Cubozoa), common off the coast of northern Australia and Indonesia. Representatives of this species are the largest of the box jellyfish; their dome reaches the size of a basketball. They are pale blue in color and almost transparent. The latter circumstance creates an additional danger for swimmers due to the fact that the jellyfish can be extremely difficult to see.

This jellyfish is famous for its ability to cause burns; The tentacles of the animal are completely covered with stinging cells (nematocytes), which contain very strong poison. The burn causes excruciating pain accompanied by an intense burning sensation; Jellyfish venom has multiple effects, simultaneously affecting the nervous system, heart and skin. While a significant amount of venom must be released (released upon contact with approximately 3 meters of tentacles) to have a lethal effect on an adult, the potent neurotoxic venom acts extremely quickly. Fatalities have been reported within just 4 minutes of contact, which is significantly faster than any snake, insect or spider bite; This, not without reason, gave rise to the box jellyfish's notoriety as the deadliest venomous animal in the world. Although an antidote is available, timely treatment of the victim may be difficult or impossible. Swimmers stung by jellyfish often suffer a heart attack and drown before they even reach the shore or boat.

Wetting a burn with vinegar immediately inhibits all unreacted nematocytes, and rubbing the burn site only worsens the problem. It has been shown that it is ineffective to use water, urine or cola to neutralize them, which in fact can only provoke the release of poison. After using vinegar, you may need to restore breathing or perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Tentacles attached to the body should be carefully removed with protected hands or using tweezers.

Removed tentacles remain dangerous until they are destroyed over time, and even when dried they can restore their properties when moistened.

5) Blue-ringed octopus

These small octopuses spend most of their time in cracks and crevices on the seafloor or camouflage themselves in coral. They can live at a depth of up to 75 meters, but most often directly off the coast, right down to the high tide line. They live on rocks, stones, sandy and muddy bottoms, often in seagrass meadows or ascidian colonies. Clam shells, empty bottles and beer cans can be used as shelter.

Despite their small size, they have a fairly aggressive character and are recognized as one of the most poisonous animals in the world. Blue-ringed octopuses are easily recognized by their characteristic blue and black rings and yellow skin. When the octopus is irritated or frightened, brown areas appear on the skin, and the blue rings become brighter and shimmer. They feed on crabs, hermit crabs and shrimp. When disturbed or in defense, they attack the enemy.

The strength of its poison is enough to kill a person. There is currently no antidote for blue-ringed octopus venom. The poison has a nerve-paralytic effect and is produced by symbiotic bacteria that live in the salivary glands of the octopus. The bites are small in size and often painless. Some victims did not know they had been attacked until the first signs of poisoning occurred.

First aid involves applying a pressure bandage to the wound; at the first signs of paralysis, it is also necessary to perform artificial respiration, since the poison paralyzes the respiratory centers of the victim within a few minutes after the bite. Tetrodotoxin causes severe and often complete paralysis of the body. The victim remains conscious but cannot move. This effect, however, is temporary and disappears within a few hours as the tetrodotoxin is neutralized by the body. Thus, it is necessary that artificial ventilation of the lungs is carried out until the arrival of medical personnel.

To provide full assistance, the bite victim needs hospital treatment with mandatory connection to an artificial respiration apparatus until the toxin is removed from the body. Blue-ringed octopus bites are especially dangerous for children due to their small body weight. Because death from venom occurs primarily due to respiratory arrest, bite victims survive if artificial respiration is started and continued before cyanosis and hypotension develop. Victims who survive the first 24 hours most often make a full recovery.

6) Portuguese Man of War

The Portuguese man-of-war or physalia is a colony of polypoid and medusoid individuals, externally similar to a jellyfish, but not a jellyfish. This is a siphonophore - a primitive invertebrate organism. It is a colony of four types of polyps coexisting together. Each of them performs its assigned function. It looks like a large transparent bubble at one end of the colony (pneumatophore) and long tentacles. The size of the bubble reaches 30 cm, is filled with gas and holds the colony on the surface of the water. It is this that gives the Portuguese man-of-war an external resemblance to jellyfish. The hunting tentacles of representatives of this species carry a huge number of stinging cells, the poison of which is dangerous to humans. The length of the tentacles when extended can reach 50 m.

Portuguese man-of-war feed mainly on fish larvae, as well as small fish and small squid.

Upon contact with stinging tentacles, painful swelling forms at the burn site, and muscle cramps may begin. The victim's temperature rises, chills, nausea and vomiting appear.

According to some data, for physalia burns, wetting the affected skin with a 3-5% vinegar solution helps, which prevents the stinging cells remaining in the wound from triggering. Under no circumstances should you try to wash off the poison with fresh water, as this will destroy entire stinging cells containing the poison, and the pain will sharply intensify. If poison gets into your eyes or the pain does not go away within a few minutes, you should see a doctor.

According to another point of view, the use of vinegar on burns received from contact with the Portuguese man-of-war is not recommended. Vinegar is used for burns after contact with jellyfish, but the poison of the Portuguese Man of War is different. The stinging cells are destroyed instantly, making vinegar ineffective. To relieve pain, it is recommended to rinse the affected areas with hot water for a long time. You can then apply ice.

7) Sea snake

There are a number of sea snakes found in the tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is believed that the sea snake evolved from a common snake, and many of them, like their land relatives, can be poisonous. At the same time, the venom of the sea snake is much more powerful. This is not surprising, since their daily diet consists of fish that actively move in the water and which must be quickly immobilized. They swallow their prey whole, killing it first with a bite of poisonous teeth. Fish are less sensitive to snake venom than warm-blooded animals, so the venom of sea snakes is very toxic. Its action, like the action of the venom of cobra and other representatives of the slate family, does not cause hemorrhages or tumors, but suppresses the transmission of nerve impulses, which leads to paralysis of the respiratory center and rapid death of the affected animal.

Sea snakes have small mouths and small fangs, however, they can still bite a person if they try hard enough. The good news is they are less aggressive than land snakes. Typically, if a sea snake bites you, it is usually a dry bite, i.e. without poison. If you're lucky enough to get a venomous bite, don't worry, there's an antidote. At the first signs of poisoning, quickly head to the nearest clinic.

Barracudas are large and often encountered by divers marine fish from the order Perciformes, living in all tropical and subtropical seas. A distinctive feature of barracudas is the powerful lower jaw protruding beyond the upper. A row of small, sharp teeth dot the outside of the jaw, with a row of larger teeth inside. The maximum recorded size of a barracuda is 205 cm, weight is 50 kg.

Barracudas feed on smaller fish, squid, and large shrimp. Typically, barracudas lie in wait for their prey in ambush - among stones, rocks or in thickets of underwater vegetation. But quite often in small groups they attack schools of small fish. Small barracudas usually live in schools, while large fish live alone. They attack at high speed, snatching pieces of flesh with their powerful jaws as they move.

There are 21 species of barracuda, but the most dangerous due to its size is the large barracuda. Barracuda can be attracted to shiny things that vaguely resemble small fish. Some pieces of equipment, such as watches, knives, whistles, or body jewelry, are shiny. These objects may be mistaken for prey by the barracuda. In addition, attacks on people have occurred in muddy or dark water, where the moving arms or legs of a swimmer were mistaken by the barracuda for swimming fish.

Barracuda have very sharp teeth, so damage from such mistaken attacks on humans can be quite serious and leave deep lacerations, including possible damage to the arteries and veins of the limbs. In this case, the bleeding must be stopped as quickly as possible to avoid serious blood loss.

9) Triggerfish

Another fish commonly encountered by divers is the triggerfish or Triggerfish. The Triggerfishes family belongs to the order of pufferfish marine fish and has about 40 species. A characteristic distinguishing feature of triggerfishes is their unusual dorsal fin. It contains three large spines and when the fish is at rest, it is not visible. In case of danger, the triggerfish raises the largest first spine and blocks it by displacing the second one. This locking mechanism makes it impossible to fold the dorsal fin without damaging it. After scaring away the enemy, the fish folds its fin in the reverse order. The fin with spikes looks like a trigger, hence the English name for the triggerfish - triggerfish.

One of the largest representatives of the triggerfish family is the Titan triggerfish or bluefin ballistode. Its length can reach 75cm and weight more than 10kg. It is he who is well known and has a bad reputation among divers, which is completely unfounded. The fish can be extremely aggressive and can seriously injure a person in the water. Fortunately, aggression manifests itself only during the period when the female lays eggs and, together with the male, guards the clutch, which she arranges on the bottom. Until the fry appear, the female remains near the clutch. She mixes the water with her fins, thereby enriching the eggs with oxygen. The protected zone expands from bottom to top in the form of a funnel.

The triggerfish has powerful teeth, designed by nature to break coral and mollusk shells, which easily bite through a wetsuit or fins, so the bites can be very noticeable. Protecting the offspring, the parents fight selflessly until the trespasser is driven out. The main rule for saving from an attacking fish is to move away from the nest in order to leave the area of ​​the dangerous funnel above it. It is more convenient to swim on your back, this way you can constantly control the attacking triggerfish and, if necessary, fight it off with your fins.

I specifically put these guys at the very end of the list, although most people would be happy to put them at the first. They don't need any introduction. Sharks are indeed dangerous marine animals for humans, although their danger is greatly exaggerated. There is a wonderful article by Konstantin Novikov about diving with sharks, it is highly recommended for study. Below I’ll just give a short excerpt from this article about sharks.

Among them there are potentially dangerous ones, such as: great white (Carcharodon carharias), tiger (Galeocerdo cuvier), bull (Carcharhinus leucas), long-winged oceanic (Carcharhinus longimanus), giant hammerfish (Sphyrna mokarran). But you need to understand and know that of all the above, the great white, for example, is on the verge of destruction, and meeting a tiger shark or a giant hammerhead fish is not at all easy and this can not be done everywhere. There is a chance of encountering long-winged oceanic and bull sharks. Places where people can encounter large and dangerous sharks are known: South Africa, Guadeloupe, Hawaii, Australia, Fiji, Cuba, India, California. If you plan to dive or spearfish in these regions, be prepared to encounter some of the world's largest predators. It must be remembered that sharks feed on fish and attack humans extremely rarely. How many shark-related incidents do you think are reported per year? About 120. About 8-10 of them are fatal. There is an international ISAF database that records attacks around the world. Surfers are in first place among victims, followed by swimmers and bathers; divers and spearfishers are also sometimes attacked.

It is clear that sharks most often attack people whose behavior resembles an animal caught in an unnatural environment, thrashing and making noise on the surface of the water. Attacks can be provoked or unprovoked. In the first case, a person himself induces an attack, for example, by feeding the fish and then swimming in the same place, or an underwater hunter catches a still struggling fish on a cooch, or a curious diver grabs a shark by the snout with the goal of riding it. Unprovoked attacks most often occur where sharks are hunting fish, turtles or seals. Typically in muddy water. A predator mistakes a person for its usual prey. But I repeat that there are very few potentially dangerous large sharks. They rarely attack. Much less common are dogs or deer. By the way, hippos kill about 3,000 people in Africa every year! Can't be compared to sharks, right? But if you look at the statistics of shark catches by humans, the numbers are terrifying. People kill every year - just think about it - a hundred million sharks!!! It’s time for them to fear us, and not the other way around.

Of course, the choice of these 10 animals is subjective. I relied on their danger and the likelihood of meeting. We see triggerfish almost every day; they are common reef fish and cannot be called very dangerous, but the likelihood of encountering them in some places is high. And meeting a blue-ringed octopus or a hammerhead shark is great luck and the dream of many diver-photographers.

The list can be supplemented and expanded.

Anything to add? Or do you have any experience of contact with any of the creatures described?