![]() ![]() ![]() Where can I see a Stonefish?ĭespite their potentially dangerous nature, stonefish are a popular sighting among divers and snorkellers. Medical care is highly recommended with stonefish stings, as a local anaesthetic can help relieve pain, and only trained medical professionals can administer the anti-venom â although this is only necessary in severe cases. The immediate first aid response is immerse the affected area in hot water (up to 45 degrees, or as hot as the victim can stand), as the heat will denature the proteins in the venom. The victim will feel severe pain, shock, extreme nausea, and localised tissue death. If stung, the effects of the venom will begin almost immediately. The spines are extremely stiff and sharp, even being strong enough to penetrate boot soles. Stonefish cannot use these spines as weapons, however they are extremely effective for defence purposes. The venom is located in fishâs 13 dorsal spines, each of which has two venom sacs. The reef stonefish is the most venomous fish on the planet, and it is one of the few fish who possesses venom powerful enough to be lethal to humans â with the elderly, children, or those with weak immune systems being most at risk. Like scorpionfish and lionfish, stonefish are well known for their potent venom. Their camouflage is extremely convincing, however they are not fast swimmers, so they must wait until the prey is very close before making a lunging strike. Unlike frogfish, stonefish donât have any way to attract their prey to them, so they must remain patiently on the seabed (still as a rock?) until something comes within range. ![]() This means they eat a diet that consists entirely of other animals, and for the reef stonefish, this means small fish, shrimp, and other small crustaceans.Īs ambush predators, they wait in one place until their food comes to them. Like closely related scorpionfish and lionfish, reef stonefish are carnivores and ambush predators. They tend to be resting on the seabed or coral reef, waiting for any unsuspecting small fish to pass by. It is very unusual to see a stonefish swim. To further improve their camouflage, they often have what appear to be growths over their body â appearing even more stone like than before. These brighter colours actually add to the camouflage, as the shades tend to be very close to that of certain algae that grow on rocks and dead coral. Their colour can vary wildly between different individuals, from dull grey or brown, to orange, purple, pink, or red (or any combination of the above). This is because they often dig themselves slightly into the sand to further hide them, and having raised eyes allows them to keep watch for any potential prey. Their eyes are also often a giveaway, as they are slightly raised from the rest of the head. The biggest giveaway is the large, upturned mouth (somewhat similar to that of a stargazer) â which is also the easiest way to tell them apart from larger, more cryptic species of scorpionfish. As the name implies, stonefish look rather similar to a stone or a rock â even when pointing directly at it, it is not uncommon for others to not realise what they are seeing. Growing to over 40cm in length, the reef stonefish is quite large for a bottom dwelling critter, but despite its size, spotting one is not easy. They are a member of the order Scorpaeniformes, which includes other well-known venomous fish such as scorpionfish and lionfish, and as such, stonefish share many similarities with them. What are Stonefish?įound in coastal regions of the Indo-Pacific, stonefish are actually a family of venomous fish, although for most people, the name stonefish refers to one species in particular â the Synanceia verrucos, or reef stonefish. Today, we are going to talk about one such species, the reef stonefish. The deep waters that run through Bunaken Marine Park are hiding a lot â there are almost certainly species living here that we still know nothing about.īut itâs not just the deep water that is hiding things â the shallows are home to many cryptic animals that are hiding in plain sight.
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