08/13/2018 at 12:30 · oksioksi · 820

10 most dangerous sea animals in the world

Of all the organisms existing on earth, man is perhaps the most dangerous. He has already done so much on this planet, but it seems he has no intention of stopping. People cut down forests, drain rivers, and influence the climate. But they are still afraid to meet some animals one-on-one. Especially if it is a marine animal. After all, in water a person is most vulnerable; he is not adapted to life in this environment. Many marine animals pose a threat to life, but most of them become aggressive only when defending themselves. If you don't touch or attract their attention, you can avoid disaster. Well, now the top 10 most dangerous sea animals in the world.

10. Stone Fish

This is the most poisonous fish, its bite is deadly. It is small in size and can reach up to 50 centimeters in length. It is distinguished by a large head, small eyes and a huge mouth. The body is covered with tubercles. The fins are located on the back. This is where the deadly poisonous thorns are located, there are 12 of them in total. In most cases, the person himself provokes the bite by stepping on or touching the fish. In response, she stings with her sharp thorns. Immediately after the bite, severe pain is felt, accompanied by painful shock and loss of consciousness. Even within minutes, a person may experience cardiac arrest or paralysis. If the amount of poison is small, the bitten part of the body will turn blue and swell. With the help of doctors, there is a chance of recovery, but often a person remains disabled after meeting a stone fish. They live in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

9. Sea snake

Sea snakes are diverse, there are 48 species in total. You can recognize them by their laterally flattened body. The nostrils are located on top, they stick their head out of the water and breathe. Snakes are dangerous with their venom; their bite is paralyzing, although completely painless. It contains substances that paralyze the nervous system. After some time, coordination of movements is disrupted and convulsions occur. After 7 hours, paralysis of the lungs occurs and the person dies. Habitat is all the seas of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. If you notice a sea snake nearby, try not to move, then it may not pay attention to you.

8. Stingray

This fish has a very unusual appearance. It is flat, its body shape is round or diamond-shaped. They are difficult to detect, since the color of their upper parts blends in with their surroundings. They come in different colors, depending on their living space. There are many varieties of stingrays, but the most common stingrays that humans encounter are stingrays. They have a long tail, at the end of which there are spikes with poison. It hits its tail like a whip and can damage a wetsuit or boat, let alone the human body. After a bite, a person feels pain, then nausea, dizziness occur, and blood pressure drops. If the stingray damages the abdomen or chest, it can be fatal. Another type of stingray is electric, they can produce a current that is enough to stun a person. Stingrays exist in absolutely all seas and oceans.

7. Moray

Moray eel is somewhat similar to a snake, its length reaches 2 meters and its weight is 45 kilograms. She has smooth skin, no scales, a large head, small eyes and a huge mouth. By the way, it is open all the time and looks quite intimidating. But the animal is quite peaceful and will never attack a person unless he provokes it. People often try to touch them; they stick their hands into the hole where they live; swim up to them or shoot. In this case, the moray eel will bite tightly into the body and clench its jaws. Its bites are terrible; it is often necessary to amputate arms or legs if the animal bites into a limb. The body of the moray eel is covered with mucus; when it enters a wound, it acts as poison. Her blood is also poisonous. Moray eels are common in the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

6. Fugu

In fact, this is not the name of an animal at all, it is the name of a dish made from fish. The fish itself is not dangerous to humans unless you try to eat it. This dish is common in Asia and Japan. It is very expensive; a portion prepared from one fish can kill about 40 people. This dish is appreciated for its unsurpassed taste and relaxing effect. It can bring a person to a state of euphoria. Fugu is made from a fish called rocktooth. It feeds on poisonous starfish and is therefore highly toxic. It is saturated with tetrodotoxin. The poison affects the muscles, paralysis and breath holding occur. There is almost no chance of survival unless the person is immediately connected to a ventilator.

5. Saltwater Crocodile

Crocodiles are large marine animals. Their length varies from 3 to 7 meters, and their weight can reach 1000 kilograms. They have an elongated head and powerful jaws. The body is covered with scales. Depending on the species, they are dark green and light green, with or without spots. Crocodiles are very dangerous to people. Every year, 2,000 people die when encountering them. The crocodile feeds on small and large animals and is capable of killing a buffalo. A person who meets a crocodile on the way simply has no chance. This animal perceives humans as food and usually hunts during the day. It hides and waits for the prey to come closer, then knocks it down with its tail or grabs it with its teeth. Crocodiles live along the coast of the Indian Ocean.

4. Lion Fish

This is the name of the striped lionfish. This is an unusually beautiful fish. It is quite small, up to 30 centimeters in length, its fins are long and fan-shaped. They contain sharp needles with poison. If a lion fish stings a person, he will feel unwell and will show signs of poisoning. If the lionfish pricks several times, it will not be able to get out of the water on its own. The fish has a very bright color, as if it warns that it is very dangerous. But people don’t think about it; they want to touch a creature of unprecedented beauty. There are often cases when fish are not disturbed on purpose, for example during swimming or diving. Its habitat is the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

3. Box Jellyfish

The jellyfish's dome is small, about the size of a basketball, but its tentacles can stretch up to 4 meters in length. She has eyes and is able to see the surrounding space. It has a transparent or bluish color, merges with water, and therefore poses a danger - it is completely invisible in water. A sting from a jellyfish tentacle causes difficulty breathing. A person may go into shock and drown. Symptoms of jellyfish poisoning are similar to those of regular poisoning. If you are stung by a jellyfish, you need to take an antidote immediately. Jellyfish do not attack people; they defend themselves when they sense danger. Therefore, if you like to relax in the seas of the Pacific Ocean, be careful.

2. Sea lion

Sea lions weigh from 100 to 300 kilograms, their length is from 1.8 to 3 meters. They have long flippers, a large belly, a small elongated snout and large eyes. Their body is covered with hairs, some individuals have a semblance of a mane, for which they are nicknamed sea lions. They can often be found in dolphinariums, they take part in performances and evoke only positive emotions in people. But it’s better not to meet them in nature. These are cruel predators, they must provide themselves with a large amount of food, and will not refuse to feast on humans. They live in the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

1. Shark

The shark has an elongated body; its length can reach from 17 centimeters to 20 meters. There are many varieties, all of them have a different appearance. Even someone who has never seen a shark can imagine it. The shark is a predator; it senses prey well and attacks it. A person cannot survive a fight with a shark. The surprising thing is that the shark does not always attack, despite the fact that it is an excellent hunter. There are known cases when, after observing the victim, she swam away without touching her. Sharks live in all oceans and climate zones. They are able to survive even in fresh water.

Readers' Choice:

Covering 70% of our planet, the sea is home to some of the most unusual, mysterious and deadly animals on the planet. Since humans are not born or live in the ocean, this makes us easy prey for many of these creatures, although fortunately we are not on their main menu...

As a man who has spent too much time floating on the surface of the sea, he has often tried to get closer and experience what lies below sea level. Fortunately, the statistics are not that scary and it seems to be quite rare for a person to be eaten alive in the open ocean. However, we should not think that the ocean waters are so welcoming to us; we should always be on our guard.

When selecting the most dangerous sea creatures in the world, we will take into account the attack statistics, killing potential and aggression of these animals. This list contains a huge number of species from tropical jellyfish to arctic killers.

10. Sea urchin

Photo. Toxopneustes (lat. Toxopneustes pileolus), sea urchin

Many of you have encountered sea urchins in your life, and some have learned how sharp their spines are and how painful it is to feel them in your skin. However, Toxopneustes pileolus does very well when it comes to defensive tactics. Described by the Guinness Book of World Records as "the most dangerous sea urchin in the world," it's one echinoderm you definitely shouldn't step on.

What makes this sea urchin so dangerous is the powerful venom it is equipped with. This venom contains at least two dangerous toxins: contractin A, a neurotoxin that causes smooth muscle spasms, and peditoxin, a protein toxin that can cause convulsions, anaphylactic shock and death. The venom is delivered through the pedicellariae, the flower-like structures that give this hedgehog its name. Once skin contact has occurred, pedicellaria often continue to pump venom into the prey. It is obvious that the size of these pedicellariae is directly related to the effectiveness of the venom.

Toxopneustes is responsible for many deaths that have occurred to people over the years. A hedgehog sting is very painful and can result in paralysis, breathing problems and disorientation, all of which can contribute to a person's drowning. As for the pain, here is an account of a bite recorded by a Japanese marine biologist in the 1930s:

“Then 7 or 8 pedicellariae were tightly embedded in the inner side of the middle finger of my right hand, separated from the stalk, they remained on the skin of my finger. I instantly felt severe pain, reminiscent of the pain caused by cnidoplasts of coelenterates, and I felt as if the toxin was rapidly moving through the blood vessel from the stung area to my heart. After some time I experienced difficulty breathing, mild dizziness, paralysis of the lips, tongue and eyelids, relaxation of the muscles in the limbs, it is unlikely that in this state I could speak or control my facial expression, I felt almost as if I was going to die." .

9. Barracuda

Photo. Great barracuda (lat. Sphyraena barracuda)

The photo above should be enough to understand why the barracuda is on our list. Reaching up to 1.8m (6ft) in length and armed with terrifyingly massive, super-sharp teeth, the torpedo-shaped barracuda is more than capable of causing serious injury to humans. In fact, there are 22 species of barracuda, but only the Greater Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) is known to attack humans.

The barracuda's diet consists mainly of small to medium-sized fish. She uses her lightning speed and ambush tactics to catch her. In many reported attacks on people, people were in possession of shiny objects, such as jewelry and even diving knives. Apparently the barracuda is attracted to this and confuses them for a fish and strikes.

Such attacks can result in deep cuts, often leading to nerve and tendon damage or, in worst cases, ruptured blood vessels. These wounds may require hundreds of stitches.

On rare occasions, barracudas have been known to jump out of the water, causing serious injuries to people in the boat. In one recent case in Florida in 2015, a female canoeist was injured and had to really fight for her life after suffering several broken ribs and a punctured lung during a barracuda attack.

If this information still does not convince you that barracuda should be on this list, then there is one more thing. Barracudas have one final argument: their flesh sometimes contains ciguatoxin, which can cause severe symptoms that last for months.

8. Textile cone

Photo. Textile cone

Cones have been a favorite among collectors for centuries for their shells, but don't be fooled by their pretty appearance, these clams are killer! Equipped with tiny harpoons made from modified teeth, these creatures can fire a hollow harpoon filled with deadly neurotoxins in any direction. The harpoon of some large cone species is very large and strong enough to not only pierce human flesh, but also gloves and even a wetsuit.

One drop of cone venom is enough to kill 20 people, making it one of the most poisonous creatures on earth. Known as conotoxin, the venom can only have a very strong effect on certain types of nerves. On the medical side, a cone sting usually causes intense, localized pain with life-threatening symptoms that lasts for several days. On the other hand, from the moment this mollusk stings you, paralysis of the respiratory system and subsequent death can occur very quickly. In fact, one type of cone is very well known as the "cigarette snail" because before you die you won't even have time to smoke a cigarette!

Despite their deadly poison, cones have only been responsible for a few deaths over the years, which is why they come in at just number 8 on our list.

7. Leopard seal

Photo. Leopard seal

The leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) is actually named after its spotted coat, although this may explain its fierce nature. At the top of the Antarctic food chain, this leopard is one of the largest seals in southern waters. Reaching up to 4 m (13 ft) in length and weighing up to 600 kg (1,320 lb), the leopard seal is a formidable predator. In addition to its size and speed, these seals are also armed with a huge mouth (big enough to fit your head!) lined with large, pointed teeth, making it look more like a reptile than a seal.

The leopard seal's menu includes other species of seal, seabirds, penguins and fish, although they are also known to sift through krill and small crustaceans. These seals usually hunt from ambush, just below the ice level, when the seals or penguins jump into the water, it is at this moment that they pounce on their prey.

Given that the leopard seal is only found in the cold waters of the far southern oceans, they do not often come into contact with humans at all. However, because the leopard seal has already killed people, this makes it very terrible in our eyes.

Back in 1914, during Ernest Shackleton's expedition, a leopard seal had to be shot as it was pursuing crew member Thomas Ord-Lees. The seal first chased Ord Fox on the ice, then dived under the ice cover and watched him from below. After the leopard seal jumped out in front of Ord Fox, another member of the team managed to kill it.

In 2003, a British scientist was less fortunate. Kirsty Brown, a 28-year-old marine biologist working with the British Antarctic Survey, was snorkeling off the Antarctic Peninsula when she was attacked by a large leopard seal. The seal dragged the woman deep underwater, where she suffocated.

While there are many stories of leopard seals harassing people in boats, this incident is the first reported fatality.

6. Wart

Photo. Wart

This grumpy-looking fellow doesn't seem too happy to be the most poisonous fish on the planet. Armed with 13 needle-like sharp spines running along its back, the stone fish blends in perfectly with the surrounding background, it simply waits for an unfortunate person to step on it. Another feature of the wart that is always worth mentioning is that it can survive outside the sea for up to 24 hours. It is really very difficult to notice on the seabed. The neurotoxic venom of warts is not only dangerous, but also incredibly painful. In fact, the fish's sting is reportedly so painful that victims have asked for their limbs to be cut off. The quote below clearly shows how painful this is:

“In Australia I got my finger pricked by a stonefish... not to mention bee venom. ... Imagine every wrist, knuckle, elbow and shoulder being hit with a sledgehammer for about an hour. About an hour later, you were allegedly kicked in both kidneys for about 45 minutes, so much so that you could not stand or straighten up. I was in my early 20s, very fit, and still have a small scar. My finger remained painful for the next few days, but I also had periodic pain in my kidneys for several years after that.”

For obvious reasons, many people have gotten a wart shot in the leg. Although such cases may simply redefine pain, such cases have nevertheless led to a lot of trouble. Such venom injections are potentially fatal, causing respiratory paralysis and possibly heart failure. In serious cases, immediate medical attention is required and the victim must be treated with an antidote. In fact, it is the second most commonly administered antivenom in Australia and has resulted in no one dying from a wart injection there for almost 100 years.

5. Blue-ringed octopus

Photo. Blue-ringed octopus

Instantly recognizable by their iridescent blue rings, these small octopuses spend much of their time hiding in cracks or camouflaging themselves in the coral reefs of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

It is only when they feel threatened that blue-ringed octopuses truly live up to their name and show their true colors. At that moment, his skin turns bright yellow, and his blue rings become even brighter, almost shimmering. This beautiful display can also be a warning as it is one of the most dangerous animals in the ocean.

What makes this octopus especially dangerous is its venom. Not all octopuses have venom, but the blue-ringed octopus is in the big league. Known as TDT (tetrodotoxin), it is an incredibly potent neurotoxin, the same one found in dart frogs and wart frogs. It is approximately 1200 times stronger than cyanide, and one small injection can be enough to kill. In fact, many victims claim they didn't even feel the sting.

The average sample, weighing about 30 grams, reportedly contains enough poison to kill more than 10 adults.

Video. Why is the blue-ringed octopus dangerous?

There is no effective antidote for blue-ringed octopus venom; its neurotoxin is designed to paralyze the victim. Its effect is similar to medical curare, which is used to immobilize patients during surgery; under its influence, a person is unable to speak or move. The main danger is that it paralyzes the lungs, causing the victim to suffocate. In severe cases, prompt treatment is essential and this involves placing the victim on life support until the effects of the poison wear off and breathing is restored.

4. Box jellyfish

Photo. sea ​​wasp

There are many species of box jellyfish, which get their name from their cuboid bodies. Many box jellyfish are especially poisonous, like the large sea wasp (lat. Chironex fleckeri), which has the most powerful poison. Found along the northern coasts of Australia and tropical Southeast Asia, the sea wasp is often regarded as the "world's deadliest jellyfish", having killed more than 60 people in Australia alone. The death toll appears to be significantly higher in other regions of the world, especially where antivenom is not readily available.

The venom of the sea wasp is second in strength among all creatures on Earth, more poisonous only at the geographical cone. Calculations show that each animal contains enough poison to kill 60 adult humans and very few animals can kill so quickly. In extreme cases, death occurs from cardiac arrest, which is known to occur in less than five minutes after the person has been stung. The bite itself causes excruciating pain along with a burning sensation that is similar to the touch of a hot iron. The good news is that, contrary to popular belief, urinating on the bite site will not cause any noticeable effect! In most cases, the tentacles remain on the victim's body and they can continue to sting even after you have left the sea, often resulting in scarring.

Video. Box jellyfish - Sea wasp

But there are also tiny jellyfish, irukandji. They are widespread and this small jellyfish has a strong venom that can lead to Irukandji syndrome, which gradually appears after the bite itself. It is also reported that the bite of the Irukandji is potentially fatal, as well as incredibly painful. One of the victims said that it was even worse than childbirth and more intense.

3. Sea snakes

Photo. Sea snake

There are many species of sea snakes, which are mainly found in the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. They are thought to have evolved from land snakes in Australia and adapted to life in shallow coastal waters by developing a huge left lung and elongation. They are closely related to land-dwelling cobras and kraits, which is a bit surprising since many sea snakes are highly venomous. What's actually surprising is that their venom is much stronger than that of their land-based relatives. The reason for this venomous nature is that they eat fish and this means that they must immobilize their prey as quickly as possible to prevent it from escaping and preventing themselves from being injured.

Apparently, most of you have heard that despite their deadly venom, sea snakes are harmless because they have tiny mouths. This is complete nonsense! True sea snakes have small fangs and do not have huge mouths, but they are capable of swallowing fish whole and can easily bite a person, even through a wetsuit.

There are actually two reasons why sea snakes are considered much less dangerous than land snakes: first, they tend to be shy and much less aggressive. In addition, they tend to perform a “dry” bite, i.e. no poison is injected. It is very unlikely that a person can be injected with poison and the good news is that there are certain antidotes.

Of all the species of sea snakes, there are two species that deserve mention. The big-nosed enhydrina (lat. Enhydrina schistosa) is one of the most poisonous snakes on earth. Its venom is almost 8 times stronger than that of a cobra, one drop is enough to kill three people. It is also considered more aggressive than most other sea snakes. The venom of the Nose Enhydrina contains both neurotoxins and myotoxins, while the former will kill you thanks to respiratory paralysis, the latter will begin to break down your muscles, causing excruciating pain.

Despite these signs, there have been a few known deaths involving this snake, which is more common in deeper waters. Most of the bites were caught by fishermen while checking their nets.

The second sea snake that is worthy of mention is the Belcher's sea snake (lat. Hydrophis belcheri), only because it is often mentioned as the snake with the most powerful venom. It is often claimed that its venom is 100 times stronger than even that of the inland taipan. This is a bit of an exaggeration, but the poison is certainly like that of the taipan. The good news is that the Belcher's sea snake is often described as having a "friendly" nature!

2. Saltwater crocodile

Photo. Saltwater crocodile

The saltwater or saltwater crocodile is no stranger to the pages of “In the Jaws of Animals.” This animal is deadly on both land and water, and this crocodile is the largest reptile to survive to us since the time of the dinosaurs. The largest specimens that have been recorded and described were about 7 meters (25 ft) long and weighed about 2 tons, although in the 1950s one crocodile reached a length of 8.5 meters (30 ft) and was allegedly caught around city ​​of Darwin in Australia.

Along with its size it also has incredible strength, the saltwater crocodile has the most powerful bite on Earth, 10 times stronger than a great white shark. They are also fast swimmers in water, reaching speeds of 27 km/h (18 mph). They're not that fast on land, but urban legends tell us they're capable of explosive action, supposedly faster than you can react.

Although most people associate the saltwater crocodile with Australia, it is widespread and causes more havoc in its other habitats. The saltwater crocodile can be found throughout Southeast Asia and even as far west as India. These crocodiles are also known to be able to swim long distances alone and have been seen as far away as Fiji and New Caledonia.

In Australia, there are an average of two fatal saltwater crocodile attacks per year. In other places, the number of attacks is difficult to estimate, but research suggests there are many more, up to 30 per year.

Perhaps the most infamous attack by saltwater crocodiles occurred on Ramree Island (Myanmar) during World War II. After a fierce battle, the Japanese soldiers refused to surrender and retreated into a crocodile-infested swamp, which was surrounded by British marines. An estimated 400 Japanese soldiers were reportedly killed by crocodiles that night. Witness Bruce Stanley Wright wrote about the events of that night:

Video. Crocodile massacre. Crocodile attacks on Ramri Island

“Scattered rifle shots in the black darkness of the swamp were interrupted by the cries of wounded men being eaten by the jaws of huge reptiles, and the blurred, alarming sound of spinning crocodiles was like a sound from hell, which is rarely heard on earth...

Of about a thousand Japanese soldiers who entered the Ramree swamps, only about twenty were found alive."

1. Sharks

Photo. Great white shark

Not too many surprises here, right? As predators, sharks are the apex predators of the ocean, and are very well equipped to inflict serious injury: with large, fast and powerful jaws, armed with multiple rows of razor-sharp teeth, these fish are polished killing machines. However, despite the existence of about 400 species, it is possible to select only a few that pose any real danger to humans. We have already described in another article, but we still believe that it is worth choosing only four of them.

On the one hand, the great white shark is the most capable killer of all living sharks. Reaching a length of almost 8 meters (25 feet) and weighing 3 tons, great white sharks earned their name during their lifetime. Their favorite tactic is to swim under their prey and then, at top speed (55 km/h, 35 mph), with their mouth open, rise up to sink their teeth into the unsuspecting prey.

Statistics provide some support for the great white shark's status as a deadly ocean creature, with approximately 20% of the approximately 400 reported unprovoked attacks being fatal. However, when you take a closer look at some other species of sharks, you can understand that great white sharks are not as dangerous to humans as compared to other species.

The bull shark has a slightly higher kill rate, around 25%, and it is believed that many attacks were either misattributed or not recorded. The bull shark's trump card is its ability to survive in fresh water. These sharks have been found all over the world thousands of miles from the ocean in estuaries where no one would expect to see them. They have even been found in lakes that only have seasonal access to the sea.

Additionally, bull sharks, like tiger sharks, are much less picky about what they eat. While most great white shark attacks appear to involve misidentification of their prey, bull sharks deliberately attack humans.

Another species of shark worth mentioning is the longtip shark. Although statistics do not indicate their danger, legendary naturalist Jacques Cousteau described them as “the most dangerous of all sharks.” These sharks are blamed for hundreds of deaths in air and sea disasters. The most famous cases date back to the Second World War, when the ships Nova Scotia sank off the coast of South Africa and Indianapolis in the Philippines. Although there are no exact figures, the estimated death toll from shark attacks between the two disasters is around 1,000.

At the bottom of the ocean we are most vulnerable for obvious reasons. Throughout the history of evolution, humans have not adapted to extract oxygen from water. Any animal with sharp teeth and a strong bite can pose a threat to life. The oceans are filled with deadly animals. The exception is those that do not threaten human life and are dangerous only when they defend themselves, for example, puffer fish.
10. SEA SNAKE

If you ever thought that only land snakes pose a deadly threat to human life, then think again. Sea snakes also have venom that is extremely dangerous to humans. But it is extremely rare that they release venom when they bite their prey. However, if sea snakes inject venom, the consequences can be dire.
When they bite, a small amount of venom is released. The victim does not immediately feel the effect of the poison. Within an hour, symptoms such as headache, swollen tongue and vomiting begin to appear. This is followed by convulsions and progressive muscle paralysis.
After 3-8 hours from the time of the bite, myoglobin begins to appear in the blood. As a result, muscle tissue is destroyed. Kidney failure may also occur. After 6-12 hours (unless treated), severe hypercalcemia can lead to a heart attack and sometimes death.
9. BARRACUDA


Fast, vicious and capable of causing incredible damage - a terrifying combination for an underwater devil. The barracuda has a long body, like a snake, with sharp, fang-like teeth. Its teeth look and work in the same way as a piranha's teeth. Barracudas grow up to two meters and are known for being fast swimmers. To catch up with their prey, they can reach speeds of up to 45 km/h.
Before biting prey, barracudas calculate its weight. Barracudas have very sharp teeth that can damage nerves and blood vessels. They don't meet people that often. But if a meeting happens, then most likely there will be a bloody clash. Barracudas may well bite off part of a human body. Some barracudas contain poison. Under the influence of the poison, the victim may experience hallucinations and multiple side effects.
8. MUREN


Moray eels are most often found in the deep ocean. They avoid contact with humans whenever possible and are considered relatively shy creatures.
However, if there is a real threat, moray eels may show that they are not the ones to play with. A moray eel bite can cause an infected wound because their mouth contains a huge amount of bacteria. Moray eels have poor eyesight and rely heavily on their keen sense of smell. Many divers have lost fingers while attempting to hand feed.
7. FISH-STONE


This small fish species looks unusual. The fish is like a stone, which helps camouflage itself from predators. Unfortunately, anyone who accidentally steps on the fish will encounter sharp spines that can easily pierce bare feet. In most cases, the stonefish stings when it is stepped on and less often when it is lifted.
Stonefish can sting not only in water, but also on land, as they can survive without water for 24 hours. When a fish stings, the victim feels pain due to the wound. She also receives a small dose of a neurotoxin that can block the respiratory system and lead to cardiac arrest. Poisonous, dangerous and destructive fish for people.
6. SKAT

At first glance, the stingray seems to be a rather passive animal, but it should not be underestimated. The stingray is usually calm, but can sometimes cause serious harm with its sharp tail.
The end of a stingray's tail can sever arteries. The tail contains poison that is extremely dangerous for mammals. Contact with the stringer from the action of the poison causes injury, pain, swelling, and muscle cramps. And then infection from bacteria and fungi may occur. Although the wound is extremely painful, it is not life-threatening until the stingray hits vital organs.
5. TIGER SHARK


The great shark has become famous for having the widest range of foods among all sharks. It feeds on a variety of prey ranging from fish, seals, birds, squid, turtles to dolphins and even smaller sharks.
The bull shark is quite impressive, but the tiger shark is something else. She does not look for people as food. However, the tiger shark often enters shallow reefs, harbors and channels, posing a potential threat to people.
Sharks rarely attack people, but tiger sharks account for a large percentage of fatal attacks. Thus, they are one of the most dangerous animals in the ocean. And the worst thing is that a delicate sense of smell and strong teeth allow sharks to quickly deal with any prey. And sometimes a person can become an unfortunate prey.
4. GREAT WHITE SHARK


The majestic name does not convey optimism, but speaks of merciless cruelty. The great white shark is easily recognized by its size. It reaches up to six meters in length and can weigh 3324 kg. Another distinctive feature of sharks is that they attack their prey from below with their mouths wide open and their razor-sharp teeth inflicting maximum damage.
Anyone who has seen the movie “Jaws” should know that these creatures pose a mortal danger to humans. There have been a significant number of unprovoked fatal attacks by great white sharks on humans.
3. SEA CROCODILE


Always be aware of salty waters. Crocodiles attack when least expected. Saltwater crocodiles are known to have a bite force 10 times greater than that of a great white shark. Unlike sharks, crocodiles can walk on land.
Like most crocodiles, saltwater crocodiles are not picky about their food choices. They select prey based on availability. However, previously saltwater crocodiles killed thousands of people every year. Most cases remain unreported.
During World War II, saltwater crocodiles are known to have eaten more than 400 retreating Japanese soldiers. The soldiers were crossing a river in which there were thousands of crocodiles.
2. BLUE-RINGED OCTOPUS


Despite its small size, the octopus contains poison that can kill 26 adult men within a few minutes. Their bites are small and often painless. Many victims do not even realize they have been bitten until respiratory depression and paralysis sets in.
Poisoning can lead to nausea, respiratory arrest, heart attack and often complete paralysis. If treatment is not timely, death sometimes occurs. Considering the fact that an antidote for the bite of blue-ringed octopuses has not yet been created, they are one of the most dangerous animals for humans.
1. CUBOMEDUSA


When it comes to dangers at sea, size doesn't matter. Box jellyfish contain one of the most dangerous poisons on the planet.
Accidentally touching the poisonous tentacles of a jellyfish causes severe pain and a burning sensation, which can lead to death. But the most dangerous thing is that people cannot spot jellyfish because of their transparency before they harm them.

Candidate of Naval Sciences, Professor V. DYGALO.

Rear Admiral Viktor Ananyevich Dygalo is a man who was born by the sea, and then gave it most of his life. In 1944, as an eighteen-year-old boy, he took part in hostilities on ships of the Black Sea Fleet, and in 1945 - in the Victory Parade. Then there was twenty years of service on submarines, command of a division, which included the K-129 missile submarine that tragically died in March 1968 off the Hawaiian Islands. The experienced sailor traveled all the seas and oceans, called at the ports of Indonesia, Malaysia, Africa and Europe, and crossed the equator twice. He observed marine animals not only in the open ocean, but also in giant aquariums in Singapore and Suez. Knowledge of the underwater world and impressions of what was seen are reflected in the article about those inhabitants of the ocean that should be feared.

Science and life // Illustrations

Science and life // Illustrations

Science and life // Illustrations

Science and life // Illustrations

Science and life // Illustrations

Science and life // Illustrations

Science and life // Illustrations

Science and life // Illustrations

Science and life // Illustrations

Science and life // Illustrations

Science and life // Illustrations

Science and life // Illustrations

Science and life // Illustrations

Science and life // Illustrations

Science and life // Illustrations

When people talk about the dangers that the ocean poses, the first thing that comes to mind is sharks. The mere mention of them evokes fear; the image of a giant man-eating shark from the famous American film “Jaws”, filmed in the early 1970s based on the novel of the same name by Peter Benchley, immediately appears before your eyes.

In fact, sharks, with the exception of a few species, and there are more than 250 of them in total, do not themselves attack humans. Other toothy sea giant predators behave the same way. But this is not about them.

Most dangerous marine animals are found among small, often inconspicuous or, conversely, very bright and colorful marine inhabitants. These seemingly harmless creatures produce powerful, sometimes deadly, poisons. Scientists count about 500 species of poisonous fish, 93 species of poisonous coelenterates, 91 species of mollusks, 26 species of echinoderms. But don't give in to fear. Poisonous marine animals usually infect a person in self-defense when he disturbs them or causes them pain with a careless movement.

One of the most poisonous and also the ugliest sea animals is the stone fish. It is also called tubercle or wart. This creature is only 15-20 centimeters long, with an ugly large head, small eyes and a large mouth with a protruding lower jaw. Naked, without scales, brownish-brown, sometimes with light spots and stripes, the body of the stone fish is covered with tubercles and warts, and hard, poisonous spines protrude from the dorsal fin. Typically, warts hide among corals, under rocks, burrow into mud or sand, and can remain on the shore in puddles after low tide. It looks like a piece of stone and is inconspicuously colored, so it is almost impossible to notice it. If a person steps on a stone fish or accidentally touches it, it will immediately plunge into him the spines of its fins, at the base of which there are poisonous glands. Wart poison is extremely dangerous. There are cases where a person died several hours and even minutes after being pricked by its poisonous thorns.

The stonefish is found in the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Pacific Islands and northern Australia, where residents call it the warty vampire. People who are lucky enough to survive a wart injection often remain disabled, because its poison destroys red blood cells and affects the central nervous system. Unlike the stone fish, the master of “camouflage,” the zebra fish, or lionfish, has a very noticeable appearance. Her body, 30-40 centimeters long, is painted with bright pink 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 - lionfish. But perhaps its most apt nickname is turkey fish. When she swims slowly, spreading her pectoral and lacy caudal fins like a fan, she truly resembles a turkey striding importantly through a poultry yard. It is in these luxurious fins that sharp poisonous needles lurk. The injection of lionfish, like warts, causes severe pain, from which people lose consciousness or go into a state of shock.

It is believed that the zebra fish is capable of killing a person, but such cases have not been documented in any of the places where it lives (in the coastal waters of the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, as well as in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of China, Japan and Australia). Approaching a lionfish is dangerous, especially from the side. Reacting to a change in the situation, she turns her dorsal fin towards the troublemaker in order to inflict a poisonous injection on him with lightning speed. Poisoning with lionfish venom is very serious: it is accompanied by convulsions, disruption of the heart, and it happens that gangrene develops at the puncture site. Fishermen have been wary of the poisonous sea dragon since ancient times. The prick of its spines, located on the dorsal fin and along the gill slits, is considered no less painful and dangerous than the prick of a zebra fish. It can cause breathing problems, seizures and even cardiac arrest. The dragon's dorsal spines range from five to seven, each of them is covered with a thin layer of skin, the tip of the spine sticks out from it like a needle. The dragonet is found off the coast of Norway and the British Isles and further south to the Mediterranean Sea and the coast of North Africa. Stingrays, known as the sea cat, also sting their prey with poisonous spines. According to statistics, about 1,500 people suffer from their injections every year in the United States alone. This does not happen because stingrays are particularly aggressive, they simply choose to live in coastal waters over a vast area of ​​water - from the countries of Northern Europe and North America to the mid-latitudes of the southern hemisphere, and there are almost always a lot of swimmers and fishermen there.

The weapon of a sea cat is one or several sharp spines located at the end of a whip-like tail. Even the small half-meter stingray, which lives in the coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean, has a tail spike that reaches 20 centimeters in length, and 3-4-meter stingrays have a 30-centimeter spike on their tail as thick as a person’s leg. The stingray is capable of striking with such force that it can pierce the bottom of the boat with its tail spike.

Sea cat venom is very toxic. It enters the wound with tissue filling the grooves of the spines and immediately affects the cardiovascular system (causing a drop in blood pressure, increased heart rate), poisoning is accompanied by vomiting and intense sweating. Residents of the Pacific Islands, Malays, Australian aborigines and Indians of South and Central America have long made arrowheads from stingray needles. According to ancient Greek mythology, Odysseus was killed with just such an arrow. In West Africa and Ceylon, whips were made from the spiny tails of small stingrays, which were used to punish criminals, and in the Seychelles, such whips were kept to intimidate wives. Among sea urchins, which belong to the order Echinodermata, which includes about 600 species of marine animals, some are completely harmless, while others are best avoided. Poisonous urchins are distributed mainly in tropical and subtropical regions of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans. They most often affect people off the islands of the western Pacific Ocean.

The spherical body of the sea urchin is almost completely covered with spines. Their injection causes the same pain as a hot nail pierced into the body, and if the needle penetrates deeply, the burning does not stop for several hours.

The inhabitants of coral reefs - tropical urchins of the diadema family - pose a great danger to humans. Their 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. Injury by them causes acute pain, severe shortness of breath, and even paralysis is possible. Another poisonous sea urchin, Toxopneustes, is found off the coast of Japan. Local fishermen call this hedgehog a killer because its injections can be fatal. Toxopneustes is somewhat larger than Diadem. Its body is devoid of needles, but is covered with many so-called pedicillaria - flexible stalks that end in something like tweezers made of two or three calcareous valves. When the hedgehog is calm, its “tweezers” with open flaps slowly sway in the water. But as soon as an unwary animal touches them, the poisonous traps are triggered: the flaps close, and the poison is injected into the body of the captured victim. Toxopneustes holds her down until she is completely paralyzed. If the prisoner still manages to get rid of the hedgehog, he carries away the tweezers that are tightly clinging to the body, which continue to shrink and release poison into the wound for several more hours. A swimmer affected by this poison risks drowning.

In the story “The Lion's Mane,” Arthur Conan Doyle described the mysterious murder of a young teacher: “His back was striped with dark purple welts, as if he had been lashed with a whip of thin wire. MacPherson was apparently tortured and killed with some unusually flexible instrument, because "long, sharp scars curved from the back and captured the shoulders and ribs. Blood flowed down the chin from the lower lip bitten from unbearable pain." Sherlock Holmes solved the crime. The killer turned out to be a jellyfish! These inhabitants of the sea seem no more dangerous than foam on the crest of a wave, but among them there are poisonous ones, the tentacles of which leave a severe burn on the body.

Poisonous ones include, for example, the Cyanea jellyfish, or the Lion's mane (the killer from the Conan Doyle story). The diameter of the bell-shaped body of this giant reaches 2.5 meters or more, and the poisonous tentacles collected in eight bundles (each bundle has one and a half hundred threads) are 30 meters! The elongated tentacles of Cyanea resemble an unusually beautiful crimson train, but when they pull up and wriggle, they become like balls of tangled hair or, as Conan Doyle writes, a lion's mane. These jellyfish are widespread in the northern Pacific, Atlantic and Baltic Seas. They are unlikely to kill a person, but the touch of their tentacles can cause deep skin lesions.

Compared to the huge Cyanea, the Gonionema jellyfish is very small - no more than a snout. Its dome is like a bell with four red-brown folds in the form of a cross on the concave side. For this reason, Gonyonema is called the cross. It is found in the waters of the Pacific Ocean: in the Sea of ​​Japan - near Vladivostok, in Olga Bay, in the Tatar Strait, near the southern tip of Sakhalin, off the coast of Japan and the South Kuril Islands. Large accumulations of Gonionema are sometimes observed in Peter the Great Bay. The crossfish lives in shallow water in thickets of sea grass. It attaches to plants with suckers and lies in wait for prey. A Gonionema burn feels similar to a nettle burn, but unlike it, it entails a serious illness with sharp pain in the lower back and joints, shortness of breath, a dry uncontrollable cough, nausea, severe thirst, numbness in the arms and legs. The poison of the cross often even affects the psyche, then the patient falls either into a state of extreme nervous excitement or into depression. Usually, poor health lasts 4-6 days, but pain and discomfort may recur for about a month.

Sometimes invasions of crosses take on the dimensions of a natural disaster. They appeared several times at the height of the swimming season in the waters of Primorye. Local residents and vacationers on the shores of the Amur Bay remember well July 17, 1966, when a countless flock of little crosses approached the beaches. More than a thousand people suffered from them then. In the summer of 1970, in just one day there, 1,360 people received burns from the touch of a cross, of which 116 had to be hospitalized.

Box jellyfish, named for their slightly rounded cubic bell shape, are also poisonous. In the lower corners of the cube, this jellyfish has four outgrowths - the so-called arms. Each "hand" is divided into several "fingers" ending in long, thin tentacles. The most poisonous of the box jellyfish and probably the deadliest of all known sea creatures is the sea wasp. The danger of contact with these small (no more than 20 centimeters in diameter) translucent jellyfish is great, since they are difficult to notice in the water and they swim quite quickly. (The speed of movement of the sea wasp is 4 kilometers per hour.) Box jellyfish live in tropical waters. They are especially common off the coast of northern Australia and the Philippines. They prefer shallow, wind-protected coves with a sandy bottom, and in calm weather they approach the beaches. On hot days, box jellyfish descend to the depths, and in the mornings and evenings they rise to the surface. From the touch of their tiny tentacles dotted with a thousand deadly stings, a person can die in a matter of seconds. Over 25 years, about 60 people died from sea wasp burns near the state of Queensland (Australia), while only thirteen became victims of sharks.

Floating physalia pose a great danger to people. Many attribute them to jellyfish, but in fact they are a huge floating colony of mutant jellyfish and polyps, in which each performs its own, strictly defined function: some “obtain” food, others “digest” it, others “hold the line,” the fourth are “responsible” for the offspring. Connected by common life activity, they form a single organism.

Physalia stay afloat with the help of a pneumatophore - a swim bladder filled with gas. This gas, consisting mainly of nitrogen (about 90%) with a small admixture of oxygen and argon, is produced by glands inside the bladder. Some physalia, changing the volume of the swim bladder, can descend to different depths. A trunk extends down from the pneumatophore, to which several hundred polyps are attached, performing different functions. The tentacles of the polyps go 20-30 meters deep. Along their entire length they are dotted with stinging (venom-bearing) cells. Contracting, the tentacles slowly drag the prey to the center of the colony, where it is digested by feeding polyps.

One of the most common types of physalia is the Portuguese man-of-war. It is found in the tropical Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. Similar species of physalia live off the Hawaiian Islands and off the coast of southern Japan. The Portuguese man-of-war got its name from its bright, multi-colored swim bladder, reminiscent of the sail of a medieval Portuguese ship. The lower part of the bubble is blue, on top there is a bright red ridge, and the whole thing shimmers with blue, violet, purple flowers, and gently silvers. Physalia's swim bladder is only 30 centimeters in size and looks like a beautiful rubber cap. Anyone who tries to fish it out of the water may get burned. Yuri Senkevich experienced it himself during his first voyage across the Atlantic Ocean on the papyrus boat "Ra". Seduced by the beauty of the physalia, he tried to take it in his hands. “Without thinking twice, I grabbed it,” Sienkevich later recalled, “and roared in pain, frantically began to wash my fingers with sea water, but the sticky mucus did not lag behind. An attempt to wash off the mucus with soap was also unsuccessful. My hands burned and ached, my fingers bent with difficulty. Spraying with an anesthetic medicine from a special spray bottle relieved the pain for a few minutes, but it immediately returned with renewed vigor. The fingers could no longer bend, the pain began to spread to the shoulders and further to the heart area, the general health was disgusting. I took two tablets of analgin, validol, pyramidon and, as they say, fell into bed. I was shaking with chills. It subsided gradually. First my right hand felt better, then my left. The pain subsided only after five hours. But the malaise lasted for a long time..." Sometimes Portuguese ships end up in the Gulf Stream and are carried by this current into the English Channel. When they accumulate off the coasts of England and France or, for example, near the beaches of Florida, television, radio and print warn the population of the danger.

The giant bivalve mollusk tridacna is also called the killer clam. The weight of this sea monster reaches 250 kilograms (there are even 430-kilogram specimens), and the length of the shell is about one and a half meters. And although not a single reliable case of death has been recorded, experienced divers assure that a tridacna can clamp a person in the shell flaps, as if in a vice. So pearl divers and scuba divers stay away from it. Of the mollusks, the most dangerous are the so-called cones. They got their name from their almost regular conical shape. These poisonous fish-eating mollusks can actually kill a person. They inject with a sharp spike, which they push into a slot at the narrow end of the shell. The spike ends in a curved barb, like a harpoon. Inside the thorn there is a channel from the poisonous gland, through which very strong poison is injected into the wound. A sting from a cone mollusk causes acute pain, numbness of the affected area and other parts of the body, and then paralysis of the respiratory and cardiovascular system may occur. According to statistics, one out of three, or even two cases of being pricked by a cone thorn ends in death. True, all these cases occurred due to the fault of man: attracted by the beauty of the shell, he tried to pick it up and forced the cone to defend itself. In the Pacific Ocean, 2-3 people die every year from cone clam bites, and sharks account for only one human victim. The shells of cone mollusks are no more than 15-20 centimeters long, painted in bright colors and covered with a variety of patterns. The Gloriamaris cone, for example, called the Glory of the Seas, is considered the most beautiful shell in the world. It costs up to two thousand dollars and is highly valued by collectors. Not only on earth, but also in the ocean there are fabulous corners - these, according to many, are coral reefs. Cirrus, branched, spherical corals are a feast of colors. Among them there are bright green “shrubs” and thickets of orange-yellow “trees,” pink, gray, lilac “grass,” yellowish-ocher “mushrooms” with inverted caps and brown “cauliflower” with a blue tinge.

For a long time, corals were considered plants. Only in the 19th century were they finally classified as part of the animal world. By the way, the corals that are exhibited in museums, used in jewelry and for interior decoration, do not look like animals at all - it is just their calcareous skeleton. The basis of coral is made up of polyps - marine invertebrate animals measuring 1-1.5 millimeters or a little more (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, the same “trees”, “shrubs”, “mushrooms”... When hungry, the polyp sticks out tentacles with many stinging cells from the “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 and shoes with rubber soles or fins that completely cover the foot. Such precautions will protect not only from burns, but also from cuts. And although wounds received in contact with corals are usually shallow, they take a long time to heal and can even turn into trophic ulcers.

Since ancient times, one of the occupational diseases of divers has been considered “sponge catcher’s disease,” when a burning purple rash and ulcers appear on the body of an underwater swimmer. For a long time it was believed that the culprit of this disease was a sea sponge. But at the beginning of this century, scientists discovered that touching not the sponges themselves, but the burning tentacles of the anemones sitting on them, another representative of coral polyps, is dangerous. Sea anemones are large animals up to one meter high with soft tubular bodies lacking a calcareous skeleton. They do not live in colonies, but alone, and are able to travel a short distance in search of shelter. Having chosen a place, sea anemones attach to shells, stones, and dead corals using a “sole” located at the lower end of the tubular body. In the upper part of the body, the sea anemone has a mouth surrounded by numerous tentacles collected in a corolla. These tentacles are surprisingly similar to chrysanthemums, dahlias or asters and are distinguished by the same diversity - there are purple, brown, snow-white, green, and pale blue anemones. The pink anemone, which likes to perch on its sponges, despite its beauty, is the most dangerous. It is found off the coast of Iceland, Europe, Africa and the Mediterranean Sea. Its no less poisonous relatives adamsia and anemone are even more widespread: adamsia - from Norway to Spain, and anemone - in the eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean, from Norway and Scotland to the Canary Islands.

Human contacts with the inhabitants of the sea are becoming closer. The underwater world attracts with its amazing beauty and diversity. But in order for a meeting with him to be safe, you need to know sea animals, especially those that are classified as poisonous.

LITERATURE

Dozier Thomas. Dangerous sea creatures. - M.: Mir, 1985.

Zhogolev D., Keller A. Dangerous animals of the sea and some land areas. M.: Voenizdat, 1984.

Ocean. Collection of the joint venture "Interprint". - M.: 1990.

Richiuti Edward R. Dangerous inhabitants of the sea (translated from English). - L.: Gidrometeoizdat, 1979.

Halstead B. Dangerous marine animals. - L.: Gidrometeoizdat, 1979.

Sea snake rarely bites humans - it uses its venom mainly when hunting and sometimes for self-defense. However, if something goes wrong, a sea snake bite will not be harmless. Their venom is very toxic. The victim does not immediately feel the effect; headache, vomiting and other symptoms appear only within an hour. And after a few hours, myoglobin appears in the blood, destroying muscles. If the necessary measures are not taken, kidney failure and heart attack occur, which can ultimately lead to death.

Barracuda- Swift, ferocious and capable of causing serious injury, this perch fish can seem like a real underwater devil. Long, like snakes, the barracuda has a powerful lower jaw with sharp teeth, like those of a piranha. The barracuda can reach 205 cm in length and reach speeds of up to 40 km/h. It is not surprising that she quickly overtakes her victim. Barracudas do not attack people very often - this usually happens in muddy or dark water, when there is a risk of mistaking a person for a fish. Such a collision does not bode well: a barracuda is capable of tearing out a piece of a human body. If suddenly this doesn’t scare you, know that their body contains a toxin that causes hallucinations and other side effects in humans.

Moray eels, representatives of eels, avoid contact with people. But if they feel threatened, it's all over. An eel bite is dangerous not only because it causes mechanical injury. This moray eel's mouth contains countless bacteria that instantly enter the wound. And if you, while underwater, decide to feed a moray eel by hand, remember - they have poor eyesight, and you can easily say goodbye, if not to your hand, then to your fingers.

Warts, a genus of ray-finned fish, in English they are called stonefish, i.e. “stone fish”, because it can easily pass for a small stone. This helps the fish camouflage well and easily misleads a person who might accidentally step on such a “pebble.” Alas, such an oversight is not painless: the sharp thorns of the wart dig into the foot, and a small dose of the neurotoxin penetrates the human blood, causing problems with the respiratory system and even heart failure. Remember that these fish can be out of the water for up to 24 hours, so keep your eyes peeled and on the shore.

Eagle ray not as harmless as it might seem. It is usually relaxed, but can seriously injure humans with its tail. The fact is that at the base of the tail these stingrays have spines (one or more), the length of which can reach 35 cm. The spine, in turn, is capable of releasing poison. A painful prick with a thorn is fraught with swelling, cramps, and bacterial infection. In 2006, an Australian naturalist and TV presenter was tragically killed by a stingray - a stingray wounded him in the heart, and the wound turned out to be fatal.

Tiger shark has a good appetite: her menu includes fish, seals, birds, squid, turtles, dolphins and even other, smaller sharks. It is not surprising that human remains are often found in the stomach of a tiger shark. It is believed that they do not specifically hunt humans as prey, but frequent encounters with humans in the area of ​​small reefs, harbors and channels, however, become fatal for people.

White shark- this is the answer to the question “who can be more dangerous than a tiger shark.” It is also called the “man-eating shark”, and for good reason. The impressive dimensions - about 5 m in length and weight from 700 kg to a ton - leave no chance for humans. White sharks have their own signature style: they attack their prey from below, opening their mouths wide so that their huge, sharp teeth can cause as much damage as possible. Have you seen the movie "Jaws"? This is about them.

Saltwater crocodile, also known as a man-eating crocodile, lives primarily in the Indian Ocean. The force of its bite is considered to be 10 times stronger than that of a white shark. In addition, unlike a shark, a crocodile can lie in wait for you on land. Crocodiles are not gourmets; they do not choose gourmet food for themselves, but eat whatever they can get their hands on. According to one version, more than 400 Japanese soldiers who crossed the river during their retreat during World War II became victims of saltwater crocodiles.

Blue-ringed octopus may seem like an unexpected participant on such a list. Its size does not exceed 12-20 cm, but a tiny and almost painless bite can kill a person within a few minutes. The venom of this octopus is extremely toxic - nausea, respiratory arrest, heart failure, complete paralysis or death: all of this can end your encounter with an octopus if emergency measures are not taken. The danger also lies in the fact that such a minor bite does not cause concern in a person until the first signs of poisoning appear.

Box jellyfish are definitely beautiful. And damn dangerous - after all, they have one of the most dangerous poisons of all living creatures. Deaths due to burns from box jellyfish bites occur every year. The worst thing is that this danger is difficult to control - jellyfish are almost transparent and swim very quickly, which is why there is a high risk of simply not noticing them.