28 DANGEROUS MARINE ANIMALS 



crushing, teeth (Fig. 7, Bottom). They may retain their bulldog- 

 like grip until death. Their powerful muscular bodies are covered 

 by a tough leathery skin which is not readily penetrated by a knife. 

 Morays are unbelievably slippery and difficult to grasp. Some of 

 the larger species may attain a length of 10 ft., and better than a 

 foot in diameter. Morays are bottom-dwellers, commonly found 

 lurking in holes, and writhing snake-like through crevices, under 

 rocks or corals. 



Medical Aspects. Wounds produced by moray eels are usually of 

 the tearing, jagged type. 



Treatment. The principles involved in the treatment of shark 

 bites are also applicable here. See page 22. 



Prevention. Wounds from moray eels are most likely to be en- 

 countered when poking around crevices, in holes, or under coral 

 or rocks inhabited by them. Poke your hand into a hole with cau- 

 tion! 



GIANT GROUPER, OR SEABASS 



Grouper, or seabass, as they are sometimes called, are members 

 of the family Serranidae (Fig. 8, Top). Some of the larger species 

 may attain a length of 12 ft., and a weight of more than 500 lbs. 

 There are several records in which divers have encountered diffi- 

 culty from these large creatures. Grouper tend to be unusually 

 curious, bold, and voracious feeders. They are considered here as 

 a potential hazard primarily because of their large size, cavernous 

 jaws, and fearless attitudes. Certainly, they do not constitute a 

 hazard in the sense that sharks do. Grouper are most frequently 

 found lurking around rocks, caverns, old wrecks, etc. 



SEA LIONS 



Under ordinary circumstances, sea lions (Fig. 8, Bottom) can- 

 not be considered as ferocious. However, during the breeding 

 season, the large bulls may become irritable and have been known 

 to nip at divers. Sea lions are generally curious, fast and magni- 

 ficent swimmers. 



KILLER WHALES 



The killer whale, Grampus orca Linnaeus (Fig. 9) has a reputa- 

 tion of being a ruthless and ferocious beast. They are found in all 

 oceans and seas, tropical and polar, alike, from Novaya Zemlya, 



