MARINE ANIMALS THAT STING 53 



severe cases, death. The pain may diminish after about 15 minutes 

 and completely disappear within an hour, but paralysis may 

 continue for six hours or longer. 



Treatment. Insofar as the venom is concerned, sea urchin stings 

 should be handled in a manner similar to any other venomous sting. 

 (See Page 91). However, attention is directed to the need of 

 prompt removal of the pedicellariae from the wound. Pedicellariae 

 are usually detached from the parent animal, and may continue 

 to introduce venom into the wound. Sea urchin spines are extremely 

 difficult to remove from the flesh because of their brittleness. The 

 spines of some species will be readily absorbed within 24 to 48 

 hours, whereas others must be surgically removed. There may be 

 some discoloration of the area about the wound due to the purple 

 dye that is secreted by the animal, but this should not be disturbing. 



Prevention. No sea urchin having elongate, needle-like spines 

 should be handled. Moreover, leather and canvas gloves, shoes, and 

 flippers do not afford protection. Care should be taken in handling 

 any tropical species of short-spined sea urchin without gloves 

 because of the pedicellariae. A diver working at night in coral areas 

 must exercise extreme care because of the danger of coming in 

 contact with sea urchins. 



VERTEBRATES 



Venomous marine vertebrates constitute a hazard to skin divers 

 which, for the most part, can be easily avoided if a person is aware 

 of them and knows something about their habits. Included within 

 this chapter are those marine animals having a backbone, which 

 inflict their injuries by stinging. Venomous marine vertebrates fall 

 within two major groups: (1) fishes, and (2) reptiles. A remark- 

 able and interesting variety of venomous fishes is found to exist, 

 beginning with some of the lower forms and extending through- 

 out the piscine group. Venomous marine reptiles, on the other hand, 

 are limited to a relatively few species — the sea snakes, all of which 

 have a similar type of venom apparatus. 



FISHES 



Horned or Spiny Sharks 



There are several species of horned sharks, but only one that 

 has been incriminated to any extent as producing stings in humans. 

 The spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias Linnaeus, (Fig. 26), is found 



