MARINE ANIMALS THAT STING 



67 



Pacific Ratfish, Hydrolagus colliei (Lay and Bennett) (Fig. 37, 

 Next to Top). Found along the Pacific coast of North America. 



Venom Apparatus of the Ratfish. The venom apparatus of rat- 

 fishes consists of the single dorsal sting which is situated along the 

 anterior margin of the first dorsal fin. Along the back of the spine 

 is a shallow depression which contains a strip of soft, grayish 

 tissue — the venom gland. 



Medical Aspects. Ratfishes are said to inflict a very painful wound 

 with their sharp dorsal stings. However, nothing is known about 

 the symptoms produced. It is assumed that wounds from this fish 

 are largely accidental since the fish is not reputed to be aggressive. 



Fig. 38. Sea Catfish, Bagre marina (Mitchell) 



CATRSHES 



Catfishes come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Their body 

 shape may vary from short to greatly elongate, or even eel-like. 

 The head is extremely variable, sometimes very large, wide or de- 

 pressed, or may be very small. The lips are usually equipped with 

 long barbels. The skin of these fishes is thick and slimy, or may be 

 covered with bony plates. No true scales are ever present. About 

 one thousand species are included within this group, most of which 

 are found in the freshwater streams of the tropics, but a few are 

 marine. Only a few representative marine and brackish water 

 species have been selected for the purposes of this manual. 



Representative Species of Catfishes : 



Catfish, Galeichthijs felis (Linnaeus) (Fig. 37, Third from Top). 

 Ranges from Cape Cod to the Gulf of Mexico. 



Catfish, Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus) (Fig. 37, 4th from Top). 

 India to the Netherlands Indies and Philippine Islands. 



