MARINE ANIMALS THAT STING 73 



the wound. The skin about the wound at first is blanched, but soon 

 becomes reddened, hot, and swollen. The swelling may be quite 

 extensive and continue for ten days, or longer. Other symptoms 

 and findings consist of headache, fever, chills, delirium, nausea, 

 vomiting, dizziness, sweating, cyanosis, joint aches, loss of speech, 

 slow heart beat, palpitation, mental depression, convulsions, diffi- 

 culty in breathing, and death. Secondary infections are common 

 in cases improperly treated. Gangrene has been known to develop 

 as a complication. Recovery may take from several days to several 

 months, depending upon the amount of venom received, condition 

 of the patient, and other factors. 



Treatment. There are no known antidotes. See Page 91, on the 

 treatment of fish stings. 



Prevention. Weeverfish stings are most commonly encountered 

 while wading or swimming along sandy coastal areas of the eastern 

 Atlantic or Mediterranean seas. Weevers are usually encountered 

 partially buried in the sand or mud. Persons wading in waters 

 where weevers abound should wear adequate footwear. Skin divers 

 should attempt to avoid antagonizing these fishes since they are 

 easily provoked into stinging. Never, under any circumstance, 

 attempt to handle a living weever. Even when dead, weevers can 

 inflict a nasty wound. 



SCORPIONFISHES 



Members of the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes, are 

 widely distributed throughout all tropical and temperate seas. A 

 few species are also found in arctic waters. Many scorpaenidae 

 attain large size and are valuable food fishes, whereas others are 

 relatively small and of no commercial value. Some species are 

 extremely venomous. 



Venomous scorpionfishes have been divided into three main 

 groups on the basis of the structure of their venom organs, namely : 

 1) Zebrafish (Pterois) ; 2) Scorpionfish proper (Scorpaena) ; and 

 3) the Stonefishes (Synanceja) . 



Zebrafish are among the most beautiful and ornate of coral reef 

 fishes. They are generally found in shallow water, hovering about 

 in a crevice or at times swimming unconcernedly in the open. They 

 are also called turkeyfish because of their interesting habit of slowly 

 swimming about, spreading their fan-like pectorals and lacy dorsal 

 fins, like a turkey gobbler displaying its plumes. They are fre- 



