97. What types of organisms, other than sharks, are potentially 

 dangerous to swimmers? 



The most dangerous animal other than sharks is probably the barra- 

 cuda; indeed it is feared more than sharks by West Indian divers. Its 

 usual length is only 4 to 6 feet, but it is aggressive, fast, and armed with 

 a combination of long canines and small teeth capable of cutting as 

 cleanly as a knife. 



Although no authentic record of deliberate attacks on man exists, 

 the killer whale is potentially more dangerous than either sharks or 

 barracudas. This carnivore measures 15 to 20 feet and hunts in packs. 

 It attacks, seals, walruses, porpoises, and even baleen whales. 



The moray eel, which is as long as 10 feet, lurks in holes in coral reefs 

 and may inflict severe lacerations on a diver who pokes his hand into its 

 hiding place, or it may grasp the diver in its bulldoglike grip until he 

 drowns. 



The octopus is probably overrated as a villain because of its evil 

 appearance; nevertheless, its bite is poisonous. The giant squid has been 

 known to pull man beneath the water to his death. The Portuguese man- 

 of-war has tentacles up to 50 feet long with stinging cells which are 

 painful to a swimmer brushing against them. 



There is a large group of animals dangerous to swimmers or waders 

 who step on them. These include the sting ray, stonefish, zebra fish, 

 toadfish,and many others. The giant tropical clam (Tridacna), weighing 

 as much as 500 pounds, has been depicted as trapping divers; however, 

 no authentic records exist. 



Cromle, William J. 



The Living World of the Sea, Prentice-Hall, 1966. 

 Engel, Leonard and Editors of LIFE 



The Sea, Life Nature Library, Time, Inc., 1961. 

 Herald, Earl S, 



Living Fishes of the World, Doubleday, 1961 . 



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