DANGEROUS SEA LIFE 



(3) Stonefish, Synanceja 



Zebrafish are a beautiful and ornate shallow water fish of trop- 

 ical and temperate seas. They parade about coral reefs, spreading 

 their fan-like and lacy fins in much the same manner as peacocks. 

 They are found in pairs and present an invitation to disaster if 

 touched. Beneath the finery are hidden long, straight needle-sharp 

 fin spines which are a spectacular menace to anyone exploring trop- 

 ical coral areas. These fish are armed with as many as 18 potentially 

 lethal spines, each equipped with venom. 



The scorpionfish are inhabitants of shallow water bays and reefs. 

 A habit of concealing themselves in crevices among debris, under 

 rocks, or in seaweed along with a nearly perfect protective coloration 

 makes this fish almost invisible. Upon discovery and removal from 

 the water these fish erect spiny fins and spread out gill covers in an 

 aggressive display. 



Stonefish are encountered in tidepools and shoal areas. They 

 lie motionless while concealed or even partly buried and are fearless 

 or even disinterested in any careless intrusion. This presents a dan- 

 gerous situation to anyone with bare feet. The fish is equipped with 

 as many as 13 dorsal spines, 3 anal spines, and 2 pelvic spines; all 

 are short and heavy with enlarged venom glands. In natural con- 

 cealment, the fish looks like a piece of mud or debris. 



Symptoms produced by all 3 types of scorpionfish vary in degree, 

 but the pain is immediate, sharp, and radiates. Pain may cause a 

 victim to thrash in a wild manner, scream, or lose consiousness. The 

 immediate wound area may be pale, surrounded by a zone or redness, 

 swelling, and heat. Paralysis of an entire arm or leg may result, 

 and intense swelling of a member may impair movements. Many 

 other symptoms may also be present. Death may be the result of 

 an encounter, or the victim may recover after months of treatment 

 but with general health impaired. Treatment, as for other venomous 

 fish stings, must be administered promptly. 



Prevention of the sting, based on previous experiences, depends 

 upon the warning of individuals not to handle scorpionfish with un- 

 protected hands. Attraction of the uninitiated to touch the lacy fins 

 or the placing of hands or feet in crevices inhabited by the fish must 

 be prevented to avoid the danger. 



Recommended treatment of Venomous 

 Fish Stings 



Treatment of venomous fish stings should be directed to the 

 achievement of 3 objectives: 



1. Alleviate pain. 



2. Combat the effects of the venom. 



3. Prevent follow-up infections. 



The pain is generally a direct result of the damage caused by 

 the spine. Additional effects are produced by the venom and the 

 introduction of slime and foreign material. Certain stings, as in the 

 case of rays and catfish, may produce greater damage if spines are 

 recurved or barbed edges are present. Such wounds should be care- 

 fully washed out or irrigated with cold salt water or with sterile 

 saline, if available. 



It is advisable in most cases to make a small incision across the 

 sting wound. Immediate suction for removal of poison and irrigation 

 should then be accomplished. Since fish do not inject venom in the 

 manner of snakes, results from this suction are not entirely 

 satisfactory. 



Use of a ligature in the treatment of fish stings may help. The 

 ligature, if used, should be placed immediately between the sting site 

 and the body, as near the wound as possible. Adequate circulation 

 should be allowed periodically every few minutes. Hot soaking of 

 the wound site for 30 minutes to an hour should be maintained, with 

 the water as hot as the patient can bear without injury. Hot, moist 

 compresses may be used on areas not convenient for immersion. The 

 addition of epsom salts to the water is believed beneficial. Following 

 the soaking, a surgical removal of the lacerated or contaminated parts 

 should precede closure of the wound by sutures. A small drain may 

 be left for a day or two if the need is indicated by size or nature of 

 the wound. The wound site should be covered with an antiseptic 

 sterile dressing. Supportive measures, as described in "THE SHIP'S 

 MEDICINE CHEST AND FIRST AID AT SEA" under shock, 

 should be attended to immediately. The patient must be watched 

 carefully for complications and prompt attention given as described. 

 The assistance of a physician should be obtained or medical advice 

 requested by radio. 



Reptiles 



Notwithstanding all that has been Written concerning the sub- 

 ject of sea snakes, and the universal fear of most people concerning 

 them, there has always been a great deal of misunderstanding con- 

 cerning their actual existence. The sea snakes are closely allied to 

 the cobras and form a specialized group, adapted by structure and 

 habit to a marine existence. All are poisonous and many deadly, 

 however, they will not generally attack without provocation and have 

 often been described as docile in habit. Fishermen who unintention- 

 ally contact sea snakes in their work suffer most of the fatal bites. 

 Fatalities are quite common in the Gulf of Siam and the Philippines 

 area. 



Figure 19. SEA SNAKE 



Few sea snakes exceed 4 feet, but 10 -foot specimens have been 

 caught. Color is dark above and light below with cross-bands of 

 black, purple, brown, gray, green, or yellow. All of the marine 

 species may be distinguished from the land forms by a paddle-shaped 

 tail. Any confusion with eels may be resolved by the fact that sea 

 snakes are true snakes, and their bodies are covered by scales. Eyes 

 are covered by transparent scales and have no lids. The tongue is 

 slender and forked. Hollow venom fangs are present. 



Marine snakes inhabit sheltered coastal waters, particularly the 

 areas near river mouths. They penetrate upstream to the limits of 

 brackish water, and a few species are found in fresh water. They 

 tend to collect close along shore and among coral reefs in the breeding 

 season, when they are more active and sometimes become aggressive. 

 During this season, fishermen may net as many as a hundred at a 

 time. This presents an especially hazardous condition, since some 

 sea snakes have been reported to possess venom of a potency ex- 

 ceeding that of the king cobra. 



Swimming is accomplished by a lateral undulation and use of 

 the oar-like tail. A peculiar ability to move backwards as well as 

 forward has been reported. Although sea snakes may float on the 

 surface for extended periods of time, they are also able to remain 

 submerged for hours. Most of their food is obtained underwater and 

 consists nearly entirely of fish swallowed headfirst. Many of the 

 items of food, such as eels and fish, are quickly killed by the deadly 

 first bite of the snake. Like many other marine animals, sea snakes 

 often feed at night and many are netted after dark when attracted 

 by artificial lights exhibited by fishing boats. Individual snakes are 

 frequently taken by line fishermen as they will readily accept the 

 baited hook. 



The yellow-bellied Sea Snake, Pelamis platunis, ventures beyond 

 coastal waters and is the most widely distributed of all sea snakes. 

 It exists in East Africa and Asian waters northward to Siberia, Jap- 

 anese east coast, the Philippines, Oceania, and eastward to tropical 

 America. The sea snake Enhydrina schistosa (Figure 19) is a more 

 aggressive species which ranges from the Persian Gulf eastward to 

 the north coast of Australia. Other species, nearly 50 in number, 

 inhabit the tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans from the Persian Gulf 

 to Samoa. They also follow the warm currents northward into the 

 western Pacific to the Ryukyus and Japan. They are not known to 

 inhabit the Atlantic. 



34 



