DANGEROUS SEA LIFE 



400 species, however, most contain a fully-developed venom appa- 

 ratus. Cone shells may be seen crawling along the sand or may be 

 found under rocks or near coral. Some of the more dangerous tropical 

 species are listed as follows: 



(a) Court Cone, Conus avlicus, ranges from Polynesia to the 

 Indian Ocean. 



(b) Geographer Cone, Conus geographus, inhabits the Indian 

 Ocean and the Pacific Ocean from Polynesia to east 

 Africa. 



(c) Marbled Cone, Conus marmoreus, ranges from Polynesia 

 westward to the Indian Ocean. 



(d) Striated Cone, Conus striatus, inhabits the area from 

 Australia to east Africa. 



(e) Textile Cone, Conus textile, ranges from Polynesia to 

 the Red Sea. 



(f) Tulip Cone, Conus tulipa, ranges from Polynesia to the 

 Red Sea. 



The venom apparatus of cone shells lies near the shell opening. 

 The radular teeth are thrust into the victim, and the venom is be- 

 lieved to be forced under pressure into the wound opening. 



The sting of a Conus usually produces a numbness or burning 

 sensation. The numbness and tingling may spread rapidly and 

 become particularly pronounced about the lips and mouth. Respira- 

 tory distress is usually absent. Paralysis and coma may follow. Death 

 may be the result of heart failure. 



Specific treatment for cone shell stings has not been discovered. 

 Efforts should be devoted to alleviating the pain, combating the 

 effects of the poison, and preventing secondary infection. The wound 

 should be promptly irrigated and washed clean with sterile salirie, if 

 available. Suction may be applied to remove poison. A small inci- 

 sion may be required. A 30-minute soaking in hot water or hot com- 

 presses, according to location of the sting, has been recommended. 

 Under conditions of unfavorable delay in treatment, the administra- 

 tion of antibiotics may be desirable. The patient should be kept 

 warm and stimulants may be required. Early hospitalization and 

 treatment, as in the case of venomous fish sting, is recommended. 

 Cone shells, if still alive, should always be handled very cautiously 

 to avoid stings. CEPHALOPODS 



Nautilus, squid (Figure 14), cuttlefish, and octopus (Figure 13) 

 are included in this group. Members are characterized by 8 or 10 

 tentacles around a muscular central body mass. A powerful, parrot- 

 like beak, concealed in the mouth, is used in conjunction with the 

 tentacles for tearing captured food. A well developed venom appa- 

 ratus exists. Fast movement through the water is accomplished by 

 water jet propulsion. 



Because the octopus has been subjected to much publicity for 

 many years, it is now vastly over-rated as a hazard. Actually, the 

 octopus is timid and will usually hide in holes. They are curious but 

 very cautious. They are often found in the intertidal zone and most, 

 if not all, species live in depths of less than 100 fathoms. The actual 

 damage to be feared by humans is the danger from poisoned biting. 

 A relatively small octopus can cause as much damage as a large one 

 in this respect. Although some may attain an overall length of 25 

 feet, there is no reported increase in demonstrated aggressiveness. 

 They are normally a fearful sight, whether seen out of the water or 

 encountered while swimming. 



Identification of the various species of Cephalopods is difficult. 

 The bite is similar for all species and usually consists of 2 small 

 puncture wounds, according to the size of the particular specimen. 

 A burning sensation with localized discomfort may later spread from 

 the bite. Bleeding is usually profuse and indicates that clotting has 

 been retarded by the poison. Swelling and redness commonly de- 

 velop in the immediate area. While recovery is fairly certain, a 

 fatality has taken place from the bite of a small unknown variety. 



Treatment of wounds from octopus bites should be carried out 

 as for fish stings. Prevention of the bite relies on avoidance of the 

 octopus and the wearing of an outer cloth garment. Gloves should 

 be worn for handling the octopus, if handling is required. The best 

 method for killing an octopus has been described as a forceful stab 

 between the eyes. 



ANNELID WORMS 



Segmented seaworms possess tufted, silky, chitinous bristles in 

 a row along each side. Upon contact or stimulation of any kind, 

 the bristles rise on edge, the worm contracts and presents a defensive 



armor of tiny spears to the intruder. The fine bristles penetrate the 

 skin in much the same way as prickly pear cactus spines. They are 

 difficult to remove and produce a burning sensation. Later, the area 

 becomes inflamed and may afterwards swell or become numb. Other 

 worm species have strong jaws, which inflict a painful bite. These 

 worms, up to 12 inches long, may be encountered under rocks or 

 coral . 



Representative species of both types are illustrated as follows: 



(a) Bristleworm, Eurythoe complanata (Figure 15), is found 

 in the Gulf of Mexico and throughout the tropical 

 Pacific area. 



(b) Bloodworm, Glycera dibranchiata, is found on the Caro- 

 lina coast and northward into Canadian waters. 



The bite of the bloodworm, round and with a red dot in the 

 center, may or may not penetrate the skin. The bite is usually 

 surrounded by a pale area, later becoming hot and swollen, and then 

 tiirning numb or itchy. A bristleworm contact, on the other hand, 

 produces inflammation, swelling, or numbness which may persist for 

 several days. 



Since it is not definitely known whether the bite is poisonous or 

 not, all sea worm bites or stings should be treated in the same manner 

 as fish stings. Bristles are best removed with forceps, since scraping 

 may break the bristles off and complicate matters. An effective 

 method of removal is by the application of adhesive tape over the 

 bristles. After removal, the area may be treated with ammonia or 

 alcohol to alleviate the discomfort. Certain of the sea worms inflict 

 a painful bite and should not be handled, except while wearing pro- 

 tective gloves. ECHINODERMS 



Most members of this division of sea life are characterized by 

 radial symmetry and may bear a rigid or semirigid skeleton of cal- 

 careous plates or spikes on a flexible body wall. Included are star- 

 fishes, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins. 



Sea urchins occur in large numbers and variety in shallow coastal 

 waters. All possess spines, some long and slender, many with a poison 

 apparatus of some sort. Certain of the sea urchins are of prime danger 

 to the diver or swimmer. These may produce deep wounds and may 

 be difficult to identify until after a very painful encounter. 



The spines of sea urchins vary greatly from species to species. 

 Most spines are solid, with blunt or rounded tips, and are not veno- 

 mous. Others, however, are long, slender, sharp, and hollow, permit- 

 ting easy, deep entrance into flesh. Because of extreme brittleness, 

 these spikes may be difficult or impossible to withdraw in one piece. 

 Some of these may be a foot in length and may secrete a deadly venom. 



Distributed among the spine tips are small, delicate, globe- 

 shaped, seizing organs called pedicellariae. This globe-shaped head, 

 in one type, serves as a venom organ and is armed with a set of pincer- 

 like jaws for holding. A sense bristle, on contact, causes a small 

 muscle to contract, releasing venom. A function of the pedicellariae 

 is defense of the sea urchin. If an object contacts the extended organ, 

 it is immediately seized and poisoned. If the object is large and 

 strong, it will tear away from the urchin, but the pedicellariae re- 

 mains fast on the object and continues to poison for several hours 

 after being parted from the sea urchin. 



Representative species, only a few, of the large numbers in 

 existence are: 



(a) Long-Spined or Black Sea Urchins, Diadema setosum 

 (Figure 16), distributed throughout the Indian and West 

 Pacific Ocean areas northward to Japan and eastward 

 to Hawaii. 



(b) Sea Urchin, Toxopneustes pileolus, inhabits the Indo- 

 Pacific area from East Africa to Melanesia and Japan. 



(c) Sea Urchin, Toxopneustes elegans, inhabits Japanese 

 waters . 



(d) Asthenosoma ijimai inhabits the Japanese area south- 

 ward to the Molucca Sea. 



Penetration of the skin by the spines usually produces an im- 

 mediate and intense burning sensation. This is followed in a short 

 time by redness, swelling, and a generalized aching sensation. Mus- 

 cular paralysis has been reported and secondary infections may ensue. 



The sting from sea urchin pedicellariae may produce immediate 

 distress and in some severe cases, death. The sting produces intense 

 radiating pain, faintness, muscular paralysis, loss of speech, and 

 respiratory distress. However, it may be of short duration, dimin- 

 ishing in 15 minutes and disappearing altogether in an hour. 



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