Stonefish Found In Northern Waters Of Australia
Stonefish or reef stonefish are known as the deadliest fish in the sea. They are found in the northern waters of Australia in reef or coral areas. They often lie dormant in shallow reef areas trying to blend in with their surroundings and ambush bait fish.
In Australia the coral reefs are very popular and the stonefish are often found in these shallow reef areas where tourists often walk through. Divers are recommended to always have the proper gear on when diving in stonefish locations to ensure they protect themselves from touching these fish.
They can get up to 40 centimetres long and are brown or grey with yellow and orange or red colouring. Their venom is extremely deadly and if an affected person is not treated an altercation with one of these guys can be deadly.
The venom of the stonefish is located in the dorsal fin area but there are 13 total spine areas here with 2 venom sacs per spine. These sharp spines are easy to step on if not careful and wearing the correct gear.
What makes this fish so dangerous is that only 18mg of their venom is required to be fatal. Which is only 6 of their 13 poisonous spines.
It is said to effectively address a sting area from a stonefish by immersing it in hot water. The heat from the water is said to stop the further spreading of the venom. Unfortunately surviving victims of these stings often have long-lasting nerve damage.
It is recommended to only swim or dive near lifeguarded and patrolled beach areas because this makes access to help easier if you do run into one of these unfriendly little guys.