Self-development 

Scorpionfish Black Sea. What to do with a scorpion prick. The unique gastronomic qualities of scorpionfish

Scorpion is a genus of marine ray-finned fish. Scorpionfish live in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, as well as in the seas of their basins. They are very common on the islands of the Malay Archipelago, in the Philippines and in Thailand. One of the northernmost representatives is the Black Sea scorpionfish or, as it is also called, the sea ruff. Its habitat is the Black Sea, the Kerch Strait. Although rare, it can also be found in the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov. In general, all species live exclusively in salt water, preferring coastal zones and shallow waters of coral atolls. However, some species can be found at a depth of up to 2000 m. The sea ruff leads a sedentary lifestyle.

The scorpionfish is considered one of the most dangerous marine life. Even the name of the fish, which translates as "scorpion fish", indicates its strong toxicity.

The color palette of most species of scorpions is dominated by red-brown tones, which, combined with a large number of small motley spots, lines, stains, allow the fish to be completely invisible against the colorful background of a coral reef or seabed.

A specific notch divides the dorsal fin of the scorpionfish into two parts. 7-17 rays in the front and 1 ray in the back turned into sharp spines. In addition, there is 1 spine in the pelvic fins, 2-3 in the anal fin. At the base of each spine is a venom gland that secretes poison. The poison flows out through two grooves. It is worth noting that there are thorns on the cheeks of the scorpionfish, but the poison does not flow through them.

How to protect yourself from a scorpion sting

Firstly, while diving, swimming in the habitats of scorpions, be especially careful, because due to the skillful disguise of the sea ruff, it is not always possible to detect in time against the background of the surrounding landscape.

Secondly, be vigilant and while walking along the beach, wear shoes with thick soles, as the scorpion often throws a wave ashore.

Thirdly, remember that scorpion fish can be caught in nets and on fishing rods as an accompanying fish. Having accidentally caught her on a hook, do not fuss and do not try to knock her down, as this is fraught with getting an injection in the most unexpected place. Just stun the fish with a suitable item. Put the caught fish in a canvas fish bag. For manipulations with scorpionfish, including butchering it, use gloves or mittens made of canvas fabric.

Fourth, when keeping a scorpionfish in an aquarium, in no case do not touch it with your bare hands.

What are the consequences of a scorpion injection


When injected into the wound, poison immediately penetrates, which belongs to high-molecular heat-labile proteins. The poison affects mainly the respiratory and vascular systems.

A prick of a thorn very quickly causes acute pain, which increases with time and spreads further along the lymphatic vessels. Pain shock may develop, which leads to loss of consciousness. Plus, when poisoned with scorpion poison, the following are observed:

  • pressure drop,
  • swelling and numbness of the affected body part,
  • pulmonary edema.

Among other things, lymphangitis develops first, then lymphadenitis, which can persist for several days. A limited area of ​​necrosis occurs at the punctured site. As for the general symptoms of poisoning, they are not acute.

Symptoms do not disappear in a few days, but death from poisoning with scorpion venom is a rather rare phenomenon.

In some cases, an allergic reaction may develop, which is accompanied by vomiting, shortness of breath, inappropriate behavior, loss of consciousness.

A scorpion prick is also fraught with the introduction of a secondary infection into the wound. Even infectious pericarditis has been recorded, which arose as a result of contact with a sea ruff.

What should not be done when pricked scorpionfish

  • It is forbidden to apply a tourniquet to the affected limb, as this can lead to a deterioration in the condition of the victim and the development of complications.
  • It is also impossible to cut the wounds. Such manipulations do not contribute to the removal of poison, but only provide additional trauma to the victim.
  • You should not cauterize the punctured place for the same reasons that were discussed in the previous paragraphs.
  • Do not inject a solution of potassium permanganate and other strong oxidizing agents into the affected area. This is not only ineffective, but also dangerous.
  • In case of poisoning with scorpion venom, it is not recommended to drink alcohol, since it contributes to a more rapid spread and absorption of the poison.

What measures can be taken in case of a scorpion injection

1. Immediately after the injection, the victim should be provided with complete rest, laying him immediately on an impromptu or real stretcher, so as not to shift him in the future.

2. If necessary, remove the remaining needles in the wound.

3. If it is impossible to immediately deliver the victim to a medical facility, it is recommended to immerse the pricked place in the maximum possible hot water, naturally, without bringing the situation to a burn. The optimum water temperature is 43-45 degrees. This procedure will help relieve pain to some extent and neutralize certain components of the poison under the influence of heat.

4. Then you should treat the wound with brilliant green, iodine or hydrogen peroxide and apply a sterile bandage on it. As edema increases, the bandage must be periodically loosened to avoid cutting into the tissue.

5. To slow down the spread of poison throughout the body, a splint can be placed on the pricked limb.

6. Among other things, you should provide the victim with plenty of fluids.

7. And, finally, and most importantly, the victim should be taken to a hospital as soon as possible, where doctors will provide him with the necessary medical care.

Interesting facts about scorpions and their injections

  • The venom-producing apparatus of the scorpionfish is a bit similar to the device of poisonous teeth in snakes. In addition, the sea ruff also sheds periodically like a snake.
  • The greatest danger is the scorpionfish, which lives off the coast of Australia. Every year, more than 120 people die from its poison.
  • The scorpionfish is in the TOP 10 most poisonous marine life.
  • Several cases of catching scorpions in fresh water have been recorded.

The holiday season is in full swing and right now many are packing their bags to go somewhere on the Black Sea coast. Someone is attracted by outdoor activities and fishing, while someone prefers to splash in the warm coastal waves. But both it should be remembered that among the inhabitants of the Black Sea there are poisonous creatures, personal acquaintance with which can not only spoil the rest, but even cause death.

Therefore, for everyone who is going to spend their vacation in the South or just suffers from curiosity, we will give the names and photos of the poisonous fish of the Black Sea.

Scorpion is a marine fish that looks very much like an ordinary river ruff. For this similarity, the scorpionfish received a second, unofficial name - sea ruff. Unlike its freshwater counterpart, the sea ruff is much larger. The average weight of a standard individual is 400-500 g, although if you wish, you can find specimens weighing up to 1 kg and up to 35 cm long. dangerous fish.

The spines of the scorpionfish are located not only on the back, but also on the head. Inside each needle there is a poisonous gland. When injected, the poison instantly enters the tissues of the victim, who experiences severe burning pain. Over the next two hours, the person may have a fever and a swelling may form on the affected area. And although history does not know deaths, there is still little pleasure from meeting with this poisonous fish of the Black Sea.

The most dangerous scorpion is during the spawning period, which begins in late spring and lasts until the first days of June. So at this time you need to be careful, especially for fishermen who meet with sea ruff much more often than ordinary vacationers.

You can avoid the serious consequences of an injection on scorpion thorns by treating the affected area with hydrogen peroxide., which completely neutralizes the poison. In addition, it has long been noticed that fishermen who have survived several pricks of the sea ruff develop immunity to their poison, due to which pain is completely absent.

Ordinary vacationers may encounter scorpion fish in shallow water, where this fish often hunts in the wee hours. So, walking along the beach, you need to carefully look under your feet so as not to accidentally step on a sea ruff lurking in the sand.

Concluding the conversation about scorpionfish, we note the gastronomic features of this fish. Most often, fish soup is boiled from it, which turns out to be very rich, tasty and absolutely safe. The fillet parts of the carcass can be fried or dried, resulting in an excellent beer snack.

One of the first places in the ranking of poisonous fish of the Black Sea and the entire Mediterranean basin is a small fish called a sea dragon. Also, fishermen often call it a snake or an underwater scorpion, which already says a lot about the danger of this fish.

An adult reaches 40 cm in length and looks very similar to a goby, which is the main prey of fishermen on the Black Sea coast. This similarity only increases the danger emanating from the sea dragon.

The main weapon of the underwater scorpion is the poisonous spikes that are located on the gills and in the head area. Moreover, it is interesting that the danger can come even from dead fish, since the poisonous glands continue to act for several hours.

Even a light touch on them can cause severe pain in a person, the affected area instantly swells up, and the tumor can reach monstrous proportions. If measures are not taken in time, then the person's temperature rises, severe chills begin. But these are only visible consequences. More dangerous is what happens inside the body. And there, pulmonary edema develops at a very high pace, a violation of cardiac activity and even loss of consciousness is possible.

As in the case of scorpion, hydrogen peroxide is the main first aid. But it is only able to partially weaken the poison, which will make it possible to deliver the victim to the hospital or emergency room without serious consequences. If peroxide is not at hand, you can treat the injection site with very hot water - Under the action of high temperatures, toxins are destroyed.

Experienced fish use the old-fashioned method. A match is applied to the affected area, which is then set on fire from another burning match. It is claimed that if such a procedure is carried out in the first few minutes, then complications can be completely avoided.

Just like almost all the poisonous fish of the Black Sea, The sea dragon is quite edible, moreover, the meat of this fish is not fatty and very tender. However, before preparing a fish dish, you must carefully cut off the poisonous spikes located on the gills and dorsal fin.

Sea cow or stargazer

Studying the names and photos of the poisonous fish of the Black Sea, you can find a very unusual creature with bulging eyes and strange spikes on its head. This is a sea cow or stargazer - a predatory fish that, during the hunt, completely burrows into the sand, leaving only its eyes on the surface. In this position, the eyes resemble telescopes that nimbly rotate in different directions in search of prey. Hence such an unusual name - the astrologer.

The thorns mentioned above are poisonous, but the main danger does not come from them. The entire body of the stargazer is covered with a thick layer of mucus, the touch of which with an unprotected hand threatens a person with a serious chemical burn.

The situation is aggravated by the fact that the sea cow looks somewhat like harmless gobies, so inexperienced fishermen often grab the caught fish with their bare hands. Local residents, of course, will not allow such a mistake, but visitors often become victims of the astrologer.

Simple vacationers should not be afraid of a sea cow - it lives quite far from the coast, so you can only encounter it while fishing. But if, nevertheless, the unpredictable fate of the spa visitor brings him to the astrologer, then the affected area should be treated immediately with hydrogen peroxide and then, as soon as possible, go to the nearest point for medical help.

Fish of the order of sea ruffs take the second place after stingrays in terms of the number of poisonous injections inflicted on people. Poisonous spiny rays are present in all fins, except for the pectorals. At the base of each ray are 2 poisonous glands. The thorn itself is covered with a freely hanging skin, which, when pricked, moves down and presses on the poisonous gland. The secret of the gland pours out and enters the wound along the hollow running along the spine. The venom is a high molecular weight protein. You can get an injection not only at sea, fishing, diving or just wandering in shallow water, but also at home if you keep scorpion fish in an aquarium (many aquarists find these fish not only interesting, but also beautiful).

According to the structure of poisonous organs and the strength of the poison, ruffs can be divided into 4 groups. The least venomous are groupers of the genus Sebastes, although they can inflict a dangerous sting. A thorn wound sometimes causes complications that incapacitate a person for several weeks or even months, or even leave a mark for life: the finger loses the ability to bend and unbend. But sea bass are deep-sea creatures, they are not found off our shores, but are sold in fish stores called rotbash. In lionfish, the spines are long and thin, the venom glands are small, and the jabs are relatively weak. Scorpions have shorter and thicker spines, larger venom glands, and stronger jabs. Fish-stones have short strong powerful spikes, well-developed poisonous glands, their injections can be fatal to humans.

After an injection of a scorpion fish on a thorn, a person experiences a sharp pain, which gradually intensifies to the point that it can become unbearable and lead to loss of consciousness. The affected area is numb and swollen. The pain begins to subside sometimes only after a few hours, but is felt after a few days. The severity of poisoning depends on many factors, including the type of fish, the number of spikes stuck, and the physical condition of the victim. Especially dangerous are deep injections inflicted by several thorns at once. With repeated wounds, a person gradually acquires immunity to fish poison and suffers from it less and less.

Since there are a lot of legends, often unreliable, about sea ruffs and their relatives, as well as about any dangerous creatures, I used an article by an American doctor, Dr. Scott Gallagher “Lionfish and Stonefish” to refute them.

Descriptions of the tragic consequences of pricks of scorpion fish roam from site to site. Even the professional ichthyology website FishBase says that in the lionfish Pterois miles "the rays of the fins are very poisonous, can cause death of people."

And here is what Dr. Gallagher writes: Doctors described 101 reliable cases of an injection on a lionfish. All victims are aquarists. 92% had local pain, 60% experienced swelling and 13% had systemic symptoms. There were no deaths. In 95% of cases, skin lesions were characterized by erythema (redness), blistering in 4%, and tissue necrosis in 1%.

If the sting of the lionfish is painful and only potentially dangerous to humans, then other scorpionfish are very poisonous marine animals. In any case, among the fish they are the most poisonous. A very popular statement is that when a stone fish is injected, death occurs within 2 hours. But Gallagher writes that information about deaths in contact with stone fish is rare and unreliable. The death of only 3 people was documented, and only one of them died immediately after the injection, and the other two died a few months after being injured from a secondary infection and tetanus.

However, the sting of the Synanceia stone fish causes unbearable pain, rendering the person incapacitated. The pain captures the limb and the lymph nodes closest to it. Pain peaks 60-90 minutes after the injection and lasts up to 12 hours without medical intervention. Residual pain may persist for several weeks. The injection site is surrounded by a ring of cyanotic tissue. Then there is swelling, redness, the limb may become hot, in rare cases, tissue necrosis develops even without a secondary infection. Blisters form, the skin begins to peel off and peel off. Sometimes there is a runny nose, muscle weakness, shortness of breath, a drop in blood pressure.

First aid

It is necessary to determine the injection site, carefully remove the detected thorns, squeeze out some blood from the wound, give painkillers, treat the wound with soap, rinse with fresh water and seek medical help.

Hot baths are a good method for initial detoxification. This method helps not only with injections of scorpion fish, but also rays, sea urchins and other marine animals with poisonous spines, since some of the poison polypeptides are destroyed at high temperatures.

According to Gallagher, the water temperature should not exceed 45o C. (114 degrees Fahrenheit). The doctor reminds that as a result of anesthesia and loss of sensitivity, burns are possible when using hotter water. But there is another opinion: the water for the bath should be as hot as the victim can endure. Processing time - 30-90 minutes. If the pain returns, the procedure must be repeated. But in any case, the bath is made after the removal of the thorns.

An antidote has been developed against the poison of stone fish, but it is effective only if it is administered immediately after the injection. But what is necessary in any case is to be vaccinated against tetanus, the pathogens of which can enter the body with a thorn and cause death. But it is best to take preventive measures.

Prevention

Most stings of scorpionfish are caused by misbehaving people: careless walking on the bottom, awkward handling by aquarists, or aggressive behavior of swimmers. As a rule, it is impossible to notice these fish at the bottom, they are so well camouflaged. Therefore, where there is a danger of meeting them, do not go into the water barefoot, especially at night. Remember that swimming shoes or scuba equipment do not provide complete protection. Poison beams can puncture rubber. In the water, try to walk with a shuffling gait without taking your feet off the substrate. Seeing a lionfish, scorpionfish or warty, do not touch them, and even more so do not drive them into the corners of shelters, otherwise they, defending themselves, may rush at you. Aquarists keeping these fish must be very careful.

Sea ruff (scorpionfish), harmoniously combined with the ornament of the seabed. Even at close range, it is difficult to distinguish it from a lying stone, dotted with water currents. Throwing itself out of an ambush, it never leaves the victim a chance, even if a crab turns up, swallows it whole, with all its "chain mail". During fishing, he grabs the bait, in his usual manner: without ceremony, as already his own.

Given the peculiarities of this nature of the bite, the fishermen came up with tricks to catch the obstinate fish, which you will learn in this article.

1. General description of scorpion fish (sea ruff)

The scorpionfish, also called the sea ruff, has an elongated body, slightly compressed from the sides. Large head, slightly flattened, with large bulging eyes and a wide, thick-lipped mouth. Powerful jaws armed with small teeth. There are outgrowths of bristles in the pharynx, arranged in a semicircle, which act as graters

The body is covered with warts, spines, patches of scales and tentacles of various lengths, giving the fish a comical appearance. The dorsal fin consists of soft rays coming from the tail and spiny feathers extending across the back. The ventral and pectoral fins are wide, oval, as well as anal, have spines along the edges. The gills, fins and tuberous spines are equipped with needles, on the edge of which there are glands with poison. The coloration of the back is dark brown, the body is light brown.

2. Distribution and habitats

Sea ruff lives in the eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean, off the African and European coasts, as well as in the Black Seas.

3. Age and size

Life expectancy is 6 years, body length is 40 cm.

4. Lifestyle

A bottom predator that lives in the coastal strips at a depth of 10 - 90 meters.

4.1. Reproduction - time and features of spawning

June - September. Reaches sexual maturity at the age of 2 years, having a body length of 17.5 cm. Sizes may vary, depending on habitat and ecology.

It spawns in portions, wrapped in transparent mucous membranes, which, rising to the surface, ripen. The protective veil bursts, and the larvae, being released, drift in the water column. Very soon, already in the form of juveniles, they sink to the bottom, continuing their way of life, in their native element.

4.2. Diet - what to eat

Small fish, such as gobies, greenfinches and slats, as well as crustaceans and mollusks (,).

5. How, where, when and what to fish for scorpion fish (sea ruff)

You can fish from the shore and no less successfully from floating means, around the clock, using both natural and artificial baits.

For lovers of fishing in sea waters, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with detailed information about the Mediterranean Sea, its weather conditions, relief, water temperature, water currents and inhabitants -

5.1. Biting calendar - what time of year is best to bite

Scorpion fishing is conducted all year round.

5.2. What weather is best for scorpion pecking (sea ruff)

In the first hours after the storm.

5.3. What are the best places to fish

In the morning and evening, near the shore, at a depth of at least 3 meters, on the slopes of the shell, coral or rocky bottom, as well as in the coastal zone, among stones, reefs and algae.

5.4. What gear is best to fish

When fishing from a boat, spinning is used hard, with a sensitive tip. Inertial coil, or.

Tackle, which is often successfully caught, is collected in this way:

  • main line 0.40 mm, with a margin of 50 m on the reel;
  • at the end of the bet, sinker 50-100 g;
  • 0.30 mm section, attached to the main line with;
  • hook size, depends on the size of the bait No. 5-9, in the amount of 2 pieces.

In clear water, in shallow water, so that the boat is not visible, the equipment is thrown to the side, and in order to make it easier to pull the ruff out of the stones, the hooks are equipped with floats, giving them a suspended state.

Since fishing for scorpion fish is mainly carried out in stones and algae, it is best to use as a load a piece of reinforcement 20–30 cm long, bending it into the Latin letter V, instead of bending, they fasten the fishing line and hooks in stones and thickets bottom, no more.

From the shore they catch on float tackle, with a deaf or sliding installation, depending on the depth and casting distance. The float should be made of polystyrene, white and large, and for fishing at night, it is coated with Firefly varnish.

At night, effectively and in large numbers, they catch scorpion fish on the bottom. An ordinary sinker, round or flat, will not work, the fish will drag it into the stones, after which it will be problematic to fish it out.

Scorpionfish, during a bite, is detected by itself and at what, always. Pecks, immediately swallowing. Given these features, a thick wire is used as a sinker, which is bent into a ring. The ends of the rod are connected by soldering. The main fishing line with a carabiner, fastens the ring - a sinker, to which they are tied with hooks.

Equipment is thrown at a distance of 40 - 80 m from the shore. Dozens of pieces are thrown to Donok, and in the morning the catch is counted. On one tackle, it can be hooked, up to five individuals.

A bunch with a trophy, easily released from the main line by opening the carabiner. After that, the scorpion fish is transferred to a plastic bucket, or to some other dense container. On the way back from fishing, the fish will calm down, and already at home, in a calm environment, pull the hooks out of the mouth. Shooting an aggressive ruff at night, even with a flashlight, is not always convenient and safe.

Tackle of this design has the following advantages:

  1. Minimum effort.
  2. High result.
  3. Convenient and safe to use.

In this 3 minute video, experienced fishermen will share with you their experiments with tackle and reels. Fishing is carried out with ultralight on, from the pier, in the city of Sochi

Ruff, rattles with its ammunition, only with its appearance, pleases enthusiastic fishermen. Caught in the Black Sea, large size, brightly colored silicone

5.5. Bait for catching scorpionfish (sea ruff)

Seafood mix: crustaceans, fish and shellfish (, mussels,). Finely crushed and poured into a nylon stocking. Then, they are thrown into the place of the upcoming catch.

5.6. What baits and baits to catch

As bait, they most often serve: raw or boiled rapana meat, mussels, whole crab, small in size, as well as slicing fish (for example,), nereis, and lard.

Pilker, silver or green, with black spots. The result of the catch will increase if, in addition to the hook, you pick up slices of fresh fish.

6. Interesting, unusual, funny facts about this fish

From the stories, spearfishers and fishermen who have experienced the bite of a ruff, the symptoms have been described in different ways. For example, in the Black Sea, the fish are calm and the bite is less painful. In, after a bite, swelling follows and the temperature rises, the pain effect can last up to 2 days. In the Red Sea, after an injection of a sea ruff, there have been fatal cases, and the temper, in the scorpion species, is more aggressive.

The toxicity and behavior of fish are influenced by two main factors - the number of enemies and the availability of food. In the Black Sea, most likely, living creatures are abundant, and in the Red Sea, you have to fight for every shrimp.

In the case of a scorpion stab, no matter which sea it happened on, the first step is to remove the thorn from the wound. Then, squeeze out the blood so that the poison does not spread throughout the body. Disinfect the bite site with hydrogen peroxide, if this is not possible, then rinse the wound with sea or hot water. Even if the place of the burn does not bother, you still need go to the hospital to prevent infection or an allergic reaction.

On the head, the sea ruff has receptors, thanks to which, even in the dark, by the slightest fluctuations, it recognizes its prey.

Ruff swallowed a burbot, the size of himself, and in order to place it in the stomach, rubs it with pharyngeal brushes. At the time of the meal, an underwater diver sailed up to wish you bon appetit. Watch 1 min. video

7. Gastronomy

The meat is white and juicy, slightly sweet in taste. Contains substances: chromium, fluorine, zinc and nickel, as well as molybdenum and nicotinic acid.

8. Useful video

The Black Sea, the city of Anapa, fishing for a sea ruff, from a rocky shore. The video contains comments from the champions of Russia in fishing. For stories about the habits of dangerous fish, recommendations on fishing techniques and rods used, see 10 min. roller

9. Most Useful Fish Links

- an encyclopedic article about scorpion fish;

http://forum.tetis.ru/viewtopic.php?t=54371 - advice from members of the forum on what to do if bitten by a scorpionfish;

– an interesting article about the methods of catching scorpion fish;

http://koktebel-himik.com.ua/pages/animals/11.htm - about sea ruff in folk predictions.

The Black Sea does not belong to tropical seas teeming with poisonous fish and dangerous animals. There are no electric stingrays, no man-eating sharks, no Portuguese boats, no toothy moray eels, however, in its waters there are marine life that pose a danger to human health.

The swimming season of 2017 will begin very soon, and vacationers yearning for the long winter for the sun and water will massively reach the banks of rivers, lakes, and of course, they will go to rest on the Black Sea coast. The Black Sea is very friendly to people, there are practically no animals dangerous to humans, however, here you need to be on the alert so as not to thoroughly spoil your vacation. These are the few inhabitants of the Black Sea who can give us trouble.

It is easily distinguished by its fleshy, bell-like dome and the heavy beard of the oral lobes underneath. On these lacy lobes are poisonous stinging cells. Try to swim around them; but in general, ordinary nettle burns more than cornerot. A jellyfish poses a certain danger to human mucous membranes, so you should beware of diving with your eyes open and putting jellyfish into swimming trunks.

Another large Black Sea jellyfish is Aurelia (Aurelia aurita)

Her stinging cells are weaker, they do not pierce the skin on the body, but it can hurt to burn the mucous membrane of the eye or the edges of the lips of Aurelia; Therefore, it is better not to throw jellyfish at each other. Aurelia stinging cells - on a fringe of small tentacles, bordering the edge of the jellyfish dome. If you touched a jellyfish, even a dead one, rinse your hands - stinging cells may remain on them, and if you then rub your eyes with them, you will burn yourself.

Spiny shark, or katran

Lives in the Black, Barents, Okhotsk and Japan seas. Length - up to 2 meters. It is called prickly for two strong sharp spikes, at the base of which there are poisonous glands located in front of the dorsal fins. With them, the katran is capable of inflicting deep wounds on an unlucky fisherman or a careless scuba diver. An inflammatory reaction develops at the site of the lesion: pain, hyperemia, edema. Sometimes there is a rapid heartbeat, slow breathing. It should not be forgotten that the katran has shark teeth, despite its modest size. Its poison, unlike the others, contains mainly myotropic (acting on the muscles) substances and has a rather weak effect, therefore, in the vast majority of people poisoning ends with a complete recovery.

Sea ruff, or Black Sea scorpion - Scorpaena porcus

This is a real monster - a large head covered with outgrowths, horns, bulging crimson eyes, a huge mouth with thick lips. The rays of the dorsal fin are turned into sharp spines, which the scorpionfish, if disturbed, spreads; at the base of each ray is a poisonous gland. This is the protection of the ruff from predators, its weapon of defense. And the weapon of attack - the jaws with many sharp crooked teeth - are intended for careless fish that approached the scorpion at a distance of its swift, furious throw. The whole appearance of the scorpion speaks of its danger; and at the same time it is beautiful - and there are scorpionfish of very different colors - black, gray, brown, raspberry-yellow, pink ...

These spiny predators lurk between stones, under algae, and, like all bottom fish, change color to match the color of their surroundings, can quickly lighten or darken depending on the light. They hide the scorpion and numerous outgrowths, spikes and leathery tentacles, turning it into one of the stones, overgrown with marine vegetation. Therefore, it is difficult to notice her, and she herself relies so much on her inconspicuousness that she swims away (more precisely, flies away like a bullet from a gun!) Only if you get close to her. Sometimes you can even touch it - but you just don’t need to do this - you’ll prick! It is more interesting, lying on the surface of the water and breathing through a tube, to watch the scorpionfish hunt ...

There are two types of scorpions in the Black Sea- noticeable scorpionfish Scorpaena notata, it is no more than 15 centimeters in length, and the Black Sea scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus - up to half a meter - but such large ones are found deeper, further from the coast. The main difference between the Black Sea scorpionfish is long, similar to rag patches, supraorbital tentacles. In the conspicuous scorpion, these outgrowths are short. The poisons they secrete are especially dangerous in early spring. The pricks of the fins are very painful.

Wounds from scorpion thorns cause burning pain, the area around the injections turns red and swells, then general malaise, fever, and your rest is interrupted for a day or two. Wounds should be treated like normal scratches. The main symptoms of sea ruff poisoning are local inflammation (where they pricked) and a general allergic reaction. Therefore, the only pills that can help are anti-allergic (antihistamine) drugs - remember to strictly follow the instructions for using the pills that come with all medicines. There are no known deaths from scorpion stings. No one accidentally steps on it either - curious divers and fishermen suffer from its thorns when they remove the ruff from the hook or take it out of the net. By the way, the sea ruff is a very tasty fish, but you need to clean it carefully - the poison is preserved even in a scorpionfish that has lain in the refrigerator.

In small doses, the toxin causes local inflammation of the tissues, in large doses - paralysis of the respiratory muscles. The poison of the sea ruff contains mainly substances that act on the blood, so the symptoms of poisoning in the victims persist for several days and then disappear without complications.

Stingray stingray, he is a sea cat

Grows up to 1 m in length. He has a thorn on his tail, or rather a real sword - up to 20 centimeters in length. Some fish have two or even three spines. Its edges are very sharp, and besides, jagged, along the blade, on the underside there is a groove in which dark poison from the poisonous gland on the tail is visible. If you hit a stingray lying at the bottom, it will hit with its tail like a whip; at the same time, he sticks out his thorn and can inflict a deep chopped or stab wound. A stingray wound is treated like any other.

Stingrays lead a bottom lifestyle. Despite the fact that sea cats are quite shy, they are afraid of noise, they try to swim away from bathers, if they accidentally step on a stingray buried in the ground in shallow water with a sandy bottom, it begins to defend itself and inflicts a deep wound on a person with its “weapon ". A prick is like being stabbed with a blunt knife. The pain quickly increases and after 5-10 minutes becomes unbearable. Local phenomena (edema, hyperemia) are accompanied by fainting, dizziness, impaired cardiac activity. In severe cases, death can occur from heart failure. Usually on the 5-7th day the victim recovers, but the wound heals much later.

The venom of a sea cat, once in the wound, causes painful phenomena similar to the bites of a poisonous snake. It acts equally on both the nervous and circulatory systems. Unlike the katran and scorpionfish, after a close acquaintance with a sea cat, it is unlikely that it will be possible to do without the help of a doctor.

Astrologer, or sea cow

Their usual sizes are 30-40 centimeters. They live in the Black Sea and the Far East. Stargazer, or sea cow, living in the Black Sea, has a grayish-brown spindle-shaped body with white, irregularly shaped spots running along the lateral line. The eyes of the fish are directed upwards, towards the sky. Hence its name. The stargazer spends most of its time at the bottom, burrowing into the ground, exposing its eyes and mouth with a protruding worm-like tongue that serves as bait for fish. There are sharp spikes on the gill covers and above the pectoral fins of the sea cow. During the breeding season, from late May to September, an accumulation of toxin-producing cells develops at their base. Through the grooves on the spikes, the poison enters the wound.

Soon after the injury, a person develops acute pain at the injection site, the affected tissue swells, and breathing becomes difficult. Only after a few days the person recovers. The venom secreted by stargazers is similar in effect to dragonfish toxin, but has not been well studied. Cases of fatal outcomes are known when these species of fish living in the Mediterranean Sea are affected.

Our list is completed by the Sea dragon, or sea scorpion.

The most poisonous fish in many European seas lives in the Black Sea and the Kerch Strait. Length - up to 36 centimeters. A smaller species lives in the western part of the Baltic - the small sea dragon, or viper (12-14 centimeters). The structure of the poisonous apparatus of these fish is similar, and therefore the development of signs of poisoning is similar. In a sea dragon, the body is compressed from the sides, the eyes are set high, close together and look up. The fish lives at the bottom and often burrows into the ground so that only the head is visible. If you step on it with your bare foot or grab it with your hand, its sharp spines pierce the body of the "offender". Poisonous glands in a scorpion are provided with 6-7 rays of the anterior dorsal fin and spines of gill covers. Depending on the depth of the injection, the size of the fish, the condition of the victim, the consequences of being hit by a dragon may be different. At first, a sharp, burning pain is felt at the site of injury. The skin in the area of ​​the wound turns red, edema appears, tissue necrosis develops. There is a headache, fever, profuse sweating, pain in the heart, breathing is weakened. Paralysis of the limbs can occur, and in the most severe cases, death. However, poisoning usually disappears after 2-3 days, but a secondary infection, necrosis and a sluggishly current (up to 3 months) ulcer necessarily develop in the wound. It has been established that dragon venom contains mainly substances that act on the circulatory system, the percentage of neurotropic toxins is small. Therefore, the vast majority of cases of poisoning ends with the recovery of a person.

To prevent poisoning by poisonous fish, divers, divers, scuba divers, tourists and just relaxing by the sea must observe the following precautions.

Never try to grab fish with an unprotected hand, especially unknown to you, located in crevices or lying on the bottom.

It is not always safe, as experienced scuba divers testify, to touch unfamiliar objects located on sandy ground. These can be stingrays camouflaged there, sea dragons or stargazers. It is also dangerous to search underwater caves with your hands - you can stumble upon a hidden scorpionfish in them.

Fans of walking barefoot on the seashore at low tide need to carefully look under their feet. Remember: sea dragons often remain in the wet sand after the water recedes, and they are easy to step on. Children and those who first came to the sea coast should be especially warned about this.

Emergency measures in case of damage to poisonous fish by spiny spines should be aimed at relieving pain from the injury and poison, overcoming the action of the toxin and preventing secondary infection. When injured, it is necessary to immediately vigorously suck the poison out of the wound with the mouth along with the blood for 15-20 minutes. The suctioned liquid must be quickly spit out. There is no need to be afraid of the action of the toxin: the bactericidal substances contained in saliva reliably protect against poisoning. However, remember that this procedure cannot be performed on those who have wounds, injuries, sores on their lips and in the oral cavity. After this, the site of the lesion must be washed with a strong solution of potassium permanganate or hydrogen peroxide and an aseptic bandage applied. Then the victim is given an analgesic and diphenhydramine to prevent the development of allergic reactions, as well as drinking plenty of water, preferably strong tea.

With a prick of any poisonous fish, there is a proven folk way to reduce the pain of the wound. If you caught the offender, and most often it is careless fishermen who get injured, then you need to cut off a piece of meat from the fish that injured you and attach it to the wound. The pain will subside significantly, however, in the case of the sea dragon, the stargazer and the stingray, the soonest qualified medical assistance is needed in the future.

In conclusion, I would like to remind you once again: be careful and careful when swimming, diving and scuba diving. You can easily avoid unpleasant contact with dangerous inhabitants, since they themselves never attack a person, but use their weapons solely for the purpose of self-defense.