Marine Stings Directory
Marine animal stings and poisonings mainly happen from saltwater creatures. There are a few freshwater creatures to be cautious of, too, as their stings and poisonings can be just as dangerous. Some of the more common marine stings are from jellyfish. But surfers and beachgoers can run across stingrays and accidentally step on them, causing the stingray to whip its barb into feet, ankles, and legs. Other aquatic creatures to look out for are stonefish, scorpion fish, catfish, coral, cone snails, and eels. If you have been stung or poisoned by any type of aquatic creature, seek help immediately. Find out more about the types of stings from different creatures, first aid treatments, and what to expect.
Medical Reference
Pufferfish Poisoning
Ingestion of the poison found in pufferfish, a tetrodotoxin that is one of the most toxic poisons found in nature, leads to symptoms that may progress from numbness and tingling around the mouth, salivation, nausea, and vomiting to paralysis, loss of consciousness, and respiratory failure.
Jellyfish Sting
Jellyfish are free-swimming, bell-shaped, gelatinous creatures with tentacles that may be more than 3 feet in length and may have stingers (nematocysts) capable of piercing human skin.
Weeverfish Sting
Weeverfish can cause a serious wound from spines containing neurotoxin venom, which may even cause death.
Scorpionfish, Lionfish, and Stonefish Poisoning
Scorpionfish, lionfish, and stonefish are all poisonous fish that live in tropical and temperate oceans, especially the Red Sea and Indian and Pacific Oceans.