AQUATIC LIFE
POISON HAZARDS
One of the most fascinating and mesmerizing creatures
of the ocean are the fragile, translucent jellyfish that float
through the water with grace and elegance, yet can dart
up or down with amazing speed. These delicate marine
life forms exist in oceans all around the world and can be
found at all levels of water depth.
Jellyfish represent one of the oldest living creatures in
the world and there are over 1500 known species of
jellyfish. Species vary considerably in size and color, but
also have some surprisingly similar characteristics. They
are composed of a bell-shaped body with no heart or
brain, no skeletal system, and no respiratory system. Instead their body is composed of 2
layers of skin filled with a gelatinous substance and a network of nerves. Their body is
composed of 95% water with long tentacles extending on the underside of their body.
Tentacles vary in number and length depending on the species. Some species have only 8
tentacles while others may have over 100. Tentacles of small species may only be inches
long, whereas tentacles of larger jelly fish are considerably longer with the longest recorded
tentacles being over 100 feet in length.
Jellyfish
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The Alabama Poison Center I 2503 Phoenix Drive I Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 I FAX 205-345-7189
Tentacles of most jellyfish are equipped with
venom containing stinging capsules. When the
tentacles come in contact with food sources the
stinging mechanism is activated and the
intended prey is paralyzed by the venom.
Tentacles are then used to bring the food source
into the jellyfish's mouth located on the
underside of its body.
Most jellyfish have no eyes, but their vast network of nerves may detect light, odors and
possible danger. As a result tentacles can be used as a protective mechanism by stinging
the intruder.
Portuguese Man of War
Jellyfish Stings
• When jellyfish tentacles come in contact with human skin their stinging mechanism is
activated.
• Most jellyfish stings are not life threatening, but can cause a painful reaction
resulting in local irritation, redness and swelling.
• Swimmers and visitors to different beaches around the world should be aware of the
species of jellyfish that inhabit the area as a few jellyfish can produce life-
threatening stings.
• Jellyfish washed onto beaches by the ocean waves cannot survive as their delicate
body collapses when outside of the water.
• But the stinging mechanism of the jellyfish tentacles can remain active for extended
lengths of time.
• Therefore, it is important to not touch or step on jellyfish in or out of the water.
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The Portuguese Man of War looks similar to jellyfish, but they are not in
the same family. The Man of War is actually not a single type of marine
life. Instead it is made up of 4 different organisms that depend on each
other for survival. The Portuguese Man of War have been found in the
warm ocean waters all over the world. But beware, because they
seldom travel alone. Where there is one, there may be hundreds or
even thousands of them.
These amazing sea animals have a translucent air bladder about 3 to
12 inches long that allows them to float on the surface of the water.
This float can extend up to 6 inches above the water like a sail and
allows the Man of War to move through the water with wind and ocean
currents. Below the surface of the water the tentacles that are attached
to the Man of War's body dangle sometimes reaching 30 to 60 feet in
length or longer. The coiled, thread-like structure in some tentacles is
filled with venom that can paralyze and kill small fish. Venom-
containing tentacles can cause intense pain in humans and can leave
whip-like red areas on the skin that last for days. Sometimes the
tentacles become detached adhering to the skin and must be removed
cautiously to avoid additional stings. Sometimes the Portuguese Man
of War or their tentacles wash up on beaches and can even cause
stings several days later. Medical attention may be needed to remove
tentacles or if the person experiences systemic or allergic symptoms.
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Stingray
Stingrays are found mostly the shallow warm waters
around the world and they tend to spend much of their time
partially buried on the bottom of the ocean floor. They often
cover themselves with sand so that only their eyes located
on the top of their body and their tails remaining visible. In
this way they can remain hidden from larger predators
such as sharks as their color blends in with the mud and
sand. There are over 60 species of stingrays around the
world and some can grow to over 6 feet long and weigh
over 700 pounds.
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The body of the stingray is given its rounded shape by
cartilage instead of a bony skeleton structure. Some species
are able to swim through the water by movement of their
entire body; others flap their fins in a flying motion to propel
themselves through the water. The fins located on the side of
the stingray's body extend from the front of the body to the
back, and appear as an extension of the stingray's body.
Stingrays are equipped with a long, whip-like tail that they
use to protect themselves. Some species have venom in
their spiny, notched, pointed tail.
The tail is used as a stinger and when threatened, stingrays will raise their tail like a scorpion.
Venom in the stinger can be dangerous to humans and if stingrays are accidentally stepped on
they will use their tail to inflict injury to the victim. Most injuries from stingrays are not life-
threatening, but puncture wounds can be deep cutting blood vessels and causing loss of blood.
Stings can also cause muscle cramps, sweating, heart arrhythmias and seizures. Medical
attention is often needed for these penetrating wounds and to remove embedded pieces of the
stinger that break off and remain in the skin.
Lionfish range in size from 2 inches to 2.5 feet and
have beautiful reddish or brown zebra-like striped
bodies. Long feather-like spotted fins extend on their
back and sides. Lionfish have long, sharp poisonous
spines located on their back containing venom.
Lionfish are one of the most venomous of all fishes.
Stings from a lionfish are extremely painful to humans
often causing pain, swelling, nausea, headache and
breathing difficulties, but are rarely fatal.
Lionfish
• Box Jellyfish
Lionfish are not native to ocean waters immediately surrounding the U. S., but due to their
intentional release into the Atlantic ocean by pet owners or to storms and hurricanes causing
their accidental release from personal or commercial U. S. costal aquariums, lionfish have
been found in costal waters from New York to Florida. Although there have been no sightings
of lionfish along the Alabama coastline, there was a foot long lionfish caught in the Gulf of
Mexico in 2006 outside the Tampa Bay area.
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Catfish are a group of long-boned fish found in inland
and costal waters all over the world. They are found
in all kinds of freshwater and some species are even
found in salt water. Some are even raised on catfish
farms. They get their name from the barbels located
on the front of their bodies, which resemble cat
whiskers. Unlike most fish, catfish have no scales
and some species have bony plates covering their
skin. Catfish species vary in size ranging from under
an inch long to nearly 9 feet in length. The largest
freshwater catfish caught weighed over 600 pounds.
Catfish
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Catfish tend to swim at or near the bottom, and
therefore are often called 'bottom feeders'. They are
not aggressive, but most species do have a strong
spine in their top and side fins that can inflict
sometimes severe injury to humans that come in
contact with these. Medical attention is often
needed for penetrating injuries and some catfish
species also have venom in their spiny fins that may
require medical intervention.
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POISON PREVENTION TIPS
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• Be aware of specific poisonous aquatic life when visiting different freshwater and
costal waters around the world.
• When wading in sandy beaches, shuffle feet along the surface to warn bottom-feeding
fish of your presence so they can move to other areas.
• When walking on the beach keep a sharp eye out for aquatic life that has been washed
ashore.
• Don't let children touch aquatic life that has been washed onto beach areas.
• Sometimes venom can be released when stingers are touched even if the aquatic
creature is dead.
• It is important to know that not all fish stings are treated the same.
• If you think you or someone has been stung by some type of fish or aquatic life, call
the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 for specific recommendations.
section.
The above aquatic creatures are certainly not the only fish found in rivers, lakes and
costal waters in and around Alabama, but they represent some of the most venomous
ones. Other venomous aquatic life found around the world include the stonefish,
porcupine fish and puffer fish, but these represent only a few of the unique wonders of
nature capable of causing harm to humans that invade their territories.
Stonefish
Porcupine Fish
Puffer Fish
Box Jellyfish, named after its shape, have one of the most deadly
venom in the world. It contains toxins that can attack the heart
and nervous system.
SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory;
Collection of Brandi Noble,
NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC
U.S. Department of Commerce, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA)- Julie Bedford, NOAA PA
U.S. Department of Commerce, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) Image courtesy of Leslie R. Sautter,
College of Charleston
SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of
Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration/Department of Commerce
