Not only on land there are numerous poisonous animals, also in the sea there are very many animals, which possess for most different reasons over more or less strong and painful poisons, which are often sufficient already in very small quantities to kill humans.
Among the known poisons are:
Tetrodotoxin
Palytoxin (poison of crustose anemones)
Ciguatoxin and maitotoxin (ciguatera fish poisoning)
Holothurin (toxin of sea cucumbers)
Pahutoxin (skin mucus of boxfish)
Consequences of poisonous bites, stings, nettling can be
Muscle and respiratory paralysis, cardiovascular disorders, respiratory arrest and heart failure, nausea, muscle cramps, fever, organ damage, and even death.
Extremely Poisonous Animals:
Cone jellyfish
Cube jellyfish
Puffer fish
Hedgehog fish
Stonefish
Lionfishes
Scorpion fish
Sea snakes
Blue spotted ray
Portuguese galley
However, venomous animals also include:
Fire coral
Sea urchins
Crown-of-thorns starfish
Boxfish
Sea cucumbers
Anemones
Stone crabs
Fan algae
Fireworms
Moray eels
Stingrays
Sea ferns
Sponges
Boxfish
Rabbitfishes
Nudibranchs
Catfishes
Soapfish
Boxfishes
Argus fishes
Surgeonfishes
Filefish
Marine vertebrates and invertebrates may contain toxins, but cannot, as a rule, produce these toxins themselves; this task is performed, for example, by unicellular dinoflagellates.
How are toxins ingested?
a) contact poisons, which are absorbed through the skin
b) injection into the skin by cnidocytes, spines
c) Penetration of toxins into the bloodstream through venomous teeth.
Functions of poisons
- Defense against predators
- Catching of food animals
Now one should know that not all poisons can or must lead to the death of humans, this depends also on the quantity of the taken up poisons and the question whether antidotes (Antiseren) are available.
Recommendation: It is best to always use an arm-length glove when handling in the aquarium.
If you should be affected by marine poisonous animals, dial the poison emergency number of your federal state (http://www.t-online.de/eltern/gesundheit/id_47327424/giftnotruf-diese-nummern-sollten-sie-kennen.html) as soon as possible and visit a doctor or hospital as soon as possible.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)