stonefish

1 Recent studies found that stonefish, a group that includes many species, have a previously unknown defensive weapon: a “lachrymal saber” in each cheek that can be drawn and retracted as needed.

2 Wispy waspfish are a species of stonefish, a group inhabiting Indian and Pacific coastal waters that are among the deadliest in the oceans.

3 And in the aquamarine waters of the Indian Ocean, they dodged sharks and carnivorous stonefish.

4 Under fluorescent light, the saber of one species of stonefish even glowed green (other regions of its head glows red).

5 And nature in turn comes to their aid: when Lulong is threatened by a cigar-chomping Westerner who claims private ownership of a beach, a stonefish stings the landowner.

6 Though stingfish are venomous, they are often confused with stonefish, which are considered to be the most venomous fish in the world.

7 The venom released from the 13 spines on a stonefish's back can kill a human in two hours if not treated.

8 However, human death from eating stonefish is rare to nonexistent.

9 Trippe says the sea snake attacked the stonefish again as soon as he released them back into the water.

10 The highly venomous snake eventually came out on top, but it could possibly have died as well from the poisonous stonefish.

11 WATCH: The stonefish hides on the sea bottom, undetectable to its prey.

12 Who will win: a sea snake or a stonefish?

13 Scientists don’t know if stonefish in particular are regularly eaten by sea snakes, but Murphy says it’s unlikely the snake would get stuck with the fish’s venomous spines.

14 Ambush predators, like stonefish and scorpionfish, are good examples: The broken patterns of fluorescence on these fishes may help them blend into a fluorescing reef background.

15 When stonefish venom is cooked, it loses its potency.

16 The green speckled recluse doesn’t destroy as quickly as the stonefish.

17 “The stonefish’s spines, which are in the fins, would lay down against the animal’s body, so I would not expect any of the spines to puncture the snake's tissue.”

18 It’s also possible that sea snakes are immune to stonefish venom, but Murphy doubts there's any research on the question.

19 An Australian spear fisherman happened upon the sea snake/stonefish fight last Thursday off Darwin, in northern Australia.

20 The blade can lock all the way in and out, or hinge at a variety of angles, and can range from about half to 2.5 times the width of the eye of any stonefish.

1 数种

Clay rabbit cardinal Crane penguin crocodile ivy hamster argentine hedgehog carp quail lilac sweeper gopher ginseng millet mourner gourd Starling poacher stilt marten ibis sturgeon Bunting flathead macadamia porpoise magpie stork mockingbird amaranth sally skink macaw sunfish moa nighthawk macaque marmot thrasher privet Gibbon cisco lamprey civet terrapin ermine wagtail manzanita grackle cicely stickleback gunnel sawfish snakehead Genet vireo hogweed dormouse lovage madder roughy cavy coquette hyrax mynah cinchona batfish amberjack gnatcatcher threadfin remora roly-poly coquina hogfish spadefoot redwing dor lupin redstart lory pomfret jacana silverside jerboa lungwort lightwood storax balata jacamar chinquapin gloxinia weever waxbill razorfish hawkfish gambusia snakewood brigalow triller charr manicou hutia curculio moonrat ragworm iroko guineafowl frogmouth caracara glasswort squirrelfish lumpsucker rabbitfish kurrajong turaco parrotbill strawflower hatchetfish lyretail butcher-bird jaborandi jawfish wrymouth parrotlet epiphyllum coralroot escolar warbonnet gundi pigfish vanga beefwood grassquit greeneye motmot thornbill greenling lanternfish woodstar rat-kangaroo cicadabird stifftail shortwing dobsonfly snipefish viperfish nerite soapfish pearleye pearlfish ronquil surfperch sea-moth dogstail lizardfish snaggle-tooth mahoe yellow-tail featherback scabbardfish clingfish prickly pear beaked whale flying fish cherry pie spiny lobster saw palmetto night lizard scaly tailed squirrel grey mullet flying gurnard carpet shark eagle ray silky oak goliath beetle golden mole dog violet hornet moth glossy starling meal moth grain beetle sand eel marsupial mouse devil ray glass lizard kidney worm snipe eel stone curlew wolf fish rhinoceros beetle dog's tooth violet clawed toad cleaner fish sea snake water scorpion tree pie jumping mouse bombardier beetle climbing perch moon moth giant clam wall lizard ink cap magic mushroom girdled lizard

2 石鱼

lionfish