The Stone Fish

Description of Stone FishThe Stone Fish is brown and greenish in colour (which gives them camouflage) with many venomous spines along its back.

Habitat

The stonefish lives primarily above the tropic of Capricorn. Its main habitat is on coral reefs, near and about rocks, or can be found dormant, in the mud or sand. it is not unusual to find stonefish living in rivers as well.

Venom

The sting causes strong pain and a great deal of swelling rapidly develops causing death to tissues. The severity of the symptoms depends on the depth of penetration and the number of spines penetrated. The symptoms of the venom are muscle weakness, temporary paralysis and shock, which may result in death if not treated. The Stonefish is the most venomous fish in the world. Its venom can be fatal to humans and many instances have been reported when stonefish have stung divers, resulting in their death

•Airways and lungs ◦Difficulty breathing

•Heart and blood ◦Collapse

•Skin ◦Bleeding◦Severe pain at the site of the sting◦Whitened colour of the area around the site of the sting◦Colour of the area changes as the amount of oxygen supplying the area decreases

Symptoms

•Stomach and intestines ◦Abdominal pain◦Diarrhoea◦Nausea◦Vomiting

•Nervous system ◦Delirium◦Fainting◦Fever (from infection)◦Headache◦Muscle twitching◦Seizures◦Paralysis

Treatment For stingHome Treatment:

Wash the area with fresh water. Remove any foreign material at the wound. Contact an ambulance. Soak wound in the hottest water you can tolerate for 30 - 90 minutes

Before Calling Emergency: Determine the following information:weight, and conditionName of fishTime of the stingLocation of the sting

What to aspect at hospital The health care provider will measure and monitor you're vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The wound and symptoms will be treated as appropriate. Washing of the skin (irrigation) Removal of any foreign material Soaking of the wound Medications to treat symptoms Medicine (antiserum) to reverse the effect of the venom The patient may receive: Breathing support Fluids through a vein (by IV)

Bibliographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synanceia

http://www.australianfauna.com/stonefish.php

http://australianmuseum.net.au/Reef-Stonefish-Synanceia-verrucosa-Bloch-Schneider-1801

http://www.barrierreefaustralia.com/the-great-barrier-reef/stonefish.htm