Venomous Sector

Among the myriad of different plants and animals that share the Great Barrier Reef are those creatures that utilize venomous poisons as a way of to catch and consume prey. These animals generally separated into two categories, those delivering their poison through bites using fangs, and those animals that inject their poison through long barbed spines. Examples of both kinds of venomous sea animals in the three animals currently showcased in the Venomous Sector.

Stone Fish

Stone Fish or dornorn, is a carnivorous ray-finned fish with venomous spines that lives on the sea bed, camouflaged as a rock. It has a mottled greenish to mostly brown color which aids in its ability to camouflage itself among the rocks of many of the tropical reefs. The fish eats mostly small fish, shrimp and other crustaceans. Its dorsal area is lined with spines that release a venomous toxin. It is the most dangerous of known venomous fish and its venom causes severe pain with possible shock, paralysis, and tissue death depending on the depth of the penetration. This level can be fatal to humans if not given medical attention within a couple of hours.

Lion Fish

They are notable for their extremely long and separated spines, and have a generally striped appearance, red, brown, or black on white. While they are available for home aquaria, the venom of the spines is extremely painful, and lionfish are only recommended for the careful aquarist.

Sea Snakes

Sea Snakes have short hollow fangs near the front of the upper jaw, and the poison acts on the nervous system like that of the unrelated cobras. Unlike land snakes, however, sea snakes don't have an inclination to bite, and as such are not harmful unless abused. Sea snakes have a less efficient venom injection apparatus as compared to vipers or cobras.