Snorkeling and scuba diving are becoming more and more popular nowadays. When you are snorkeling you are likely to see a lot of fish in the water. For some, this can bread fear as the ocean is so largely unknown. Usually, people aren’t attacked in the water, unless the fish feel threatened. However, there are some fish out there that can be a danger, and the more you know about them, the better. So, read on our list of the most dangerous fish.
10. Puffer
Yes, this cute little fish from Finding Nemo is quite dangerous IRL! Puffers (also called swellfish or blowfish) live in warm tropical ocean waters and inflate themselves to become larger when threatened or stressed. Puffers are small – the largest ones only grow to be about 35 inches long. They contain tetrodotoxin, which is highly toxic. People eat puffers in some parts of Asia, especially in Japan. If not cleaned and prepared by a very skillful chef, eating this dangerous fish can lead to death.
9. Red Lionfish
The Red Lionfish is a beautiful fish that can be found in the Indo-Pacific ocean. They are about 12 inches long and have venomous spines. These spines leave extremely painful wounds that can rarely, but still, be fatal. So never threaten Red Lionfish!
8. Candiru
Candiru (or Vandellia Cirrhosa) lives in the Amazon River. Being almost translucent and very small (about 1 inch in length), they are impossible to notice. Candiru swims up swimmers’ urethras, and then erect their short spines. This leads to inflammation, hemorrhage, and even sometimes death.
7. Great White Shark
The Great White is only number 7 in our top-10 of the most dangerous fish. Most people are terrified of them because of the movie Jaws when in reality they are far not as dangerous as people imagine. Usually, sharks don’t come close to kill, they are just curious. Sometimes they also mistake humans for their natural prey (seals or sea lions). Typical shark attacks are one bite and then the shark swims away. Unfortunately, because of their size, it is enough to kill a person. The data differs a lot from country to country; in the US about 7% of great white sharks’ attacks are fatal, whereas in Australia the numbers are much higher (about 60%).
6. Moray Eel
Moray eels are often seen by snorkeling fans in tropical areas, especially in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. They live in shallow reefs, have vivid colors, and grow to be about 5 feet. But they aren’t as peaceful as they might seem – these eels have sharp and strong teeth. They are famous for biting and holding their prey captive. If they bite humans, it results in very serious wounds. However, the real danger comes with eating them, as Moray eels contain toxins that are highly poisonous for people.
5. Tigerfish
You probably won’t find yourself casually swimming next to this fish without realizing it. They don’t actually look like tigers, but they certainly are as aggressive in stressful situations. Tigerfish can be as long as 7 feet (2 meters) and weigh more than 125 lbs (57 kg). They live in the Indo-Pacific region, just like other dangerous fish, but can also be found in freshwater in Africa.
4. Piranha
Piranha is another fish that owes its bad reputation to the film industry. It only grows to be about 2 feet long but because of its razor-like teeth, it can be very dangerous. They live in the rivers and lakes in South America. Piranhas are black or silver and have a large blunt head with strong jaws. The attacks of Red-Bellied Piranhas are often deadly as they have the strongest jaws and the sharpest teeth: they can grow to be 20 inches long and hunt in groups of more than 100. However, the instances of them attacking people are very rare.
3. Stonefish
This fish got a very appropriate name indeed. They are very good at blending into their surroundings. These slow fish are found on the bottom. They have large heads and mouths, small eyes, and bumpy skin. Stonefish only attack when provoked, too, but these instances are usually non-intentional. People simply step on them accidentally, and the fish inject venom. The aftermath of this self-defense is very painful and can even be fatal.
2. Manta Ray
They are the biggest rays in the stingray family – they can be as long as 25 feet (7 meters) in diameter. Their short tails have stinging spines on them. This is not at all obvious, but manta rays are sharks’ close relatives. They live in tropical areas sometimes “fly” out of the water. They are a threat to humans only when they feel threatened. In this case, they can impale you with their stingers.
1. Electric Eel
Electric Eel (or Electrophorus electricus) can be found in South America. It is dangerous because it generates electricity through its tail (from 300 to 650 volts). It is enough to stun even a grown man. An interesting thing about this dangerous fish is that they need to come to the surface of the water to breathe air. Electric eels have long bodies (about 9 feet or 2.8 meters). It doesn’t pose a direct threat to humans and attacks only if it feels like it’s cornered.
So, as you can see, there’s no need to fear the majestic creatures from this list – you can easily avoid the danger by simply being cautious.
