12 Most Poisonous Fish in the World

Top 12 Most Poisonous Fish in The World

There are over 33,000 known species of fish inhabiting our oceans. They’re famous for various reasons — some are quite colorful; some appear frequently on our dinner plates; some are quite rare. In addition to other, visible characteristics, lots of fish are also deadly, mostly to other fish or predators, but they can be dangerous to people as well. Here are our picks for the top 12 most poisonous fish in the world.

Number 12: Stingray

You can probably guess why this fish made the list based on its name alone. Stingrays are known for the long, venomous barbs on their tails, which they use as a way to fend off predators or defend themselves when provoked. These barbs have rows of tiny, flat spikes that can easily puncture human skin. Within the barbs are poisonous glands that can secrete a toxin known to cause swelling and bacterial infection in victims. Despite their notoriety, stingrays are typically quite harmless to humans unless a swimmer steps on one accidentally. They spend much of their time in the sand, scouring for other small fish and crustaceans to prey upon. They have not been known to cause any fatalities, except famously in the case of wildlife expert and TV personality Steve Irwin, who was accidentally pierced by a stingray’s barb in the chest during a film shoot.

Number 11: Weever Fish

Next on our list is the weever fish, whose name is believed to come from an old French word, “wivre,” meaning serpent or dragon. With protruding, venomous spines located on its dorsal fin and gills, the weever does indeed resemble a mythical dragon. As with most bony fish, Weevers don’t have swim bladders; they immediately sink as soon as they stop swimming or become inactive. Weevers spend most of their time buried in the sand with their eyes peeping out at the surface, waiting for prey to pass by so they can ambush it. The vast majority of weever fish injuries to people occur in the hours before and after low tide, and, as with the stingray, the injury usually afflicts the foot as result of someone accidentally stepping on a buried weever fish.

Number 10: Lionfish

One of the most well-known species of the scorpionfish family, the lionfish has become ubiquitous in many parts of the world. Native to the Indo-Pacific, these lovely yet deadly fish are a common invasive species in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and along the eastern seaboard of the United States. With no natural predators in these areas, paired with their voracious appetite and aggressive behavior, the lionfish has become a formidable pest in the reef ecosystem. They are named for their gorgeous, elongated lace-like fins, but inside those protruding appendages are needle-sharp spines that can deliver potent venom and pain that lasts for hours. Most diver injuries result from a diver bumping into a lionfish and receiving a sting, or touching one when diving or hunting them

Number 9: Stargazer

With a face only a mother could love, the stargazer, just like many others on this list, stays still on the ocean floor, concealing itself in the sand waiting for prey to stray too near its mouth. The stargazer has two large, venomous spines located behind its opercles, the bony plates that cover its gills above the pectoral fins. Aside from using venom, certain species of stargazers can also cause electric shocks. They are some of the few bony fishes that use bioelectrogenesis, the other being the striped catfish. Not content with stabbing or electrocuting its prey, the stargazer can also use its tongue as a lure for unsuspecting fish. Most injuries to divers happen when someone accidentally touches a stargazer.

Number 8: Giant Moray Eel

As its name suggests, the giant moray is the largest among the eel family, reaching up to 10 feet, or 3 meters, in length and weighing as much as 66 pounds, or 30 kilograms. The giant moray doesn’t produce any venom via its bite, nor does it have stingers that can incur harm like the rest of the species on the list. Morays are generally no threat to divers, though they can cause a nasty bite if provoked. Their toxin lies within their flesh, which can potentially be fatal if consumed. Ciguatoxin, the main toxin of ciguatera, is produced by a toxic dinoflagellate and accumulates up through the food chain. One of the top contenders on that food chain is the giant moray eel, which makes them dangerous for humans to eat. One famous incident of this kind is the case of King Henry I, who died shortly after consuming the eel.