One of the most dangerous and poisonous fish of the Black Sea is the sea dragon. Snake fish, scorpion - these are the nicknames of this unpredictable predator. Despite the fact that he prefers to track his prey at a depth of about 15-20 meters, there are cases when people suffered from his poison on the coast itself. Small and inconspicuous, the sea dragon has a powerful weapon - poisonous needles, so it's worth knowing what it looks like to avoid unpleasant injury.
Predator Appearance
The fish has an elongated body, its length reaches 40-50 cm. The predator in question is very similar to it. His body is slightly flattened laterally. The lower jaw protrudes from the upper jaw, the eyes are located high on the head - this allows it to hunt effectively. The mouth is filled with small teeth that are razor sharp. The color of the fish may differ depending on the halo of its habitat (from brown to gray), the abdomen has a lighter shade. The body of the predator is dotted with spots-stripes. Two sharp dorsal fins and several ventral fins are located on the throat and directly on the gill covers - this is how it lookssea Dragon. The Black Sea, which we consider safe, has become home to this poisonous fish.
Habitat
Despite the fact that the fish prefer to hide in the depths of the sea, they often hunt and breed in shallow water. Sea dragons prefer to choose shallow coves or inlets where they can burrow into the mud or sand. Hiding in the ground, they look out for the victim and lead a rather passive lifestyle. But such slowness is deceptive - as soon as the fish sees the victim, it can instantly jump out and grab it or stick its poisoned spike into the poor fellow. There are cases when a predator was conveniently located in low tide zones, so that people simply stepped on it. And its resemblance to an ordinary goby can be confusing - this is how the sea dragon disguises itself.
Dangerous attack
Although the fish prefers to lead a calm and measured lifestyle, if necessary, it attacks with lightning speed. A person will not have time to do anything, although the fish warns of danger: the “dragon” straightens the dark fan of the fin, which is located on the back. All beams of this weapon are equipped with needles that are impregnated with poison. An additional poisoned spine grows on the predator's operculum. When attacked, the fish tries to grab its prey with its teeth, and if this is not possible, it stings with poisoned pinches and waits for the prey to lose control of its body. The sharp protrusions of the fins are grooved, which are generously supplied with poisonous glands.
Surprisingly, even a dead fish can poison its prey - poisonactive for 2-3 hours. The sea dragon does not specifically attack people - everything happens by chance. It can be stepped on or grabbed, especially fishermen who pick it up, not knowing that the poison is very toxic. Therefore, it is necessary to know what a sea dragon looks like. The photos presented in our article will give you an idea of its main differences from other predators.
The consequences of an unpleasant meeting
The sea dragon is a dangerous fish, and the consequences of contact with it can be very unpleasant. Even death is possible. When the spike pierces the skin, the predator releases a toxic venom into the bloodstream. The injection is very painful, the wound becomes cyanotic. A person experiences very severe pain that spreads along the injured limb. There are cases when there was paralysis of the arm or leg. The temperature rises sharply, difficulty breathing, dizziness, nausea and vomiting may occur. A person often suffers from pain for several days. You need to see a doctor urgently! There is a serum that neutralizes the poison. If you do not enter it, the patient may even die. It all depends on whether the victim met an adult fish or a small one.
How to behave when injected with a "dragon"
If you are not lucky enough to be the target of a fish attack, you must follow a few simple steps:
- Suck out the poison vigorously for about 10 minutes. Do not be afraid that the toxin will enter the bloodstream through the mouth - the bactericidal properties of saliva neutralize it.
- Treat the wound with a strong solutionpotassium permanganate or hydrogen peroxide.
- Use a sterile dressing to avoid additional infection.
- Go to the hospital immediately.
If you do not follow these measures, you risk getting complications from such an injury - there are cases when ulcers appeared at the puncture site that did not go away for up to 3 months. This is such an insidious predator - the sea dragon. The fish has a perfect defense mechanism against enemies.
Reality
Resting on our favorite beaches of the Black Sea, we do not even think about such a close proximity to poisonous fish. But you need to be very careful and careful with marine life:
- Never try to catch an unfamiliar fish with your hands.
- Don't scour the seabed with your feet.
- If you see a crevice in the rocks or pitfalls, do not stick your hands in there. The "dragons" like to relax in such places.
- During low tide, walking along the shore, look under your feet.
Dear travelers and tourists, remember that you must always be vigilant, because we are invading the possession of marine inhabitants, so we must be careful. Take care of your he alth and study fish that can seriously harm you.
