The biggest danger of a sea dragon is its disguise. This cunning fish loves to bury itself in the sand, which means it’s easier to accidentally step on it. But even if you don’t fumble along the sandy bottom with your feet, the danger still remains. Sea scorpion is very similar to the usual Black Sea goby. He has a lot in common with his congener, with one exception: the goby has no poisonous needles throughout its body. An injection with such a spike will entail severe pain, and in special cases a fatal outcome.
Dragon in "sheep's clothing"
The size of the sea scorpion is on average from 20 to 40 centimeters. Weight within 300 grams. The fish looks inconspicuous; to call it "dragon" sounds more like a mockery. The torso is flattened from the sides, eyes high on the head, as if she was always in a light thoughtfulness, or simply unhappy with something. Color may vary, but there are always stripes on the body. In general, sea scorpion is a fish like a fish. Its main feature is its similarity to the usual Black Sea bull, so it is very easy to confuse them. Take a close look at the photo of the sea scorpion and remember the “enemy in the face”.
Where does the poisonous twin brother of the Black Sea goby live?
The sea scorpion lives, among other places, in the Black Sea. The food chain of the predator is at a depth of 20 meters. This, however, does not prevent him from enjoying the views of the coast. This fish breeds and lives mainly in the depths, but sometimes it also wants to go out in public, swim in shallow water, and “chat” with interesting people.
Disguise
The love of the sea scorpion for the sand is fully justified - this is his refuge. Burrowing into the ground, the predator patiently waits for its prey. As soon as an unlucky fish idly swims past, the dragon flies out of the heap of silt and with a lightning movement ends its hunger strike.
Sea Dragon Attack
Tourists and vacationers rarely fall into the field of view of poisonous fish. The Black Sea sea scorpion is not at all aggressive, but if forced or scared, it will not seem enough. Grabbing the offender with his teeth, the fish sharply stings him with his poisonous needle. If grabbing with your teeth did not help, the sea dragon spreads the spikes along the body. Grabbing fish at such a moment is a sure way to regret a boat trip.
Sea Dragon Victims
The vast majority of cases of poisoning by sea scorpion are pure coincidence. It is difficult to notice in the sand, and therefore it is easy to accidentally step on. Also, it is easy to confuse it with a harmless bull and behave too boldly.
The effect of poison on the body
Toxic poison, having entered the body through a sharp spike, will cause an immediate reaction - severe pain at the injection site. The wound will begin to cover with a blue tint. The muscles begin to go numb under the influence of the poison. Partial muscle paralysis or numbness will spread the pain to the entire limb.
The most striking symptoms of intoxication:
- nausea and / or vomiting;
- increase in body temperature;
- headache and / or dizziness;
- partial muscle paralysis around the injection site.
What to do if a sea dragon pricked
To begin with - do not panic. In the vast majority of cases, such poisoning is not fatal. It is advisable to do the following steps:
- Suck out the poison from the wound. Once in the oral cavity, the toxin ceases its negative effect due to the bactericidal properties of saliva.
- The injection site must be disinfected with any means available in the medicine cabinet (hydrogen peroxide, for example).
- A bandage should be applied to the wound to prevent further infection.
- Urgently take a quick step (you shouldn’t panic) to the nearest medical care center.
The best defense is ... caution
Of course, you should not stand with binoculars around your neck and bandages on your shoulder all the time waiting for danger. Of all the marine inhabitants, the sea scorpion is not the worst, but a meeting with it is usually unexpected. To prevent unpleasant consequences, it is enough to follow a few simple rules of reasonable caution:
- If you saw an unfamiliar fish (especially if it looks so much like a Black Sea goby) - you should not run "hug". If there is no need, then it is better not to stop her from doing her important fish affairs.
- It is not worth exploring the various potholes and crevices in the rocks and stones. The spirit of adventure, of course, says the opposite, but even if you are lucky not to touch the little dragon, many other no less interesting and much more dangerous surprises may lurk in the dark unknown.
- Ah, these walks along the coast! The tide gently envelops the legs, the sun is only going to fall asleep. It is hard to imagine something more romantic. However, the sea scorpion is not alien to the feeling of beauty. It would be a crime to dissuade from such walks, but the advice - always look under your feet - will never be superfluous.
To summarize all of the above, this wonderful fish can bring a bunch of undesirable problems. Fortunately, she is not at all aggressive and compliance with elementary safety rules and common sense will save you from trouble.