The amazing and unique world of the underwater kingdom has always aroused interest and excited the imagination of impatient explorers. Indeed, what forms and manifestations of life you will not see in the thickness of sea waters!
Bottom fish - a dangerous marine creature
One of the most interesting specimens of the inhabitants of the seas washing the shores of the European, African, and also South American continent is a sea dragon, snake fish, or scorpion. The poisonous fish of medium size and weighing about 300 grams has a laterally elongated body shape, an elongated lower jaw, equipped with small but fairly sharp teeth, bright brown-yellow with dark intermittent spots and stripes, the color of the back and a light-milk belly.
Sea dragons are in the front row with the most dangerous fish in temperate latitudes. Their name is absolutely consistent in appearance. The presence of the characteristic fins with spikes having deep grooves, at the base of which are glands containing poison, gives the dragon a look and a very high danger to the fish. The spikes located on the gill covers and in the first dorsal fin are a formidable weapon that the sea dragon uses when it comes to any danger or hunting. The poison of this fish is extremely dangerous and acts like a snake, as its second name reminds - the snake fish.
Behavior features
Sea dragons prefer quiet backwaters in shallow bays with a muddy or sandy bottom. Digging deeply into the soft ground, the fish lies calmly, but immediately jumps out as soon as it sees an approaching victim. The dragon is most active at dusk, it is not visible during the day, and given that he loves the same places as bathers, the danger of meeting him only increases. Even just walking in shallow water, a person risks getting a dose of poison from the fins if he accidentally steps on a sea dragon.
Lifestyle
In the summer, sea dragons stay within 20 m from sea level, and go to winter in depth, eating there fry, small crustaceans, shrimps and crabs. The fish reaches puberty at the age of three. Spawning continues throughout the summer period - from June to October. Female females during this time are capable of sweeping up to 73 thousand eggs. On average, its dimensions range from 15 to 20 cm, but there are also giants in its family: specimens of 35 to 45 cm in length are known.
The sea dragon, whose photo is presented, does not have industrial significance, but amateur fishermen often catch this fish, the meat of which is very tasty. When catching a dragon, you need to be very careful. Even a dead snake can sting.
Precautionary measures
The poisonous sea dragon can cause serious harm, and so that the rest does not turn into troubles and health problems, scuba diving enthusiasts, swimmers and tourists should get acquainted with the appearance of these fish and observe the necessary precautions:
- Do not try to grab the fish with bare hands;
- do not rummage underwater caves, a sea dragon can hide in them, a photo of which should be examined beforehand to get acquainted with a potential danger;
- strolling along the coast in the low tide, you need to look under your feet, as these fish do not always have time to get away with water, often remain in wet sand and can be easily stepped on;
- Having found a dead dragon, do not touch it with your hands - the poison persists for some time;
- if a fisherman catches a dragon, you should immediately cut off the poisonous spikes.
First Aid Injection
If, nevertheless, it was not possible to protect oneself from an attack by a snake fish, it is necessary, without wasting time, to provide the necessary assistance to the victim. A spike injection causes quite painful sensations: the sharp stabbing pain that has arisen is very painful, the febrile condition, accompanied by a rise in temperature, can last from day to week. There is an opinion that the poison is destroyed if, immediately after the bite, a 5% solution of potassium permanganate is injected with a syringe into the wound. This measure reduces or prevents inflammation and alleviates pain, but the first-aid kit is not always at hand.
Experienced fishermen who encounter injections of the fins immediately impose a tourniquet higher than the lesion and suck the poison, spitting it. It is advisable to put a cold at the injection site and go to the nearest medical institution. Unfortunately, in this case it is impossible to do without hospitalization. There is no specific antidote for the poison that affects sea dragons. Severe pain is not even stopped by morphine, so first aid is very important.
Depending on the depth of the wound and the degree of assistance provided, it will take different times to restore health: sometimes it takes several days, sometimes not more than one month.
Black Sea Whelp
An analogue of the famous puffer fish in Russia is one of eight species of sea dragons that have long and successfully mastered the expanses of the Black Sea, sometimes appearing in
Kerch Strait. It has a low flattened body, with a small, tight-fitting scales. The head is decorated with spikes, the most dangerous of which are located on the gills. The dragon’s two dorsal fins, like a magnificent comb, beautiful and dangerous, are at the same time a serious weapon and a visiting card.
Non-industrial, but amazingly tasty, is caught by amateur fishermen, sea dragon. The Black Sea holds large reserves of this amazing sea scorpion - a small owner of formidable weapons.