The most venomous fishes in the Cook Islands are several Lionfishes and Scorpionfishes, and a Stonefish, which all belong to the Scorpionfishes family. All members of this family have poison glands associated with hollow fin-spines, especially the dorsal spines, to inject poisonous proteins into animals that attack them. Although the puncture wounds from the spines are small and inconspicuous, a sharp throbbing pain develops almost immediately, and within minutes it spreads up the limb and intensifies.

Lionfishes have a weak system of injecting their venom. Scorpionfishes have a more efficient system of injecting the poison. The most serious of all stinging fishes, the Stonefish, has very large poison glands and an extremely efficient system of injecting the venom. The degree of pain is a measure of the seriousness of the sting – Lionfishes and small Scorpionfishes cause the victim to cringe with pain, large Scorpionfishes cause the victim to almost lose control with pain, while the Stonefish causes the victim to thrash about uncontrollably and scream in agony. Only in the most unusual circumstances are stings from Lionfishes and Scorpionfishes life threatening, but a serious sting from a Stonefish, without suitable treatment, can progress over a period of a few hours to extreme breathing difficulty, convulsions, and even death. Continue reading →