It turns out that more than 70% of Russians remember school as the most carefree and happiest time of their lives. At least, that's what sociologists say. It is especially pleasant to remember your high school years, when cramming is already giving way to some freedom, and the words of teachers begin to be perceived with a fair amount of skepticism.
Today's schoolchildren are unaware of how the school world around them has changed. We also had backpacks made of fragrant oilskin leatherette and simple notebooks without drawings. But these notebooks had blotting pads - always covered with writing, from which airplanes with excellent flight qualities were obtained. Chewed blotting paper could be used to spit on classmates through a straw. And what a joy smell erasers brought when they went on sale! They were tasted because they smelled like strawberries and bubblegum. And slide rules are a thing of the past forever! And milk shortcakes are 8 kopecks in the canteen!..
The only thing that has not changed is the eternal school pearls that are uttered by new generations of students, and sometimes teachers. "WORLD 24" has collected for you a portion of wonderful school sayings so that you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of your school memories.
Duplo, bublo and poplo
During a natural history lesson, a boy diligently writes in his notebook: “Northern Poisonous Ocean.” And he discusses with his desk neighbor: “Do you think it’s because he’s so cold that they called him poisonous?”
At a meeting of second-graders with a veteran: “And so, about a year in ’53, I was sent to serve near Chita. By the way, it was to those places that the Decembrists were exiled.” From the class: “Wow! And were they there at that time?
In 3rd grade, the teacher wrote the word “hollow” on the board to learn its spelling. Then she began to dictate dictation. Result for the class: dublo, bublo and puplo.
Mom, at school they told us to go to the doctor, I think I forgot the footgazer (it turned out that it was an orthopedist).
A history teacher who reviewed a tenth-grader’s essay before handing it in found a mistake: “Emotions.” And he explains clearly: “Look, it’s spelled “emotion”, but “impotence”, remember this test word!..”.
A first-grader walks home next to his mother and very excitedly reports: “Mom, we were given notebooks at school about pussy. Is it possible to give such notebooks to children?”
Poem for a reading lesson in the third grade: “Where the Serb walked and the tone fell...” (“Where the sickle walked and the ear fell”)
In first grade, the teacher talks about the Baptism of Rus'. The boy from the second desk reaches out his hand: “Was this before the dinosaurs, or after?”
Tragic tenor and educational program for a writer
When a new NVP teacher came to school, he shocked everyone. His name was Pyotr Ilyich Mankovsky, and he was a military musician! For the marching song, he chose three boys to lead the song. And he began to determine their voice type: “For example, you are a tragic tenor!” “Why am I tragic, do you want me to cry?”
In the senior class, one girl’s last name is Keda, the other’s last name is Lopata. A new teacher arrived, young and nervous. He forced everyone to line up and ordered the duty officer to submit a report in accordance with the form. Unfortunately, Lopata was on duty. She said honestly and to everyone’s laughter: “The report was submitted by the duty officer Lopata.” He freaked out and kicked her out, deciding that he was being bullied. And at random he chose, to everyone’s joy, Kedou...From homework: “The girl read the book to the roots of her hair” and “The boy blushed from cover to cover.”
Eighth grade, presentation on a literary work, the hero and heroine of which meet and talk about life until the morning. The result: “In just one night they managed to become family.”
In the 80s, a letter was issued by the Central Committee of the Komsomol, which listed a list of groups prohibited from listening to discos. Almost all popular rock bands got there. The dubious honor of conveying this information to us fell to the Russian language teacher. But, since in English he didn’t know, but read it as he saw it, then after the title “A Tse - De Tse” the nervously giggling class could not stand it. “Hey CC!” someone moaned, and for the rest of the lesson the teacher was told how wonderful the rock bands on the list were. The reading of the letter turned into an educational program about modern rock music. The teacher listened with interest...
Play, hormone!
Literature lesson, 9th grade. The teacher, a rather tough, charismatic lady, asks the question: “What do you think Pushkin was thinking about when he wrote this poem?” Denis, almost an excellent student: “You know, Saida Mamedovna, Pushkin always thought about sex, and this time was no exception.”
Teacher of basic military training: “On the command “Equal!” a fighter must see the chest of the fourth person in the ranks!” The upperclassmen begin to giggle as boys and girls stand in a jumbled formation. Military leader: “And there’s no point in having fun, there are no women and men in the ranks, but there are people with and without honor!..”
During an economic geography lesson, the teacher mentioned the word “Kohinoor”. There was immediate giggling in the class: at that time, high school students associated this name only with commercially available Indian condoms. The geographer turned and said: “This, by the way, is one of the most famous historical diamonds! And you have only “hee hee” on your mind!” From then on, for the entire class, the famous diamond acquired a certain erotic connotation for the rest of their lives.
There is a biology lesson in the 6th grade. A young, inexperienced botanist, afraid of everything, lists the shapes and structure of leaves. Shyly, with fear that everyone will laugh, he dictates: “Petioles, vaginas...”. There is silence in the class, everyone is writing, one girl asks again, repeats it syllable by syllable, everything is serious, everything is fine. The teacher exhales with relief and dictates other forms. But it was not there! After the egg-shaped ones, almost all the boys in the class start giggling loudly.
A literature teacher is reviewing Vladimir Mayakovsky's poems about the Russian passport in her graduating class. And suddenly one of the young men, after the famous words “I pull out a duplicate of the priceless cargo from my wide trousers,” asks (according to the teacher, completely without a second thought): “Excuse me, but does he still have the priceless cargo in his pants?”
From the works:
"There's a Buka Gay Palace in London."
“Man is the measure of all substances.”
"Donke Hod Servant".
“Akhmatova did not fall face down in the dirt by not going abroad.”
In music lessons:
"The Death of the Beans" (containing "Litter of the Valkyries")
“We eat from the basin” (it turned out to be Scriabin, “Poem of Ecstasy”)
And two romances: the chemical “Open the window slowly” and the gastronomic “Open the gate slowly”.
Happy Knowledge Day to all of us!
A wide variety of animals live in the ocean. According to the calculations of special expeditions, today about 85 thousand different organisms live in the ocean. And many of them pose a huge danger to humans. Let's get acquainted with the most dangerous of them.
Zebra fish. Lionfish
This fish is found in the Red Sea and mainly in the Indian and Pacific oceans. It can be found off the coast of China, Japan or Australia. Her body is 30-40 centimeters long. It has light pink stripes on its body.
The decoration of this fish is considered to be long ribbons of fins. These very fins contain poisonous needles. When injected with this needle, the person immediately loses consciousness and is in deep shock. There is an opinion that this fish is capable of killing a person, but not a single case has been recorded.
When poison enters the human body, convulsions begin, disruption of the heart, and there is a danger of developing gangrene. The poisoning process and the time after it are considered very difficult.
Cone. cone snail
This mollusk lives mainly in warm waters. It has a special poisonous gland, which consists of toxic substances. When you touch it, a thorn pricks you, and the person loses consciousness from acute pain. This makes breathing and the work of the heart muscle difficult.
Of the three stings from the thorn of this mollusk, one is considered fatal. But this mollusk also brings benefits to humans; medicines are produced based on its poison.
This jellyfish is considered the largest in the world. Lives in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Its diameter is about 75 centimeters. There are tentacles in her body, upon contact with which, poison enters the victim’s body.
This poison is capable of killing small animals, but also causes significant damage and painful shock to larger animals.
Scorpionfish, or Sea Ruff
This fish lives in the Atlantic Ocean. It spends most of its life in various thickets, and during the hunt, it lies hidden at the bottom. When prey approaches, the sea urchin suddenly attacks the victim and swallows it along with the water.
The bites of this fish are very painful for humans. Severe pain occurs and infection enters the body.
It can be found off the coast of northern Australia and Indonesia. Her entire body is covered with special cells, thanks to which she causes severe burns upon contact with them. The burns cause severe pain, and their force can kill up to 60 people in three minutes. Due to frequent deaths, it is considered the most dangerous jellyfish in the world.
Puffer fish, puffer fish, ball fish, dog fish
Yes, this fish has many names and is considered very poisonous. When danger arises, it has the characteristic feature of increasing three times. This fish received its nicknames because of the special structure of its body, namely its teeth.
While searching for food, it splits the shells of shrimp and crabs and feeds on them. Her gland contains a lethal dose of poison. This fish is eaten, but the liver and caviar cannot be eaten. Despite the highly qualified chefs, up to 100 deaths occur per year from poisoning with this delicacy. Why a delicacy? Because one serving of this fish in a restaurant costs about $1,000.
Wart. Stone fish
This is the most dangerous of all known poisonous fish. Its length is about 40 centimeters. It lives near the coast and is very similar to an ordinary stone. Produces poison and injects it into the victim. Upon contact with it, a person immediately loses consciousness, as his nerve endings are affected. If the poison enters the blood vessels, a person’s death occurs within three minutes.
Blue-ringed octopus
This octopus is small in size and lives in the Pacific Ocean. It has very modest dimensions, its weight is only 100 grams. When he senses danger, he becomes covered with spots that have a bluish tint.
It has a deadly poison in its gland - a neurotoxin. It affects the nervous and muscular systems, and causes inevitable paralysis. At the moment, the only way to save a person from a bite is to immediately perform artificial respiration.
There are about 900 species of sea urchins in the world, which have a variety of spines in their bodies that aid in movement and aid in defense. They live in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Their needles are poisonous. When such a needle enters the human body, severe inflammation occurs. No deaths were recorded.
It seems that there are many dangerous creatures lurking in the depths of the ocean. Meanwhile, the danger of most of them is a very relative concept. After all, they only cause harm to those who disturb or attack them. Usually, if such creatures are not deliberately touched, then they pose no danger. It’s another matter when they are forced to defend themselves or their home.
Zebra fish. This fish is also called the striped lionfish; it belongs to the scorpionfish family. You can meet it in the coastal waters of the Red Sea, in the warm waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Zebra fish are found off the coasts of Australia, Japan and China. Its body is 30-40 centimeters long, painted with pink stripes. The fish was nicknamed lionfish because of the long fins in the form of ribbons on the back and chest. It is there, in this beauty, that poisonous needles are hidden. A lionfish injection leads to severe pain. It can cause people to go into shock or even lose consciousness. Poisoning is very difficult and lasts several hours. During this time, the person experiences convulsions, and the activity of his heart deteriorates. The victim must be immediately pulled ashore, otherwise he may simply drown. Although it is believed that the zebra fish is capable of killing a person, such cases have not been documented in any of its habitats.
Cones. This name is given to a whole family of predatory gastropods. Typically, mollusks live in warm tropical seas, only a few of them move into cold waters. The cones themselves are very active, especially when touched in their own habitat. The toxic apparatus of these creatures includes a poisonous gland connected by a channel to a hard proboscis, the radula-grater. It is located near the narrow end of the shell. The teeth of the mollusk are replaced by sharp spines. Although most cones feed on marine worms, there are exceptions in this family - fishing cones and clam-eating cones. If you touch the shell, the cone quickly extends the radula, thrusting spines into the body. The injection is accompanied by acute pain, the person may even lose consciousness. The affected area begins to go numb, and sensitivity in other areas is lost. As a result, paralysis of the respiratory organs and the entire cardiovascular system may even occur. The venom of the cone is similar in its effects to the venom of a cobra. The transmission of signals from nerves to muscles is blocked. Statistics provide impressive data - every third, and even the second, case of being pricked by a cone thorn becomes fatal for a person. It is only worth noting that people themselves are the cause of misfortune. A person is attracted by the beauty of the shell and wants to take it in his hands. The cone begins to defend itself. Today, based on the poison of the cone, they have even begun to produce medicines that help against epileptic seizures or simply relieve pain.
Cyanea hairy. Don't you like jellyfish? Meet Cyanea - the world's largest jellyfish. It lives in all northern waters of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans; it can be found close to the surface in coastal waters. In October 1997, an individual with an umbrella diameter of 74-76 centimeters was caught in Peter the Great Bay. And on the east coast of the United States, the famous zoologist Louis Agissitz caught a jellyfish in the last century, the diameter of which was 2.2 meters. But another record was included in the Guinness Book of Records - the maximum diameter of the umbrella was 2.28 meters, and the length of the tentacles was 36.5 meters! In the jellyfish, the umbrella is equipped with strong muscles, and the muscles are brown or matte in color with a red or brown tint. The main part of the body is painted red with a brick or crimson tint. Tentacles descend from the edges of the umbrella, eventually forming a continuous curtain. Cyaneans are predatory creatures. Their long and numerous tentacles have many stinging cells. The jellyfish can shoot them, as a result, strong poison enters the victim’s body. It can kill small animals, causing severe damage even to large creatures.
Scorpionfish. This fish, better known to us as the sea ruffe, gave its name to a fairly large family of scorpionfish. It lives in the seas adjacent to the Mediterranean, as well as in it itself, as well as in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa and Europe. The scorpionfish prefers coastal waters, where it likes to hide in algae and simply lie on the bottom waiting for prey. As soon as some careless fish or large crayfish swims up to the fish at a distance of 10-15 centimeters, it makes a sharp jerk, opening its mouth wide. Along with the flow of water, prey also gets there. For this purpose, the scorpionfish is well camouflaged - it has skin growths on the head and a variegated color with dark spots on the body. Every month the sea ruffe goes through a molt. The top layer of skin is shed, like that of a snake. The scorpionfish meets its enemy with its spines. The injections of this fish are quite dangerous for humans, they are very painful. In addition, wounds often become infected. The area around the injection begins to hurt and swell, and the temperature rises.
Box jellyfish. This animal belongs to the class of cnidarians. The box jellyfish lives off the coast of northern Australia and Indonesia. The creature became notorious for its ability to cause severe burns. All jellyfish tentacles are covered with stinging cells containing strong poison. The burns inflicted are very painful, the strength of the poison is such that it can kill 60 adults in three minutes. Scientists estimate that the box jellyfish has caused the deaths of at least a hundred people over the past century. This became the basis for the widespread opinion that this is the most dangerous and poisonous jellyfish in the world’s waters, and perhaps even the most dangerous animal in the world. In those places where the box jellyfish lives, special mesh barriers are installed to protect swimmers. Dangerous creatures cannot reach people through small cells.
Pufferfish. This fish of the pufferfish family is better known as puffer fish, dog fish or ball fish. It contains a strong poison, tetrodotoxin. The pufferfish is usually found in warm seas tropics and subtropics. When the situation around a fish makes it feel dangerous, it can increase in size by 2-3 times. Moreover, such a skill does not depend at all on the environment in which it resides. After all, in the abdominal cavity there are special bags that can take in both water and air. It received the nickname dog-fish, like the rock-tooth, for its unusual structure of teeth. They fused together to form four strong plates. They are so strong that with their help the puffer easily hides the shells of crabs and shellfish while getting its food. The poison tetrodotoxin is contained in the internal organs of fish, the main part of it is in the liver and caviar, as well as in the gall bladder and skin. As a result, fish caviar and liver cannot be eaten at all, but other parts of the body require careful and special pre-treatment. If the poison remains, it blocks sodium channels in the membranes of nerve cells. The muscles will quickly become paralyzed and breathing will stop. All chefs must be licensed to cook fugu. Despite this, several people die every year from poisoning from improperly prepared food.
Wart. In the wart family there is a carnivorous stone fish with poisonous spines on its back. Of all the poisonous fish, this is the most dangerous. The usual size of a wart is 20-40 centimeters. She leads a sedentary lifestyle, preferring coastal waters. The dangerous fish merges with the rocks and is very difficult to spot even on land during frequent low tides. On the dorsal fin of the stonefish there are 12 thick spines, with the help of which it injects the poison it produces into the victim. A little irritation is enough for the wart to raise its spines. They are strong and sharp, which helps them easily penetrate deep into the muscle. Even swimmers' shoes do not become an obstacle. Within a few hours, the unfortunate person loses consciousness, tormented by unbearable pain and damage to vital nerve centers. If the thorn gets into a large blood vessel, then death can occur within 2-3 hours.
Blue-ringed octopuses. In tropical waters of the western Pacific Ocean and nearby areas Indian Ocean this small octopus lives. It is very small - its length is no more than 20 centimeters, and its weight is no more than 100 grams. When an octopus gets excited, it covers everything with bright blue spots. If it is calm, then outwardly it is no different from its other harmless counterparts. This mollusk, however, has a strong poison - a neurotoxin, which is produced by the salivary glands. The substance has two components, each of which is fatal in itself. The poison simultaneously affects the muscular and nervous systems, leading to paralysis of the respiratory muscles. Until recently, only the only possible means of saving such an octopus that had suffered from poison was known. The person immediately needs to undergo prolonged artificial respiration.
Sea urchins. These creatures belong to the class of echinoderms. There are almost 940 species of sea urchins in the world. Their bodies usually have a spherical shape, varying in diameter from 2-3 centimeters to 30. Sea urchins are covered with calcareous plates, which together form a dense shell. It contains games that range from 1-2 millimeters in length for flat urchins to 25-30 centimeters for diadems. Among hedgehogs there is even a species that does not have spines at all - Toxopneustes. Quills serve an important function for these creatures. With their help, sea urchins feed, protect themselves and move around. In some species, the needles are also poisonous. Such sea urchins are mainly found in the tropics and subtropics of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans. When fragile needles penetrate the body, they usually break. In this case, toxins penetrate into the tissues. At the moment the body is hit by poisonous needles sea urchin the person may feel severe pain. Only a few minutes pass and the temperature in the affected area rises significantly and swelling appears. The skin may lose sensitivity here, causing atony and sometimes even paralysis of the affected limb.
Stingrays. These stinging rays have a body length of up to 2.5 meters in diameter, and their weight reaches 16 kilograms. Near the very base of the tail there is a large spine with jagged edges. Its injections are extremely dangerous, because there are poisonous glands in the groove. The poisonous properties of the stingray have been known for a long time; even the ancient Greeks used the poison from the stingray spine as an anesthetic for dental treatment. Today people come into contact with this stingray quite often. Every year, more than 3 thousand people in the world suffer from the prick of its thorn. True, stingrays usually prefer not to contact a person, hiding when he appears. The poisonous thorn is just a defensive weapon that is used only in case of danger. Such a stingray may consider attempts by overly curious divers to get to know it better. This is how the famous Australian TV presenter Steve Irwin, a famous crocodile hunter, died in 2006. When the film “The Most Dangerous Inhabitants of the Ocean” was filmed near the Great Barrier Reef, the presenter received an injection directly into the heart from a stingray. Irwin could not be saved.
And marine animals are sometimes victims of negative advertising. Most often, watching documentaries about wildlife shows a disappointing trend. Many animals are given names such as "killer squid" and "deadly octopus". No wonder some divers are terrified of underwater life!
The behavior of marine animals can threaten divers who do not understand their behavior. Many marine creatures are completely harmless but just “look scary,” and some that seem friendly can be quite aggressive.
Almost all attacks by fish and other sea creatures are caused by defensive behavior on the part of the animal. Don't try to pull eels out of their hiding places, stick your fingers into lobster claws or ride stingrays and you should be fine. Don't bother animals and they won't bother you.
In this article you will learn which fish and marine animals are dangerous to humans and which do not pose a serious threat.
Moray eels are not dangerous if you don't touch them
Moray eels are large conger eels that are commonly found in reef shelters. These fish have visible sharp teeth and it looks as if they are about to bite. This behavior, which may seem threatening, is actually a way of pumping water through the gills to breathe. The only danger from eels is that they have terrible eyesight and can mistakenly bite a person, and this bite will be very painful. These fish require personal space and will not provide you with a threat.
Corals are dangerous if touched
The most common marine injury during scuba diving is believed to be from coral. Coral is a hard structure covered with thousands of tiny coral polyps. A person who swims nearby may be cut by sharp limestone or stung by coral polyps. Depending on the type of coral, these injuries range from minor scratches to severe burns. Of course, you can completely avoid injury by staying away from reefs.
Contact with corals is dangerous not only for humans, but also for corals. Even the slightest touch can kill coral polyps. A person who touches a reef causes more damage to the corals than they do to him.
Stingrays are relatively safe
The pointed sting of a stingray can frighten anyone. However, stingrays are not considered aggressive. Typical behavior of stingrays includes burrowing in sand and searching for food. These fish can sometimes swim calmly under divers. This is not a threatening behavior and is a sign that the stingray is relaxed and not afraid.
When approaching a diver, most stingrays either freeze, trying to remain invisible, or swim away. A stingray can only bite a person in desperate defense. Never catch, grab or press on the back of a stingray. This animal needs space and the ability to escape without presenting a threat.
If a stingray does injure a person, he will need medical attention. Renowned naturalist Steve Irwin died from a stingray sting in the heart in 2006.
Jellyfish - dangerous, but rare
A jellyfish sting can be very harmful to a diver. However, this happens very rarely because jellyfish do not attack people. The danger with these organisms is that they often have long, transparent tentacles that are difficult to detect. A person can accidentally get hurt by the tentacles of a jellyfish if he does not see them.
Before diving in a new location, you should check with local divers, guides or instructors about hazards such as jellyfish. Most jellyfish stings can be avoided by wearing a protective wetsuit to prevent unintentional contact with the stinging tentacles.
Lobsters and crabs are not dangerous
Lobsters and crabs have powerful claws that are used for crushing prey (such as) or for self-defense. Their claws are not designed for biting people. Since divers are not the typical prey of lobsters and crabs, these are not something to be afraid of, but their lives should not be threatened either. A person who is not trying to catch lobsters or crabs, but simply enjoys observing these colorful creatures from a respectful distance, will not be injured.
Sharks - most species are not dangerous unless you feed them
Sharks are probably the most misunderstood creatures in the ocean. Sharks are aggressive predators, but humans are not their natural prey. Most sharks appear shyly curious if they encounter divers underwater. The bubbling of bubbles, the noise of a working scuba tank and a mask with distorted eyes should scare off sharks.
However, there are 4 types of the most dangerous sharks, an encounter with which can end in tragedy. These include: white, tiger, tiptoe and longtip sharks. Although they cannot be called aggressive animals, they are capable of attacking.
People have also been known to get injured when trying to feed these animals. When fed (especially by hand), sharks sometimes become enraged and can trick humans. For this reason, people should never feed sharks or other marine animals without professional supervision, but it is best to refrain from this type of activity.
Sea urchins - dangerous if touched
Like corals, sea urchins pose no danger to conscientious, self-controlled divers. However, a person who is unaware of their surroundings could accidentally touch a hedgehog, which would be unpleasant at best. The spines of this animal are sharp and fragile, and can easily penetrate a wetsuit and break off under the diver's skin. Additionally, some species of sea urchins protect themselves by injecting a painful venom into anyone who touches or attacks them. As long as the diver swims carefully underwater and does not touch anything, he can be sure that the sea urchin will not want to prick him.
Triggerhorns are aggressive
Some species of triggerfish are friendly, while others defend their territory from intruders. An example of a highly active triggerfish is the bluefin ballistode, which is common in the Indo-Pacific region. They are quite large - about 75 cm in length - and have specialized teeth and powerful jaws. Blue-finned ballistodes are sophisticated in defending their nests and territory, and also bite intruders.
These fish are known to seriously injure divers and should not be taken lightly. Many experienced divers are more nervous about seeing bluefin ballistodes than any other fish. Diving into the habitats of these dangerous creatures usually includes a clear explanation of how to identify these triggerfish and what action to take if an aggressive specimen is spotted. Stay with your dive guide and follow their advice. In many cases, guides can help divers avoid dangerous areas.
Sticky - annoying, but not dangerous
Unattached sticks can be a nuisance for divers. They have been known to cling to equipment or the diver's body. As long as the diver is covered with a wetsuit, the sticking will not cause any harm. Most encounters with free-swimming fish are comical as they mistakenly try to suck on the diver's equipment and limbs. However, fish that attach directly to the diver's skin can scratch him. This is another reason to wear a wetsuit when diving.
Barracudas are not dangerous at all
Scuba diving myths are filled with stories of barracudas attacking divers. This fish looks scary to many people - it has a mouth full of sharp, protruding teeth and moves at the speed of light. However, barracuda attacks on divers are extremely rare.
As with most aquatic injuries, barracuda attacks are almost always either defensive or misguided. A person who tries to catch a barracuda and misses or only injures the animal may be at risk of attack. A person who feeds barracuda or other fish near barracudas may be accidentally bitten. There are also anecdotal stories of barracudas mistaking reflective or sparkling objects (diamond rings and shiny jewelry) for prey. Leave decorations on the surface of the water, do not hunt or feed these fish, and they should not pose a danger.
Lionfish - dangerous when touched
Lionfish have colorful colors that help them camouflage well and are often difficult to spot. Most injuries in the Indo-Pacific region are caused by unintentional contact with well-camouflaged fish. In the Atlantic Ocean, a growing number of divers are trying to remove invasive fish from reefs because they are disturbing . A person who tries to catch this fish may accidentally get pricked by its spines.
Like many other spiny fish species, lionfish release a powerful neurotoxin when touched. The lionfish sting is very painful and can lead to severe allergic reactions. Avoid contact with fish and all other aquatic organisms. Catching this fish should be done exclusively with an experienced mentor who will help you do everything safely.
People are dangerous
The most dangerous creatures to divers are probably the divers themselves. Ignoring proper diving rules, inadequate diving skills, or human error are more likely to occur than attacks or injuries from marine animals. In fact, most diving injuries are caused by the divers themselves.
Divers may intentionally or accidentally touch dangerous creatures or provoke an attack by making the animal feel threatened. Unprovoked attacks sea creatures They are extremely rare among divers.
The main rule: give the animal space and observe it respectfully and calmly from afar. Never touch sea creatures. Don't chase animals and they won't chase you.
Covering 70% of our planet, the sea is home to some of the most unusual, mysterious and deadly animals on the planet. Since humans are not born or live in the ocean, this makes us easy prey for many of these creatures, although fortunately we are not on their main menu...
As a man who has spent too much time floating on the surface of the sea, he has often tried to get closer and experience what lies below sea level. Fortunately, the statistics are not that scary and it seems to be quite rare for a person to be eaten alive in the open ocean. However, we should not think that the ocean waters are so welcoming to us; we should always be on our guard.
When selecting the most dangerous sea creatures in the world, we will take into account the attack statistics, killing potential and aggression of these animals. This list contains a huge number of species from tropical jellyfish to arctic killers.
10. Sea urchin
Photo. Toxopneustes (lat. Toxopneustes pileolus), sea urchin
Many of you have encountered sea urchins in your life, and some have learned how sharp their spines are and how painful it is to feel them in your skin. However, Toxopneustes pileolus does very well when it comes to defensive tactics. Described by the Guinness Book of World Records as "the most dangerous sea urchin in the world," it's one echinoderm you definitely shouldn't step on.
What makes this sea urchin so dangerous is the powerful venom it is equipped with. This venom contains at least two dangerous toxins: contractin A, a neurotoxin that causes smooth muscle spasms, and peditoxin, a protein toxin that can cause convulsions, anaphylactic shock and death. The venom is delivered through the pedicellariae, the flower-like structures that give this hedgehog its name. Once skin contact has occurred, pedicellaria often continue to pump venom into the prey. It is obvious that the size of these pedicellariae is directly related to the effectiveness of the venom.
Toxopneustes is responsible for many deaths that have occurred to people over the years. A hedgehog sting is very painful and can result in paralysis, breathing problems and disorientation, all of which can contribute to a person's drowning. As for the pain, here is an account of a bite recorded by a Japanese marine biologist in the 1930s:
“Then 7 or 8 pedicellariae were tightly embedded in the inner side of the middle finger of my right hand, separated from the stalk, they remained on the skin of my finger. I instantly felt severe pain, reminiscent of the pain caused by cnidoplasts of coelenterates, and I felt as if the toxin was rapidly moving through the blood vessel from the stung area to my heart. After some time I experienced difficulty breathing, mild dizziness, paralysis of the lips, tongue and eyelids, relaxation of the muscles in the limbs, it is unlikely that in this state I could speak or control my facial expression, I felt almost as if I was going to die." .
9. Barracuda
Photo. Great barracuda (lat. Sphyraena barracuda)
The photo above should be enough to understand why the barracuda is on our list. Reaching up to 1.8m (6ft) in length and armed with terrifyingly massive, super-sharp teeth, the torpedo-shaped barracuda is more than capable of causing serious injury to humans. In fact, there are 22 species of barracuda, but only the Greater Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) is known to attack humans.
The barracuda's diet consists mainly of small to medium-sized fish. She uses her lightning speed and ambush tactics to catch her. In many reported attacks on people, people were in possession of shiny objects, such as jewelry and even diving knives. Apparently the barracuda is attracted to this and confuses them for a fish and strikes.
Such attacks can result in deep cuts, often leading to nerve and tendon damage or, in worst cases, ruptured blood vessels. These wounds may require hundreds of stitches.
On rare occasions, barracudas have been known to jump out of the water, causing serious injuries to people in the boat. In one recent case in Florida in 2015, a female canoeist was injured and had to really fight for her life after suffering several broken ribs and a punctured lung during a barracuda attack.
If this information still does not convince you that barracuda should be on this list, then there is one more thing. Barracudas have one final argument: their flesh sometimes contains ciguatoxin, which can cause severe symptoms that last for months.
8. Textile cone
Photo. Textile cone
Cones have been a favorite among collectors for centuries for their shells, but don't be fooled by their beauty. appearance, these shellfish are killers! Equipped with tiny harpoons made from modified teeth, these creatures can fire a hollow harpoon filled with deadly neurotoxins in any direction. The harpoon of some large cone species is very large and strong enough to not only pierce human flesh, but also gloves and even a wetsuit.
One drop of cone venom is enough to kill 20 people, making it one of the most poisonous creatures on earth. Known as conotoxin, the venom can only have a very strong effect on certain types of nerves. On the medical side, a cone sting usually causes intense, localized pain with life-threatening symptoms that lasts for several days. On the other hand, from the moment this mollusk stings you, paralysis of the respiratory system and subsequent death can occur very quickly. In fact, one type of cone is very well known as the "cigarette snail" because before you die you won't even have time to smoke a cigarette!
Despite their deadly poison, cones have only been responsible for a few deaths over the years, which is why they come in at just number 8 on our list.
7. Leopard seal
Photo. Leopard seal
The leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) is actually named after its spotted coat, although this may explain its fierce nature. At the top of the Antarctic food chain, this leopard is one of the largest seals in southern waters. Reaching up to 4 m (13 ft) in length and weighing up to 600 kg (1,320 lb), the leopard seal is a formidable predator. In addition to its size and speed, these seals are also armed with a huge mouth (big enough to fit your head!) lined with large, pointed teeth, making it look more like a reptile than a seal.
The leopard seal's menu includes other species of seal, seabirds, penguins and fish, although they are also known to sift through krill and small crustaceans. These seals usually hunt from ambush, just below the ice level, when the seals or penguins jump into the water, it is at this moment that they pounce on their prey.
Given that the leopard seal is only found in the cold waters of the far southern oceans, they do not often come into contact with humans at all. However, because the leopard seal has already killed people, this makes it very terrible in our eyes.
Back in 1914, during Ernest Shackleton's expedition, a leopard seal had to be shot as it was pursuing crew member Thomas Ord-Lees. The seal first chased Ord Fox on the ice, then dived under the ice cover and watched him from below. After the leopard seal jumped out in front of Ord Fox, another member of the team managed to kill it.
In 2003, a British scientist was less fortunate. Kirsty Brown, a 28-year-old marine biologist working with the British Antarctic Survey, was snorkeling off the Antarctic Peninsula when she was attacked by a large leopard seal. The seal dragged the woman deep underwater, where she suffocated.
While there are many stories of leopard seals harassing people in boats, this incident is the first reported fatality.
6. Wart
Photo. Wart
This grumpy-looking fellow doesn't seem too happy to be the most poisonous fish on the planet. Armed with 13 needle-like sharp spines running along its back, the stone fish blends in perfectly with the surrounding background, it simply waits for an unfortunate person to step on it. Another feature of the wart that is always worth mentioning is that it can survive outside the sea for up to 24 hours. It is really very difficult to notice on the seabed. The neurotoxic venom of warts is not only dangerous, but also incredibly painful. In fact, the fish's sting is reportedly so painful that victims have asked for their limbs to be cut off. The quote below clearly shows how painful it is:
“In Australia I got my finger pricked by a stonefish... not to mention bee venom. ... Imagine every wrist, knuckle, elbow and shoulder being hit with a sledgehammer for about an hour. About an hour later, you were allegedly kicked in both kidneys for about 45 minutes, so much so that you could not stand or straighten up. I was in my early 20s, very fit, and still have a small scar. My finger remained painful for the next few days, but I also had periodic pain in my kidneys for several years after that.”
Video. How dangerous is a wart?
For obvious reasons, many people have gotten a wart shot in the leg. Although such cases may simply redefine pain, such cases have nevertheless led to a lot of trouble. Such venom injections are potentially fatal, causing respiratory paralysis and possibly heart failure. In serious cases, immediate medical attention is required and the victim must be treated with an antidote. In fact, it is the second most commonly administered antivenom in Australia and has resulted in no one dying from a wart injection there for almost 100 years.
5. Blue-ringed octopus
Photo. Blue-ringed octopus
Instantly recognizable by their iridescent blue rings, these small octopuses spend much of their time hiding in cracks or camouflaging themselves in the coral reefs of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
It is only when they feel threatened that blue-ringed octopuses truly live up to their name and show their true colors. At that moment, his skin turns bright yellow, and his blue rings become even brighter, almost shimmering. This beautiful display can also be a warning as it is one of the most dangerous animals in the ocean.
What makes this octopus especially dangerous is its venom. Not all octopuses have venom, but the blue-ringed octopus is in the big league. Known as TDT (tetrodotoxin), it is an incredibly potent neurotoxin, the same one found in dart frogs and wart frogs. It is approximately 1200 times stronger than cyanide, and one small injection can be enough to kill. In fact, many victims claim they didn't even feel the sting.
The average sample, weighing about 30 grams, reportedly contains enough poison to kill more than 10 adults.
Video. Why is the blue-ringed octopus dangerous?
There is no effective antidote for blue-ringed octopus venom; its neurotoxin is designed to paralyze the victim. Its effect is similar to medical curare, which is used to immobilize patients during surgery; under its influence, a person is unable to speak or move. The main danger is that it paralyzes the lungs, causing the victim to suffocate. In severe cases, prompt treatment is essential and this involves placing the victim on life support until the effects of the poison wear off and breathing is restored.
4. Box jellyfish
Photo. sea wasp
There are many species of box jellyfish, which get their name from their cuboid bodies. Many box jellyfish are especially poisonous, like the large sea wasp (lat. Chironex fleckeri), which has the most powerful poison. Found along the northern coasts of Australia and tropical Southeast Asia, the sea wasp is often regarded as the "world's deadliest jellyfish", having killed more than 60 people in Australia alone. The death toll appears to be significantly higher in other regions of the world, especially where antivenom is not readily available.
The venom of the sea wasp is second in strength among all creatures on Earth, more poisonous only at the geographical cone. Calculations show that each animal contains enough poison to kill 60 adult humans and very few animals can kill so quickly. In extreme cases, death occurs from cardiac arrest, which is known to occur in less than five minutes after the person has been stung. The bite itself causes excruciating pain along with a burning sensation that is similar to the touch of a hot iron. The good news is that, contrary to popular belief, urinating on the bite site will not cause any noticeable effect! In most cases, the tentacles remain on the victim's body and they can continue to sting even after you have left the sea, often resulting in scarring.
Video. Box jellyfish - Sea wasp
But there are also tiny jellyfish, irukandji. They are widespread and this small jellyfish has a strong venom that can lead to Irukandji syndrome, which gradually appears after the bite itself. It is also reported that the bite of the Irukandji is potentially fatal, as well as incredibly painful. One of the victims said that it was even worse than childbirth and more intense.
3. Sea snakes
Photo. Sea snake
There are many species of sea snakes, which are mainly found in the tropical waters of Indian and Pacific Oceans. They are thought to have evolved from land snakes in Australia and adapted to life in shallow coastal waters by developing a huge left lung and elongation. They are closely related to land-dwelling cobras and kraits, which is a bit surprising since many sea snakes are highly venomous. What's actually surprising is that their venom is much stronger than that of their land-based relatives. The reason for this venomous nature is that they eat fish and this means that they must immobilize their prey as quickly as possible to prevent it from escaping and preventing themselves from being injured.
Apparently, most of you have heard that despite their deadly venom, sea snakes are harmless because they have tiny mouths. This is complete nonsense! True sea snakes have small fangs and do not have huge mouths, but they are capable of swallowing fish whole and can easily bite a person, even through a wetsuit.
There are actually two reasons why sea snakes are considered much less dangerous than land snakes: first, they tend to be shy and much less aggressive. In addition, they tend to perform a “dry” bite, i.e. no poison is injected. It is very unlikely that a person can be injected with poison and the good news is that there are certain antidotes.
Of all the species of sea snakes, there are two species that deserve mention. The big-nosed enhydrina (lat. Enhydrina schistosa) is one of the most poisonous snakes on earth. Its venom is almost 8 times stronger than that of a cobra, one drop is enough to kill three people. It is also considered more aggressive than most other sea snakes. The venom of the Nose Enhydrina contains both neurotoxins and myotoxins, while the former will kill you thanks to respiratory paralysis, the latter will begin to break down your muscles, causing excruciating pain.
Despite these signs, there have been a few known deaths involving this snake, which is more common in deeper waters. Most of the bites were caught by fishermen while checking their nets.
The second sea snake that is worthy of mention is the Belcher's sea snake (lat. Hydrophis belcheri), only because it is often mentioned as the snake with the most powerful venom. It is often claimed that its venom is 100 times stronger than even that of the inland taipan. This is a bit of an exaggeration, but the poison is certainly like that of the taipan. The good news is that the Belcher's sea snake is often described as having a "friendly" nature!
2. Saltwater crocodile
Photo. Saltwater crocodile
The saltwater or saltwater crocodile is no stranger to the pages of “In the Jaws of Animals.” This animal is deadly on both land and water, and this crocodile is the largest reptile to survive to us since the time of the dinosaurs. The largest specimens that have been recorded and described were about 7 meters (25 ft) long and weighed about 2 tons, although in the 1950s one crocodile reached a length of 8.5 meters (30 ft) and was allegedly caught around city of Darwin in Australia.
Along with its size it also has incredible strength, the saltwater crocodile has the most powerful bite on Earth, 10 times stronger than a great white shark. They are also fast swimmers in water, reaching speeds of 27 km/h (18 mph). They're not that fast on land, but urban legends tell us they're capable of explosive action, supposedly faster than you can react.
Although most people associate the saltwater crocodile with Australia, it is widespread and causes more havoc in its other habitats. Saltwater crocodile can be found throughout Southeast Asia and even as far west as India. These crocodiles are also known to be able to swim long distances alone and have been seen as far away as Fiji and New Caledonia.
In Australia, there are an average of two fatal saltwater crocodile attacks per year. In other places, the number of attacks is difficult to estimate, but research suggests there are many more, up to 30 per year.
Perhaps the most infamous attack by saltwater crocodiles occurred on Ramree Island (Myanmar) during World War II. After a fierce battle, the Japanese soldiers refused to surrender and retreated into a crocodile-infested swamp, which was surrounded by British marines. An estimated 400 Japanese soldiers were reportedly killed by crocodiles that night. Witness Bruce Stanley Wright wrote about the events of that night:
Video. Crocodile massacre. Crocodile attacks on Ramri Island
“Scattered rifle shots in the black darkness of the swamp were interrupted by the cries of wounded men being eaten by the jaws of huge reptiles, and the blurred, alarming sound of spinning crocodiles was like a sound from hell, which is rarely heard on earth...
Of about a thousand Japanese soldiers who entered the Ramree swamps, only about twenty were found alive."
1. Sharks
Photo. Big White shark
Not too many surprises here, right? As predators, sharks are the apex predators of the ocean, and are very well equipped to inflict serious injury: with large, fast and powerful jaws, armed with multiple rows of razor-sharp teeth, these fish are polished killing machines. However, despite the existence of about 400 species, it is possible to select only a few that pose any real danger to humans. We have already described in another article, but we still believe that it is worth choosing only four of them.
On the one hand, the great white shark is the most capable killer of all living sharks. Reaching a length of almost 8 meters (25 feet) and weighing 3 tons, great white sharks earned their name during their lifetime. Their favorite tactic is to swim under their prey and then, at top speed (55 km/h, 35 mph), with their mouth open, rise up to sink their teeth into the unsuspecting prey.
Statistics provide some support for the great white shark's status as a deadly ocean creature, with approximately 20% of the approximately 400 reported unprovoked attacks being fatal. However, when you take a closer look at some other species of sharks, you can understand that great white sharks are not as dangerous to humans as compared to other species.
The bull shark has slightly more high performance killings, about 25%, and it is believed that many attacks were either misattributed or not recorded. The bull shark's trump card is its ability to survive in fresh water. These sharks have been found all over the world thousands of miles from the ocean in estuaries where no one would expect to see them. They have even been found in lakes that only have seasonal access to the sea.
Additionally, bull sharks, like tiger sharks, are much less picky about what they eat. While most great white shark attacks appear to involve misidentification of their prey, bull sharks deliberately attack humans.
Another species of shark worth mentioning is the longtip shark. Although statistics do not indicate their danger, legendary naturalist Jacques Cousteau described them as “the most dangerous of all sharks.” These sharks are blamed for hundreds of deaths in air and sea disasters. The most famous cases date back to the Second World War, when the Nova Scotia sank off the coast of South Africa and "Indianapolis" in the Philippines. Although there are no exact figures, the estimated death toll from shark attacks between the two disasters is around 1,000.
