DANGEROUS MARINE CREATURES
Going for a swim is part and parcel of many people’s holidays, but there are some water-dwelling creatures that you really don’t want to be getting in with. Dangers lurk in rivers, pools, lakes and seas – so make sure you know what you’re getting in with before you start splashing around. Otherwise, just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water, you could get a nasty shock. We’ve picked out 10 of the creatures the truly unlucky could encounter.
Blue-ringed octopus:
Pacific OceanIt’s small and colourful, but thoroughly deadly if you get on the wrong side of it.
One blue-ringed octopus has enough venom inside it to kill 26 humans. Mercifully, they’re not usually found where humans like hanging out, and even then aren’t particularly aggressive.
Box jellyfish:
Hawaii, Philippines, Northern AustraliaOften regarded as the most venomous
animal in the world, the box jelly (or ‘stinger’) has killed over 5,000 people since 1954. During box jellyfish season (usually around October to May), the seas they inhabit are thoroughly unsafe for swimming. Stings can often be treated with vinegar, but that’s not always enough – the toxins can kill a human in minutes.
Saltwater crocodile:
Northern Australia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon IslandsA virtually unchanged relic from the dinosaur era, the saltwater
croc is a fearsome predator and arguably nature’s ultimate killing machine. They can reach up to 6m long, and can happily lie in wait for days, assessing what’s going to make for an easy kill. They can often turn up in unexpected watering holes too – a massive danger for anyone fancying a dip in croc territory.
Great white shark:
All oceans, but mainly off the coast of Mexico,
California, South Africa and AustraliaThe undisputed king of the sea, the Great White is the saltwater croc’s main challenger for the title of best designed killer. As for the damage one can cause, well we’ve all seen Jaws...
Marbled cone snail:
Indian Ocean and Pacific OceanSnails are generally thought to be harmless creatures, but not this baby.
It’s generally regarded as being the fourth most poisonous creature on the planet. They like warm water, but are generally harmless to humans unless said human is stupid enough to pick one up. In that case, one drop of venom is toxic enough to kill twenty men.
Hippopotamus:
AfricaOften incorrectly quoted as the
animal responsible for the most human deaths in Africa – that prize goes to the mosquito by a long distance – the hippo is nonetheless not a beast to get on the wrong side of. A notoriously grumpy and aggressive creature, it is always liable to charge, chomp or upturn a boat.
Piranha:
Amazon basin, South AmericaThough
their reputation is somewhat overplayed by Hollywood images of rampant shoals tearing a cow apart until it’s a mere skeleton, piranhas can still give a nasty bite. They’ve got sharp teeth, and have been known to attack swimmers.
Belcher’s sea snake:
Indian Ocean, and off the coasts of Australia,
the Philippines and ThailandIt’s the most venomous snake in the world, and its venom is thought to be over 100 times more toxic than its nearest competitor, the inland taipan. Mercifully, however, it’s a friendly soul, and bites are almost unheard of.
Portuguese Man O War:
All over the world in warm climatesThey look like jellyfish, but technically aren’t.
Whatever you want to call them, however, they’re a complete nuisance and often very painful. Sometimes known as bluebottles, Portuguese Men O War tend to gather in swarms, meaning that if you get stung by one, you’re more than likely be stung by a few of its pals.
Stonefish:
Coasts of India, China, Philippines,
Papua New Guinea and AustraliaA monumentally ugly creature and often quite difficult to spot, the stonefish is not one to be standing on. It has some incredibly toxic spines on its back, and the venom has been known to kill a human.
Blue-ringed octopus:
Pacific OceanIt’s small and colourful, but thoroughly deadly if you get on the wrong side of it.
One blue-ringed octopus has enough venom inside it to kill 26 humans. Mercifully, they’re not usually found where humans like hanging out, and even then aren’t particularly aggressive.Box jellyfish:
Hawaii, Philippines, Northern AustraliaOften regarded as the most venomous
animal in the world, the box jelly (or ‘stinger’) has killed over 5,000 people since 1954. During box jellyfish season (usually around October to May), the seas they inhabit are thoroughly unsafe for swimming. Stings can often be treated with vinegar, but that’s not always enough – the toxins can kill a human in minutes.Saltwater crocodile:
Northern Australia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon IslandsA virtually unchanged relic from the dinosaur era, the saltwater
croc is a fearsome predator and arguably nature’s ultimate killing machine. They can reach up to 6m long, and can happily lie in wait for days, assessing what’s going to make for an easy kill. They can often turn up in unexpected watering holes too – a massive danger for anyone fancying a dip in croc territory. Great white shark:
All oceans, but mainly off the coast of Mexico,
California, South Africa and AustraliaThe undisputed king of the sea, the Great White is the saltwater croc’s main challenger for the title of best designed killer. As for the damage one can cause, well we’ve all seen Jaws...Marbled cone snail:
Indian Ocean and Pacific OceanSnails are generally thought to be harmless creatures, but not this baby.
It’s generally regarded as being the fourth most poisonous creature on the planet. They like warm water, but are generally harmless to humans unless said human is stupid enough to pick one up. In that case, one drop of venom is toxic enough to kill twenty men.Hippopotamus:
AfricaOften incorrectly quoted as the
animal responsible for the most human deaths in Africa – that prize goes to the mosquito by a long distance – the hippo is nonetheless not a beast to get on the wrong side of. A notoriously grumpy and aggressive creature, it is always liable to charge, chomp or upturn a boat.Piranha:
Amazon basin, South AmericaThough
their reputation is somewhat overplayed by Hollywood images of rampant shoals tearing a cow apart until it’s a mere skeleton, piranhas can still give a nasty bite. They’ve got sharp teeth, and have been known to attack swimmers.Belcher’s sea snake:
Indian Ocean, and off the coasts of Australia,
the Philippines and ThailandIt’s the most venomous snake in the world, and its venom is thought to be over 100 times more toxic than its nearest competitor, the inland taipan. Mercifully, however, it’s a friendly soul, and bites are almost unheard of.Portuguese Man O War:
All over the world in warm climatesThey look like jellyfish, but technically aren’t.
Whatever you want to call them, however, they’re a complete nuisance and often very painful. Sometimes known as bluebottles, Portuguese Men O War tend to gather in swarms, meaning that if you get stung by one, you’re more than likely be stung by a few of its pals.Stonefish:
Coasts of India, China, Philippines,
Papua New Guinea and AustraliaA monumentally ugly creature and often quite difficult to spot, the stonefish is not one to be standing on. It has some incredibly toxic spines on its back, and the venom has been known to kill a human.
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