News from Newquay
Look out for our Deadly Duo!
A pair of stonefish - the world's most venomous fish species on the planet - has arrived at Newquay's Blue Reef Aquarium this week.
Stonefish, which are also known as the Goblinfish and the Warty-Ghoul, are so poisonous staff have had to undergo specialist first-aid training and the fish are being kept under lock and key in a special display.
The poison is held in glands under 13 jagged spines running along the stonefish's back. The spines are so sharp they can pierce through a shoe and the fish had to be transported in a reinforced container.
Aquarist Lindsay Holloway said: "Most people think sharks are the oceans' deadliest killers but the stonefish is responsible for far more fatalities each year."
According to marine experts from Australia's Great Barrier Reef: 'The sting causes excruciating pain and a great deal of swelling rapidly develops causing the affected tissue to die.
'The symptoms of the venom are muscle weakness, temporary paralysis and shock - which may result in death if left untreated.'
Anyone unfortunate to be stung is advised to elevate the affected limb and immerse it in hot water or apply a dry heat, like a cigarette, to the wound.
All Blue Reef aquarists have undergone specialist first aid training and instruction on how to handle the potentially deadly fish.
"We regularly dive with our tropical sharks, but that's a walk in the park when you compare it to the potential danger of these little fish," said Lindsay.
"None of us are taking any chances. Whenever we do have to handle them we're going to be very careful indeed and we'll also ensure that another member of staff is present - just in case something does go wrong."
Capable of surviving for up to 12 hours on land, the stonefish has even killed people out walking on the beach yards away from the sea.
