WHAT MAKES STONEFISH SO FEARSOME?
Stonefish, such as the one above, are known to be masters of camouflage
Experts say stonefish are among the deadliest fish in the world.
They’re found in tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and are known to carry a powerful venom in the spines of their dorsal fin that can even be lethal to humans.
And, they’re masters of camouflage, making them difficult to spot.
‘The main thing people know about these fishes is they’re venomous,’ says William Leo Smith, associate curator at the University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum.
‘Some people know them because they have these fingerlike appendages and drag themselves around like they’re playing the piano; the appendages actually taste food as they go.
‘These stonefishes can mimic leaves floating in the water — they’re super camouflaged.
'A lot of them have really bright pectoral fins on sides of their body, and when they’re scared they flash them — this drab fish will suddenly flash bright yellows and oranges.
Experts say stonefish are among the deadliest fish in the world. They’re found in tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans
‘I always assume all of these features are defensive, but recent studies by other fish scientists suggest these could all be displays like a peacock,' Smith says.
In addition to their already impressive defenses, the University of Kansas researchers have also discovered that some species of stonefish have ‘switchblades’ in their face.
The switchblade mechanism, known formally a ‘lachrymal saber,’ is located just below the eye, with one on each cheek.