A yellow- and blue-striped fish
A school of barracudas
A yellow sea anemone
Moray eel and small, colorful fish
A great white shark swims near the water’s surface
A school of fish
Fish peeking from a hole
A swimming school of needlefish
A snail on the seafloor
Young crocodile on a riverside
A small crab among a sea anemone’s tentacles
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Striped SurgeonfishThe striped surgeonfish is an attractive Indo-Pacific reef fish that’s best handled with care because its caudal spine is venomous. Scientists believe that the world’s seas hold some 1,200 different venomous fish species and estimate that they injure about 50,000 people per year. But fish venoms can also bring great benefit—they are useful in the development of new drugs.
Photograph by Paul Nicklen

Dangerous and Deadly Sea Creatures

The ocean is full of beautiful creatures—but some of them can be hazardous to your health.

December 2, 2009