Random Most Poisonous Creatures In Sea (21 items)

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  (#21) Ocean sunfish

  • Mola mola

  The ocean sunfish, also known as the mola mola, is a massive, clumsy fish. They are the heaviest bony fish in the world and some can weigh as much as 5,000 pounds. While they may be huge, their ridiculous body shape makes them completely harmless to pretty much everything but jellyfish.

  Recent studies have shown trace amounts of toxic buildup in the livers of these animals, which could act as a poison to deter predators. 
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  (#19) Yellowtail amberjack

  • Seriola lalandi

  The yellowtail amberjack is a popular seafood all over the globe, including countries like Japan, New Zealand, and the United States. What many people don't know is that they should be careful with amberjack, as they are carriers of the ciguatera bacteria.

  Poisoning caused by this bacteria can lead to feelings of intoxication. Yellowtail amberjack are still viewed as a delicacy in many places. The Chinese have been dealing with amberjack-induced ciguatera poisoning for over 1,000 years. 
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  (#11) Grouper

  • Epinephelinae

  Grouper is a common food, but an increase in ciguatera infections is causing some people to reevaluate their menu choices. The infection is similar to normal food poisoning, but there are some severe symptoms that are dramatically different.

  Sensations of hot and cold can be reversed and heart rates can slow down drastically. The worst part about this poison is that the symptoms can often linger for years. 
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  (#16) Valentinni's sharpnose puffer

  • Canthigaster valentini

  Also known as the blacksaddle Toby, Valentin's sharpnose puffer is known to occupy the waters off the north coast of Australia. These puffers are so poisonous, other species of fish try to mimic them to trick potential predators.

  Two species of coral trout are blacksaddle Toby mimics, taking advantage of the arsenal that these puffers have evolved over millions of years. 
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  (#7) Striped Pyjama Squid

  • Sepioloidea lineolata

  There are not many poisonous cephalopods, but the striped pyjama squid is an exception to that rule. Its striped skin is believed to be a warning that these guys are not safe to eat. The have specialized glands on their bellies that secret a toxic slime if they are assaulted by a predator, rendering them unpalatable.

  These squid-like creatures are actually a species of cuttlefish and not true squids.
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  (#12) Xanthid Crab

  There are many different crab species that are considered delicacies around the world. The xanthid crab, also known as Demania cultripes, is not one of them. They are high in tetrodotoxin and reports of human deaths after accidentally eating one have been common in some parts of the Indo-Pacific region.

  The family Xanthidae is the classification given to xanthid crabs, many species of which are known to be toxic. It's likely that the crabs themselves aren't poisonous and that they absorb the toxins through their prey. 

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