ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the clinical toxicology of injuries due to coelenterates, cone shells, sea urchins and sea stars, stingrays, scorpion fish and sea snakes. However, a few other venomous marine animals need to be mentioned here such as sponges, cephalopods, weeverfishes, catfishes, toadfishes and rabbitfishes. Most catfish species are freshwater species, but a few are found in marine waters like the plotosid catfishes. When the spines penetrate the skin, the venom producing cells are destroyed and venom is released into the wound. Toadfish of the genus Batrachoides and Thalassophryne possess hollow opercular and two dorsal spines, which at the base are equipped with a venom gland. Rabbitfish, Siganus sp., are found in the coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific, but migrated to the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal. When penetrating the skin, these glands are damaged and venom is released into the wound causing local pain and edema.
