Synanceia
Encyclopedia
Synanceia is a genus of fish of the family
Synanceiidae, the Stonefishes, whose members are venomous, dangerous, and even fatal to humans. It is the most venomous fish in the world. They are found in the coastal regions of Indo-Pacific
oceans.
, though some species are known to live in rivers. Its species have potent neurotoxin
s secreted from glands at the base of their needle-like dorsal fin
spines which stick up when disturbed or threatened. The vernacular
name of the species, the stonefish, derives from being able to camouflage and transform itself to a grey and mottled color similar to the color of a stone. Divers have sometimes stepped on them, thinking they are stones.
, and it includes the species Synanceia horrida
that Linnaeus described as Scorpaena
. The authors of Synanceia are Marcus Elieser Bloch
and Johann Gottlob Schneider
in the latters republication of Systema Ichthyologiae iconibus cx illustratum (Illustrated catalog of Fishes), in 1801. The description was accompanied by an illustration by J. F. Hennig. The misspelling Synanceja is regarded as a synonym for this genus.
The pain is said to be so severe that the victims of its sting want the affected limb to be amputated.
Recommended treatments include the application of heat to the affected area and antivenom. Using hot water at a temperature no lower than 45 °C (113 °F), applied to the injured area has been found to destroy stonefish venom, and causes minimal discomfort to the victim. For more extreme cases, antivenom is to be used.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Synanceiidae, the Stonefishes, whose members are venomous, dangerous, and even fatal to humans. It is the most venomous fish in the world. They are found in the coastal regions of Indo-Pacific
Indo-Pacific
The Indo-Pacific is a biogeographic region of the Earth's seas, comprising the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the seas connecting the two in the general area of Indonesia...
oceans.
Habitat and characteristics
Synanceia are primarily marineMarine (ocean)
Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...
, though some species are known to live in rivers. Its species have potent neurotoxin
Neurotoxin
A neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells , usually by interacting with membrane proteins such as ion channels. Some sources are more general, and define the effect of neurotoxins as occurring at nerve tissue...
s secreted from glands at the base of their needle-like dorsal fin
Dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
spines which stick up when disturbed or threatened. The vernacular
Vernacular
A vernacular is the native language or native dialect of a specific population, as opposed to a language of wider communication that is not native to the population, such as a national language or lingua franca.- Etymology :The term is not a recent one...
name of the species, the stonefish, derives from being able to camouflage and transform itself to a grey and mottled color similar to the color of a stone. Divers have sometimes stepped on them, thinking they are stones.
Classification
The type species of the genus is Synanceia verrucosaSynanceia verrucosa
Synanceia verrucosa is a fish species, sometimes lethal to humans, which is known as the reef stonefish or simply stonefish. They are carnivorous ray-finned fish with venomous spines that lives on reef bottoms, camouflaged as a rock...
, and it includes the species Synanceia horrida
Synanceia horrida
Synanceia horrida is a species of venomous fish of the Synanceiidae family, also known as the Estuarine stonefish or regionally as simply stonefish. They are carnivorous ray-finned fish with venomous spines that lives on reef bottoms, camouflaged as a rock...
that Linnaeus described as Scorpaena
Scorpaena
Scorpaena is a large genus of marine fish. It consists of 62 species:* Scorpaena afuerae – Peruvian scorpionfish* Scorpaena agassizii – longfin scorpionfish* Scorpaena albifimbria – coral scorpionfish...
. The authors of Synanceia are Marcus Elieser Bloch
Marcus Elieser Bloch
Marcus Elieser Bloch was a German medical doctor and naturalist. He is generally considered one of the most important ichthyologists of the 18th century.- Life :...
and Johann Gottlob Schneider
Johann Gottlob Schneider
Johann Gottlob Theaenus Schneider was a German classicist and naturalist.-Biography:Schneider was born at Collm in Saxony...
in the latters republication of Systema Ichthyologiae iconibus cx illustratum (Illustrated catalog of Fishes), in 1801. The description was accompanied by an illustration by J. F. Hennig. The misspelling Synanceja is regarded as a synonym for this genus.
Species
The following is a list of species in the genus:- Synanceia alula Eschmeyer and Rama-Rao, 1973
- Synanceia horridaSynanceia horridaSynanceia horrida is a species of venomous fish of the Synanceiidae family, also known as the Estuarine stonefish or regionally as simply stonefish. They are carnivorous ray-finned fish with venomous spines that lives on reef bottoms, camouflaged as a rock...
(Linnaeus, 1766) - Synanceia nana Eschmeyer and Rama-Rao, 1973
- Synanceia platyrhyncha Bleeker, 1874
- Synanceia verrucosaSynanceia verrucosaSynanceia verrucosa is a fish species, sometimes lethal to humans, which is known as the reef stonefish or simply stonefish. They are carnivorous ray-finned fish with venomous spines that lives on reef bottoms, camouflaged as a rock...
Bloch and Schneider, 1801
Treatment of envenomation
There have been unproven reports of osteo-arthritic sufferers experiencing improved mobility and reduction in joint pain following envenomation episode. The responsible agent has not been identified.The pain is said to be so severe that the victims of its sting want the affected limb to be amputated.
Recommended treatments include the application of heat to the affected area and antivenom. Using hot water at a temperature no lower than 45 °C (113 °F), applied to the injured area has been found to destroy stonefish venom, and causes minimal discomfort to the victim. For more extreme cases, antivenom is to be used.