Fish are not only popular with anglers, but also with many nature lovers. But be careful: some of them are poisonous. Therefore, skin contact with them should be avoided. We have an overview of the 10 most poisonous fish in the world – one of them is a species of eel.
Eel blood is poisonous because it contains the toxin dinogunellin, which has a blood-dissolving effect and can cause serious inflammation or even paralysis if it comes into contact with open wounds or mucous membranes. But other fish are also poisonous, so skin contact with them should be avoided.
Important information for handling eel blood
- Danger only through blood: The risk only comes from contact with the eel’s blood. A bite from the fish is harmless, as is eating smoked eel.
- Be careful when gutting: When gutting the eel, the blood can easily come into contact with your skin or mucous membranes, which poses health risks.
- Take protective measures: When handling the fish, wear gloves and, if possible, protective goggles to protect yourself from the poisonous blood.
- Seek medical help: If you come into contact with eel blood, especially through an open wound or mucous membranes, seek medical attention immediately.
Protect yourself when handling eels and avoid unnecessary risks from contact with eel blood. But other fish are also poisonous. In a list of the 10 most poisonous fish in the world, the eel – or more precisely the conger eel (Conger conger) – ranks “only” 9th. We have summarized for you which other fish appear in the ranking of the 10 most poisonous fish in the world.
Since eel blood is poisonous, the conger eel (Conger conger) is also included in our list of 10 very poisonous fish.
10 poisonous fish in the world
- Stechrochen: The stingray is one of the most poisonous fish in the world. Contact with the stingray should be avoided at all costs. The poison that a stingray excretes through its sting can cause severe pain, breathing problems, nausea, extreme drop in blood pressure and, in the worst cases, even death.
- Weever fish: The weever fish is the most poisonous fish that can also be found in Germany – in the North Sea and the western Baltic Sea. The weever fish’s poison often causes severe and extremely painful swelling that can last for a long time. If you are allergic to the weever fish’s poison, in the worst case scenario it can even cause you to lose consciousness or suffer a cardiac arrest.
- Multiple beards: The red mullet, native to Indonesia, is ranked third on the list of extremely poisonous fish in the world. Its sharp fin rays can secrete a poisonous slime.
- Dragon head: The red scorpionfish is ranked 4th in the list of the world’s most poisonous fish. Its dorsal and anal fins have several poisonous spines. Anyone who comes into contact with the scorpionfish’s poison can expect severe pain, which can appear immediately and last for a long time. In the worst case, the scorpionfish’s poison can lead to death.
- Moray eel: The moray eel is number 5 on the list of poisonous fish in the world. The blood of the moray eel is poisonous, just like that of the eel. Moray eels can still be eaten, as the poison is rendered ineffective when heated to over 75 degrees Celsius. The Romans considered the moray eels, which are native to the Mediterranean, to be a great delicacy. Moray eels do not have poisonous spines or fangs, but they can transmit bacteria through a bite that can cause disease in humans.
- Rotfeuerfisch: The Pacific lionfish has several poisonous spines on its dorsal fin. The poison of the Pacific lionfish can cause extreme pain, swelling, nausea, vomiting and several other symptoms in humans. There are no known human deaths related to the poison of the lionfish. This makes it the sixth most poisonous fish in the world.
- John Dory: The John Dory is not to be confused with the weever, which is the second most poisonous fish in the world. The John Dory is found in the Mediterranean and has sharp jaws that it can use for defense. Anyone who comes too close to the John Dory must expect to be bitten. How dangerous the poison actually is for humans has not yet been proven beyond doubt.
- Electric ray: The electric ray is the 8th most poisonous fish in the world. It has no poisonous spines, but instead has an electrical organ – the so-called “electroplax” – made of converted muscles. With this, the electric ray can paralyze its prey with electrical discharges. It can have noticeable consequences for people if they encounter an electric ray. In the worst case, such an electric shock can lead to unconsciousness.
- Lake Eel (Conger conger): The blood of the sea eel, which was mentioned at the beginning of the article, is poisonous. Eel blood contains the toxin dinogunellin, which has a blood-dissolving effect and can cause serious inflammation or even paralysis if it comes into contact with open wounds or mucous membranes. This is why the sea eel is the ninth most poisonous fish in the world.
- barracuda: The barracuda, also known as the pike, is a predatory fish and is therefore at the bottom of the food chain. It is the 10th most poisonous fish in the world. Barracudas, which are found in tropical and subtropical waters, accumulate the poison ciguatoxin. This can lead to symptoms of poisoning in humans when eating barracuda meat.
