They Will Kill You

The deep sea is filled with incredible creatures, but even the most beautiful have come to be known as man’s greatest enemy. Sea creatures are fascinating because of how alien-like and how colorful they look despite being hazardous. This list is made to educate the public about the dangerous encounters one can face. Even though these creatures may look beautiful, they should be admired from a safe distance. This is not meant to discourage anyone from becoming a marine biologist or simply wanting to explore the sea but rather to inform the people of the dangers that are present. Today I will be discussing the dangerous sea creatures so I hope you’re ready to dive into the depths of the ocean as we discuss these dangerous yet miraculous sea creatures.

5.  Blue Ringed Octopus

The blue ringed octopus, a genus of extremely venomous cephalopods, comes in at number five. These small octopuses are typically found in the Sea of Japan, Southern Australian waters, and the sea between the Philippines and Vanuatu. They are available in shades of yellow, brown, and blue and are expertly concealed. The fact that this animal contains salivary glands that release the toxin tetrodotoxin renders it exceedingly hazardous. By inhibiting sodium channels, tetrodotoxin prevents neurons from sending signals to muscles. This causes the muscles to quickly weaken and paralyze, including the respiratory system, which can cause respiratory arrest and death. According to the Ocean Conservancy “The venom is 1,000 times more potent than cyanide and contains enough poison to instantly kill 26 people.” To put this in context, these organisms are roughly 12 centimeters long and the size of a golf ball. Fortunately, because they are bashful, these creatures will flash the 60 blue rings that wrap their arms and body, making them glow very brightly. This is the octopus's technique of telling you to stay away before it bites you and injects poison into your skin. There have been a few deaths, with 3 adults so far. If you ignore their warning, you will have around thirty minutes before you leave this world.

4.  Barracuda

Next up we have the barracuda that lives in the Western Atlantic Coast from the U.S to Brazil. It can be found in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, as well as the eastern Atlantic Ocean, Indo-Pacific, and the Red Sea. What makes these creatures so dangerous is the fact that they have two sets of razor sharp teeth. According to the Florida museum, “The great barracuda has a large mouth containing two sets of razor-sharp teeth, making it an efficient predator. There is a row of small razor-sharp teeth along the outside of the jaw with a larger set of dagger-like teeth within these.” Barracudas are polyphyodont, meaning that they can go through several sets of teeth. These creatures usually leap out of the water to catch their prey and they usually end up on sailors' ships.  The total number of deaths from Barracudas are 25 in total.

3.  Box Jellyfish

The box jellyfish lives primarily in coastal waters off Northern Australia and throughout the Indo- pacific ocean. These creatures grow up to 20cm in the body and have 15 tentacles that can grow 3m in length. Along each of their tentacles lie 5,000 stinging cells that trigger the chemical cells of humans. According to the National Ocean Service, “People unfortunate enough to be injected by the poison suffer from cardiac arrest, paralysis, inflammation, difficulty breathing, back pain, brain hemorrhage and even death all within a few minutes of being stung.” This pain can last up to 8 hours and may also cause something called Irukandji syndrome, which is an anxiety trigger that lets your brain know it's about time to die.  Fun fact, these creatures have lived on this earth for six hundred million years and have 24 light sensitive eyes which helps them avoid predators who are lurking in the dark. The reason this creature ranks higher than the previous one is because this creature has killed between 50 and 100 people per year.

2.  Stingray

At number 2 we have the stingray that is found in shallow coastal waters of temperate seas.  The dangerous part of the stingray is their tail, which is covered with rows of sharp spines that are strong enough to pierce through the skin of a human. According to the National Geographic for Kids, they report that “They are related to sharks, and like their shark cousins, they do not have bones. Instead, their bodies are supported by cartilage—the same material that you feel inside the tip of your nose.” Another fun fact is that these creatures have been as long as the dinosaurs have and are over 500 million years old. These creatures are 6.5 ft tall and weigh up to 790 pounds. Unfortunately these creatures caused the death of Steve Irvin, an Australian zoo keeper, from piercing his chest and there have been around 1,500 to 2,000 victims a year.

1.  Sea Snake 

The sea snake takes number 1 because they have attacked over 15,000 to 75,000 fishermen each year.. These creatures live in the tropical and warm waters of the Pacific and Indian Ocean. According to eMedicineHealth it states “Sea snake venom is filled with potent neurotoxin and symptoms include nausea, painful muscles, blurry vision, difficult breathing, and droopy eyes.” Luckily there is sea snake antivenom but it usually happens in the sea and not everyone has access to medical treatment. These creatures can stay in the water up to eight hours and can rise from the shallow water. Sea snakes are usually gentle creatures when they are unprovoked but as soon as you interfere within their boundaries, prepare to be attacked because they will show you no mercy. 

So just remember, next time you look to frolic in the waves or cool off on a hot summer day, the ocean is full of things that will literally kill you.