DANGEROUS & VENOMOUS OCEAN ORGANISMS OF HAWAI

In Hawaii's Ocean Waters . . .

SOME DANGEROUS AND VENOMOUS ORGANISMS

Sea Critters
That Can Really Hurt You!

CLICK ON THE
SEA CREATURE'S NAME
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT IT
AND FOR
BASIC FIRST AID TREATMENT ADVICE

Detailed First Aid Treatment Advice
Can Also Be Obtained At Our
ALL STINGS CONSIDERED Web Pages
- Click to Them Starting Here!

	Anemone
COMMON HABITAT	All Hawaiian waters from tide pools to deep offshore waters.
PREVENTION	Avoid direct contact with skin. While tide pooling use footwear and don't put fingers/hands into holes and crevices.
INJURY MECHANISM	Tentacles have stinging cells that are used for catching prey.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS	Burning and itching sensation, redness and swelling where contact was made. Severe Reaction: may include shortness of breath; loss of consciousness.
FIRST AID TREATMENT	Rinse thoroughly with fresh or salt water. Apply ice for pain. IMMEDIATE medical attention may be required for severe reactions.

	Barracuda
COMMON HABITAT	Open waters/bay areas in the shadows, under floating objects.
PREVENTION	Don't wear shiny objects. They are attracted to reflective things that look like dinner.
INJURY MECHANISM	Sharp jagged teeth with strong tearing jaws.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS	Slashed and jagged tears in your skin.
FIRST AID TREATMENT	Stop bleeding with pressure. Get medical help.

	Cone Snail
COMMON HABITAT	Tide pools, sandy areas, shallow to deep offshore waters.
PREVENTION	Do not handle (even with gloves), especially near tip.
INJURY MECHANISM	Poisonous, dart-like mechanism near tip used for stunning and killing fish and invertebrates.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS	Stinging, burning pain, numbness, coma or cardiac arrest.
FIRST AID TREATMENT	Scrub the wound. Get medical help for severe reactions.

	Coral
COMMON HABITAT	All depths.
PREVENTION	Protect feet while tide pooling or reef walking. Don't touch coral. Stay out of rough shallow waters.
INJURY MECHANISM	Sharp edges cause abrasions and lacerations.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS	Bleeding, torn skin causing irritation, mild swelling.
FIRST AID TREATMENT	Stop any bleeding with pressure, clean thoroughly with soap and water. Get medical help for deep cuts and embedded pieces.

	Jellyfish
COMMON HABITAT	Very common in all water bodies. Box jellyfish, Carybdea alata and Carybdea rastonii, regularly swarm to Hawaii's Leeward shores 9 to 10 days after the full moon. Carybdea alata cause the most "trouble" for humans in Hawai`i.
PREVENTION	Don't go into areas where sighted, or if dead ones are seen on the beach. Observe posted signs.
INJURY MECHANISM	Stinging tentacles.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS	Stinging, burning, redness, swelling of lymph nodes. Severe reaction: difficulty with breathing and cardiac arrest. Occasional long welt lines.
FIRST AID TREATMENT	Douse with vinegar. Apply ice for pain. IMMEDIATE medical attention may be required for severe reactions.

	Moray Eel
COMMON HABITAT	Rocky areas, in holes, under rocks, crevices and tide pool ledges.
PREVENTION	Keep hands out of rocky areas, holes and crevices. Use stick to probe. Dead fish, blood or bait will bring them out of their holes.
INJURY MECHANISM	Razor sharp teeth, powerful jaws.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS	Bleeding, severe muscle damage, but more commonly tendon and nerve damage.
FIRST AID TREATMENT	Stop bleeding with pressure, clean thoroughly. Get medical help (guard against infection).

	Needle Fish
COMMON HABITAT	Near surface in bay areas and open waters.
PREVENTION	Use caution when night lighting/fishing.
INJURY MECHANISM	Long pointed jaw.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS	Pointed jaw may puncture and break off leaving a puncture wound.
FIRST AID TREATMENT	If point doesn't break off, clean with antiseptic if stabbed. If point breaks off do not remove it. Stop any bleeding with pressure. Get medical help immediately!

	Portuguese Man-of-War (Bluebottle - Physalia spp,)
COMMON HABITAT	Open ocean. Bays and beaches during strong onshore winds.
PREVENTION	Avoid areas where they frequent. Usually found when winds blow in from the ocean onto land. Observe posted signs.
INJURY MECHANISM	Long blue, threadlike tentacles.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS	Stinging, burning, redness, swelling of lymph nodes. Severe reaction: difficulty with breathing and cardiac arrest. Long welt lines.
FIRST AID TREATMENT	Pick off any visible tentacles. Rinse with fresh or salt water. Apply ice for pain. IMMEDIATE medical attention may be required for severe reactions.

See also: First Aid for PORTUGUESE MAN-OF-WAR STINGS

	Scorpion Fish
COMMON HABITAT	Protected ledges, rocky areas, and shallow inshore areas.
PREVENTION	Do not handle. Keep out of crevices and places into which you can't see.
INJURY MECHANISM	Toxic dorsal, pelvic, and anal spines.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS	Punctured skin, extreme pain, throbbing for hours. Sometimes convulsions and cardiac arrest; but rarely, in Hawai`i, such very serious reactions.
FIRST AID TREATMENT	Immerse in hot water to tolerance. Get medical help for serious reactions or for infection.

	Yellow Bellied Sea Snake
COMMON HABITAT	Seldom found in Hawaiian waters.
PREVENTION	If sighted stay clear, leave the area. Report to the Waikiki Aquarium.
INJURY MECHANISM	Venom through fangs.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS	Paralysis, severe pain, cardiac arrest.
FIRST AID TREATMENT	Keep the victim calm and warm. Transport to a medical facility or call 911 for an ambulance, IMMEDIATELY.

	Sea Urchin
COMMON HABITAT	Shallow reef areas to 100 foot depths.
PREVENTION	Wear foot protection. Don't walk on rocky areas with poor visibility. Do not handle!
INJURY MECHANISM	Long, extremely brittle spines.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS	Throbbing pain. Purplish discoloration.
FIRST AID TREATMENT	Pull out protruding spines. If spines(s) is/are in a joint, nerve, or when wound is infected - get medical help.

	Shark (See our Shark pages.)
COMMON HABITAT	Shallow inshore waters to open ocean.
PREVENTION	Avoid murky waters. Leave water if sighted, if you have an open cut or are pulling a string of speared fish. Try not to look like food.
INJURY MECHANISM	Jaws and rows of razor sharp teeth. Abrasions from sandpaper-like skin.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS	Severe bleeding, injury to or excision of muscle, bone and appendages.
FIRST AID TREATMENT	Control bleeding with pressure. Transport to medical facility or call 911 for an ambulance for severe shark attack bites.

	Squid or Octopus
COMMON HABITAT	Squid - open ocean, free swimming. Octopus - on bottom in rocky areas from tide pools to deep waters.
PREVENTION	Do not handle.
INJURY MECHANISM	Beak-like teeth.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS	Bleeding, mild stinging and throbbing.
FIRST AID TREATMENT	Stop bleeding with pressure, clean thoroughly with soap and water. Get medical help for deep cuts and embedded beak pieces.

	Stingray
COMMON HABITAT	Shallow, sandy areas to deep oceans.
PREVENTION	Shuffle feet when walking in shallow inshore waters. Stay clear of disturbed (swimming) ray. Do Not Molest!
INJURY MECHANISM	Tail with poisonous barb near base of body.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS	Lacerations and severe pain. Punctures in abdomen or chest are very serious - a medical emergency.
FIRST AID TREATMENT	Stop any bleeding, clean thoroughly with mild soap and water. Immerse in hot water to tolerance for pain. Get medical treatment for deep cuts and embedded barb pieces. Do not try to remove pieces yourself - get medical help.

	Surgeonfish
COMMON HABITAT	Wave zone to 150 foot depths.
PREVENTION	Take care in handling.
INJURY MECHANISM	Spine and knife-like razors near tail.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS	Throbbing pain, itching, bleeding and numbness.
FIRST AID TREATMENT	Stop bleeding with pressure, clean thoroughly with soap and water. Get medical treatment for deep cuts and embedded spine pieces. Do not try to remove pieces yourself.

	Tube Worm
COMMON HABITAT	Shallow reef areas.
PREVENTION	Use protective footwear and gloves.
INJURY MECHANISM	Hardened, razor sharp opening to worm's shelter.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS	Circular cut with fragments that may be embedded. Bleeding.
FIRST AID TREATMENT	Stop bleeding with pressure, clean thoroughly with soap and water. Get medical treatment for deep cuts and embedded pieces. Do not try to remove pieces yourself.