Beautiful, deadly, and hiding in plain sight — don't touch!
Beautiful and dangerous, the family of scorpionfish includes the exotic lionfish and the stonefish—perhaps the most deadly fish in the sea. It's no wonder this family bears the name Scorpaeniformes: their venom is as toxic as that of the scorpions of the desert. Scorpionfish have large heads, poisonous spiky fins, and mouths so large that they can literally "vacuum" up their prey whole as it swims by.
The lionfish—also called the zebrafish, turkey fish, and red fire fish—is armed with venomous spikes, but it uses these weapons only for defense. Its mouth is so big that it can swallow its prey whole—even a fish its own size. If an attacker comes in contact with those spines, the fish releases a venom that can induce instant, shooting pain!
Stonefish are some of the most dangerous fish in the oceans. They are well armed with a potentially deadly venom, and they have a nasty habit of lying motionless on the bottom.
It's better just to look at some fish than to touch them!
Playing with danger — When exploring a reef, divers would be wise to remain a safe distance from all types of scorpionfish. None of these fish are likely to attack, but you don't want to accidentally brush up against one. Stonefish, which often lie camouflaged on the bottom, are especially dangerous. Who wants to risk a sting that can cause your limbs to swell to elephantine proportions, or even cause death?
Source: Microsoft Oceans (1995) CD-ROM. Text liberated from original screen art; images, audio & clips restored from disc. Original media is Microsoft/supplier copyright — non-commercial educational preservation. Credits & Acknowledgements