What kind of catfish sting

Probably not very likely, given the known effects of these venoms on humans, but perhaps worth investigating, Wright said. Further examination of the chemical composition of the venoms also will provide valuable insight into the mechanisms and potential selective factors driving venom evolution in fishes, Wright said. Ann Arbor, MI Email umichnews umich. Search for: Search. Killer catfish?

Venomous species surprisingly common, study finds. With channel, blue, and flathead catfish, the possible secondary infection is the more serious concern. These young cats, under 3 lbs. For any sized catfish that I can fit my hand around, I like to firmly grasp them as shown above.

Grip them from the top and behind the head and pectoral fins. You can also hold them like this but with your hand underneath the fish. Either way, you have to be careful when doing so, as you never know when they will decide to flop around. A really firm grip is the key to avoiding the spines. If a catfish is too large to hold with a single hand then their spines are usually dull enough to be of little concern. To further eliminate risk, I would advise a novice angler to control a catfish with a lip gripper until they are more comfortable around them.

The hesitancy in grabbing catfish firmly by hand is what usually gets you stuck. You have to commit to the grab and hold on tight. Upon examining the wound, I found my leg extremely swollen and reddened. Only when I applied a hot-water compress did the discomfort subside. What I did not know about these saltwater cats is the fact that skin covering their serrated pectoral and dorsal-fin spines contains venom cells.

The resulting pain can be excruciating, and if not properly treated, dangerous secondary infections can result. Fortunately, my injury was minor other than the short-lived agony it caused.

Beware, though. A recent study published in the Journal of Heredity by American Museum of Natural History biologists William Smith and Ward Wheeler shows there are more species of venomous fish than venomous snakes. In fact, there are more venomous fish than all other venomous vertebrates combined. The stings from some of these fish can be strong enough to debilitate or even kill a human.

The new study replaces the old estimate of species with a conservative estimate of more than 1, species of venomous fish. DNA sequencing helped the scientists determine how known venomous species are related to other fish that might also be venomous.

Some of those other fish were then examined to determine if they had venom delivery systems. They did. Snakes, scorpions, stinging insects and spiders — not fish — usually come to mind when a person thinks about venomous animals.

But more than 50, injuries are attributed to venomous fish each year. Not surprisingly, statistics indicate that most dangerous encounters occur between anglers and the fish they catch. The vast majority of venomous fish are members of the catfish family.

Among these are many saltwater species, all of which should be dealt with cautiously. These include the gafftopsail catfish mentioned in my opening story and the sea, or hardhead, catfish, both of which are frequently caught by anglers in portions of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. The sturdy spines on the back and side fins of these species can easily pierce the bottom of a shoe.

Just a prick from one fin can cause searing pain, but most stings heal without complications. Occasionally, however, victims experience more severe symptoms such as allergic reactions, heart palpitations and loss of consciousness. Secondary infections caused by bits of skin and spine in the wound can be even more dangerous than the stings themselves. Freshwater catfish also can sting with their sharp fins. But those most often caught by U.

The same cannot be said for the miniature catfish known as madtoms. The 29 species in the U. But handling one is like playing with a hornet.