, or the Black Sea scorpionfish, or the scorpidae, or the Black Sea scorpionfish (lat. Scorpaena porcus) is a fish that gives its name to the extensive Scorpionidae family.

Signs. A large head, devoid of scales, with a characteristic depressed forehead and a row of sharp spines. There are numerous skin appendages on the head.

The anterior part of the dorsal fin has hard rays, at the base of which there are poisonous glands. Pectoral fins large, rounded, with a thickened lower ray.

Related forms. The closest are Scorpaena scrofa and Scorpaena notata, then appearing in northern waters sea ​​bass, Sebastes, and Pacific sea ruffes, Sebastodes.

Spreading. Pool Mediterranean Sea: Adriatic, Tyrrhenian, Aegean, Marmara and Black Sea; Atlantic Ocean; in Russia - the Black Sea.

BIOLOGY OF THE BLACK SEA Ruffe

Characteristics. Black Sea ruffe - marine, bottom fish, living in the coastal zone on hard soils. Sedentary, prefers relatively calm water, inhabiting mainly bays; does not go deeper than 40 m. Avoids desalinated areas. It has the ability to camouflage itself, taking on a color similar to its environment.

Spawning. In the Black Sea it occurs from May to August at a water temperature of 12-19°. Mass spawning was observed mainly in protected bays.

Black Sea ruffe (Scorpaena porcus)

Development . Pelagic caviar, bound in elongated balloons with transparent mucus. The egg diameter is 1.1-1.3 mm. The larvae, when hatched, are 2.6 mm long. They stay in the surface layers of water. In September, fully formed fry reach a length of 10-20 mm.

Height. The Black Sea ruffe at the age of seven to eight years reaches a length of 30 cm (in the Black Sea). Commercial catches are dominated by individuals aged two to three years, 8-12 cm long and weighing 20-60 g.

The greatest increase in length is observed in March - June, and an increase in weight - in June - September. The Black Sea ruffe reaches sexual maturity at the age of three years.

Nutrition. The Black Sea ruffe is a predator that feeds on small fish (mainly gobies, silversides, greenfinches) and crustaceans (shrimps, crabs, mysids). Commercial species fish in the ruffe's diet make up about 4.5% of all food consumed. Juveniles feed mainly on mysids.

The most intensive feeding is observed from July to October, the least - from January to April. In winter, intervals between meals reach 30 days, but a complete cessation of nutrition is not observed.

Competitors. Predatory species of gobies, sea ​​cow(Uranoscopus scaber), snake (Trachinus draco). However, there is not much competition due to some differences in habitats.

Enemies are few in number. Small ruffs are consumed in small quantities sea ​​cats, as well as large ruffs.

Migrations. The Black Sea ruffe is a sedentary fish and does not make any significant migrations. Only seasonal movements from the coast to great depths (up to 40 m) are observed, which is associated with excessive cooling (below 12°) or, conversely, overheating of water (over 23°) in the coastal zone.

BLACK SEA Ruffe FISHING

Only relevant in local markets. There is no special fishing in Russian waters, and catches are not taken into account separately. According to experimental seine fisheries, off the coast of Sevastopol (depths 5-15 m), ruffe makes up 10% of total number fish caught and 55% by weight. An average of 125 fish are caught in one net landing. At a depth of 20-40 m, there are 50 fish per trawl lift.

In the area of ​​Istanbul (Türkiye), the Black Sea ruffe is caught in the amount of 60-120 quintals per year.

Technology and progress of the fishery. Caught during all year round in the coastal zone with seines, fixed nets, nets and fishing rods.

The greatest fishing is off the coast of Crimea in May - June and September - October, off the coast of Turkey - in July - August.

When selecting caught fish, care must be taken to avoid painful pricks from the spiny rays of the Black Sea sea ​​ruffe.

Usage . Implemented in fresh at local markets. The meat is delicious.

Scorpion fish are a genus of marine ray-finned fish. Scorpionfish live in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, as well as in the seas of their basins. They are very common on the islands of the Malay Archipelago, the Philippines and Thailand. One of the most northern representatives is the Black Sea scorpionfish or, as it is also called, sea ​​ruffe. Its habitat is the Black Sea, Kerch Strait. Although rare, it can also be found in the Sea of ​​Azov. In general, all species live exclusively in salt water, preferring coastal areas and shallow waters of coral atolls. However, some species can be found at depths of up to 2000 m. The sea ruffe leads a sedentary lifestyle.

Scorpion fish are considered one of the most dangerous marine inhabitants. Even the name of the fish itself, which translates as “scorpion fish,” indicates its strong poisonousness.

The color palette of most scorpionfish species is dominated by red-brown tones, which, in combination with a large number small motley spots, lines, stains allow the fish to be completely invisible against a multi-colored background coral reef or the seabed.

A specific notch divides the scorpion fish's dorsal fin into two parts. 7-17 rays in the anterior part and 1 ray in the posterior part have turned into sharp spines. In addition, there is 1 spine in the pelvic fins, and 2-3 in the anal fins. At the base of each spine there is a poisonous gland that secretes poison. The poison flows out through two grooves. It is worth noting that there are also spines on the cheeks of scorpionfish, but the poison does not flow through them.

How to protect yourself from a scorpionfish sting

Firstly, when diving or swimming in the habitats of scorpionfish, take special care, since due to the skillful camouflage of the sea ruffe, it is not always possible to detect it in time against the background of the surrounding landscape.

Secondly, be vigilant and when walking along the beach, wear shoes with thick soles, since scorpionfish are often washed ashore by waves.

Thirdly, remember that scorpionfish can be caught in nets and fishing rods as accompanying fish. If you accidentally catch it on a hook, do not fuss or try to knock it down, as this risks getting an injection in the most unexpected place. Just stun the fish suitable subject. Place the caught fish in a canvas fish bag. To manipulate scorpionfish, including cutting it, use gloves or mittens made of tarpaulin fabric.

Fourthly, when keeping a scorpion fish in an aquarium, never touch it with your bare hands.

What are the consequences of a scorpionfish injection?

When injected, the poison immediately penetrates into the wound, which is a high-molecular heat-labile protein. The poison affects mainly the respiratory and vascular systems.

A prick of a thorn very quickly causes acute pain, which increases over time and spreads further along the lymphatic vessels. Painful shock may develop, which leads to loss of consciousness. Plus, when poisoned by scorpionfish poisoning, the following are observed:

• decrease in pressure,
• swelling and numbness of the affected part of the body,
• pulmonary edema.

Among other things, lymphangitis develops first, then lymphadenitis, which can persist for several days. A limited area of ​​necrosis occurs at the punctured site. As for the general symptoms of poisoning, they do not appear acutely.

Symptoms do not disappear within a few days, but death from scorpionfish poisoning is quite rare.

In some cases it may develop allergic reaction, which is accompanied by vomiting, difficulty breathing, inappropriate behavior, and loss of consciousness.

A scorpionfish injection is also fraught with the introduction of a secondary infection into the wound. Infectious pericarditis has even been recorded as a result of contact with ruffed fish.

What should not be done when injecting scorpionfish

• It is prohibited to apply a tourniquet to the affected limb, as this can lead to a worsening of the victim’s condition and the development of complications.
• You should also not cut wounds. Such manipulations do not help remove the poison, but only provide additional injury to the victim.
• You should not cauterize the pricked area for the same reasons that were discussed in the previous paragraphs.
• Do not inject a solution of potassium permanganate and other strong oxidizing agents into the affected area. This is not only ineffective, but also dangerous.
• If you are poisoned by scorpionfish, it is not recommended to drink alcohol, as it promotes faster spread and absorption of the poison.

What measures can be taken when injecting scorpionfish?

1. Immediately after the injection, the victim should be provided with complete rest, placing him immediately on an improvised or real stretcher, so as not to shift him in the future.

2. If necessary, remove any needles remaining in the wound.

3. If it is impossible to immediately deliver the victim to a medical facility, it is recommended to immerse the puncture site in the maximum possible hot water, naturally, without bringing the situation to a burn. The optimal water temperature is 43-45 degrees. This procedure will help relieve pain to some extent and neutralize certain components of the poison under the influence of high temperature.

4. Then you should treat the wound with brilliant green, iodine or hydrogen peroxide and apply a sterile bandage to it. As swelling increases, the bandage must be loosened periodically to avoid cutting into the tissue.

5. To slow down the spread of poison throughout the body, a splint can be applied to the pricked limb.

6. Among other things, the victim should be provided with plenty of fluids.

7. And finally, and most importantly, the victim should be taken to a hospital as soon as possible, where doctors will provide him with the necessary medical care.

Interesting facts about scorpionfish and their injections

• The venom-producing apparatus of scorpionfish is somewhat similar to the structure of poisonous teeth in snakes. In addition, the sea ruffe also sheds periodically, like a snake.
• The greatest danger is posed by the scorpion fish that lives off the coast of Australia. More than 120 people die from its poison every year.
• Scorpionfish is one of the TOP 10 most poisonous marine inhabitants.
• Several cases of scorpionfish being caught in fresh water bodies have been recorded.

In seas such as the Azov and Black among all the inhabitants underwater world you can meet a formidable-looking fish - the sea ruffe or, in other words, the scorpionfish. This fish really has an intimidating appearance and looks like a sea monster.

A description of the appearance, what it eats, how it reproduces and where this interesting fish lives will be described in this article.

Features of the sea ruffe

The sea ruff belongs to the fish of the scorpionfish family, which, in turn, belongs to the ray-finned fish. The order Scorpiformes includes 209 species belonging to 20 genera. These fish prefer reservoirs of tropical and temperate seas and oceans. The sea ruffe mainly lives in the Indian and Pacific Ocean. The genus scorpionfish, which includes about 60 species, lives in the reservoirs of the Pacific, as well as Atlantic Ocean. The fish prefers to live at the bottom and leads sedentary image life.

In Russia, scorpionfish can be found in two species: conspicuous and Black Sea. It is quite difficult to distinguish these species. The only difference is the presence of a noticeable scorpionfish on dorsal fin black spot. And in the Black Sea scorpionfish, the only difference is the longer processes located above the eyes, which resemble rag shreds. In the noticeable scorpion fish these processes are shorter. Ruffs live in Black Sea water, the mouth of the Shapsukho River, as well as in the Sea of ​​Azov. In appearance, the scorpionfish is similar to the river ruff, which is why its second name is the sea ruff.

Appearance

This representative of the underwater world has small body sizes, reaching 150–200 mm. Very rarely, some species of sea ruffes can reach 500 mm.

The Black Sea scorpionfish reaches 300 mm with a weight of 1 thousand grams. A noticeable scorpionfish has a length of up to 150 mm and a weight of 200–300 grams.

Scorpion - predatory species fish. The diet of the sea ruffe includes small fish, invertebrate organisms, and crustaceans. Ruff, when hunting, lies motionless and waits for the prey to swim closer to him, and then the fish makes its throw and catches the prey.

The appearance of the scorpionfish is really scary:

• The body of the sea ruffe is oblong and compressed at the sides.
• The surface of the body is covered with small and rough scales.
• The fin has the most formidable appearance, because it consists of sharp spines.
• Head large size and is covered with a large number of spines and outgrowths.
• The mouth is large with wide lips.
• It has a variegated color. Against the background of a brown tint of various colors, there are stripes and specks of a dark shade. The same spots can be seen on the fins.

Scorpionfish spines

At the base of the spines that cover the body of the sea ruffe there are two grooves containing poisonous substance . The spines of scorpionfish are arranged almost in the same way as the teeth of snakes. The scorpionfish uses its threatening spines and poison only for protection in case of danger.

When a fish defends itself, it plunges its spines into the enemy’s body and injects a poisonous liquid into the resulting wound. After some time, the injection site swells and begins to cause severe pain, which resembles the pain of a wasp sting. Sometimes in addition to pain and swelling the person may vomit and sweat profusely. If a sea ruff stings a person's body numerous times, then in rare cases even death is possible.

First aid for pricking a sea ruffe

If a person is pricked by a sea ruffe, the following steps must be taken:

1. Determine the injection site and remove the thorn fragment.
2. It is necessary to ensure that the injection site bleeds for as long as possible. This will eliminate further penetration of the toxic liquid and its spread throughout the human body. Therefore, it is necessary to squeeze the blood out of the wound as long as possible.
3. The affected area should be treated with hot or sea ​​water. If you have hydrogen peroxide on hand, it is best to disinfect the wound with it.
4. Contact a medical facility for professional help, even if the injection site is no longer bothering you.

They catch scorpionfish close to the shore. The most successful places for catching are considered to be piers, piers, rocks, as well as shores where there is a bottom with large stones and dense vegetation. Scorpion fish hunt in such places, so finding it among algae bushes and in rock crevices is quite easy.

Scorpionfish can be caught on a hook throughout the year, but fishermen prefer to hunt sea ruffes in summer time. The fish is most active at night. There are no special requirements for gear - they can be very different. The best option would be: a spinning rod with installation of bottom tackle, as well as a sea circle.

Bait for sea ruffe

Bait for scorpion fish is used in rare cases. The ruffe will collect any bait, for example: crushed mussel shells, in a short period of time. You can use small pieces of horse mackerel.

For fishing for scorpionfish, the following is used as bait:

• Chicken and fish fillet.
• Boiled shrimp.
• Squid meat.
• Fresh shrimp.
• Small pieces of fish that were recently caught.

The scorpionfish has an excellent appetite, so it grabs prey that may exceed its size. The sea ruffe is not afraid of the rings of a spinning rod, and thanks to its gluttony, it quickly gets hooked.

Both with the help of a spinning rod and with the help of a sea mug, scorpionfish are caught in a plumb line. If fishing is done using a spinning rod, then you need to lower the bet to the very bottom, pick up the slack, and then make a stretch and wait for the bite. If the fish is caught, the fisherman first feels short-term constrictions, and then a strong jerk occurs. With such signs, you cannot hesitate, otherwise the scorpion fish will hide under the nearest boulder and then the bet will end, and you will be left without a catch.

If you use a marine circle, then you should lower the ring to the very bottom and then leave the tackle for about 20 minutes. In this case, there is no need to worry that the fish will escape, because the ring and small leashes will not allow it to go a great distance and get caught and then break the tackle on the rocks.

How to remove a sea ruffe from a hook

Retrieving a caught scorpionfish is simple, but you should remember safety precautions and make sure that the spike does not injure the skin.

The poisonous spines of the scorpionfish are located:

1. At the base of the dorsal fin rays.
2. On the ventral fin at the base of the first ray.
3. At the base of the three rays of the anal fin.

To remove the sea ruff from the hook, you need to press it with the handle of the rod and grab it by the lower lip with pliers. Then, in order to avoid injury from the thorns, they are trimmed with scissors. Next, the fish is removed from the hook without any threat to the fisherman’s health.

Sea ruff in the kitchen

Despite the fact that the scorpionfish looks scary, its juicy, white meat with a sweetish taste - considered a real delicacy. But it should be remembered that When cleaning caught fish, you should follow safety precautions, otherwise you can get hurt by its thorns. You can cook from sea ruff large number delicious dishes. Her fried, boiled, dried, used in aspic dishes and soups. Most often this fish baked in foil, and also preparing fish soup. They say that ruff soup has a special taste.

An interesting fact is that sea ruffe meat, in addition to its excellent taste, affects men's health. Therefore, for male fishermen and underwater hunters, the Black Sea scorpionfish is always a desirable prey.

Sea ruffe (Scorpaena porcus) In the Black and Azov Seas, as well as in Kerch Strait you can see quite interesting fish, nicknamed the sea ruffe or small scorpionfish. She is interesting to watch, but it is absolutely not worth getting to know her closely. This is one of the most unfriendly sea ​​creatures Moreover, its spines, located throughout the body, are quite poisonous.

This predator lives closer to the bottom at a depth of up to 40 meters. Outwardly, it can be mistaken for a pebble covered with various algae. Has a slightly flattened head with high-set big eyes. The fish is colored brownish-pink. An adult fish can grow up to 30 cm. Moreover, the sea ruffe grows in a unique way: like snakes, it sheds its old skin and acquires a new one. Moreover, than better conditions, in which the fish live, and the more food there is, the more often these molts occur.

In addition to the waters of the Black and Seas of Azov, the lesser scorpionfish is found off the coast of Australia, southern New South Wales to Cape York and the west coast of New Guinea. There have been cases when these ruffes were caught in rivers with calm currents. This means that they tolerate both salt water seas and fresh water rec.

Due to the fact that this fish is quite difficult to notice at the bottom, many of its victims literally swim into its mouth. She doesn't even have to specifically track anyone down. Sea ruffes grab their prey, making a sudden short throw characteristic of other scorpion fish, and swallow it. The scorpionfish feeds on small fish and various crustaceans.

This fish is dangerous not only for fish and crayfish: it is not for nothing that the sea ruffe received another name - the small scorpionfish. The entire body of this fish is covered with sharp thorns and prickles, but even these are not what make the ruffe dangerous. The fact is that at the base of the spines there are channels that conduct deadly poison. Experienced fishermen know this, so before removing the ruff from the hook, they stun it and cut off these dangerous spines. If you don't do this, you may get an injection. It causes very noticeable pain, and mucus that gets into the wound also causes inflammation. The venom of ruffes is especially dangerous early spring: At this time of year, due to rising hormone levels, the poison becomes most toxic.

This fish does not use its poisonous spines for hunting, using them for protection. The poisonous organs are located in the spiny rays of the dorsal, anal and ventral fins. In total there are at least 20 such rays. They are located at an angle of 45°, thereby directed towards the aggressor. Paired venom glands are located at the base of the groove of each spine. When it pierces the body, the skin around it is pressed, and only the thorn and the poisonous gland located in it penetrate the wound. The upper part of the gland breaks through and the poison is injected into the wound. After the injection, the pain increases quickly and can become unbearable. With multiple injuries, some victims have to be hospitalized, and there have even been fatal cases. There were especially many casualties among fishermen. Due to the fact that there are many spines on the body of the ruff, they easily become entangled in the mesh. It is very difficult to untangle them without touching the thorns.

The danger of the sea ruffe is that when you accidentally disturb it, it will not even think about swimming away. On the contrary, it raises its dorsal spines and takes a protective pose, bending its body into a crescent. Without noticing him among sea ​​stones and algae, you can easily stumble upon it.

When a fish is taken out of the water, all its spines are protruding. Sometimes this little devil makes quite loud sounds, similar to a growl. This sea ruff warns you quite unequivocally that you cannot pick it up with your bare hands.

If you do receive an injection, first of all you need to do everything to make the wound bleed as much as possible - this will help remove the poison and prevent it from penetrating further into the body. And then you need to treat the affected area very hot water. Even if the pain after the injection begins to gradually subside, you should immediately contact the nearest hospital. After all, the poison of the sea ruffe can get inside, which, although not fatal, is quite unsafe for humans.

	Length: up to 30 cm Weight: up to 1 kg Habitat: Black and Azov Seas, coasts of Australia, southern New South Wales and western coast of New Guinea.

It is also called the Black Sea scorpionfish. And outwardly it fully corresponds to the terrible name - a real miracle Yudo “fish-whale” from a fairy tale: a large head with growths, horns, eyes bulging, under them big mouth. In the process of evolution, its dorsal fin has turned into sharp, dangerous spines, instantly launched as soon as the scorpionfish are disturbed. In addition, a poisonous gland is hidden at the base - this is how the ruffe protects itself from predators, if, let’s say, the extraordinary appearance of the fish does not frighten them. And the weapon for attack is crooked jaws, sharp teeth predator.

The scorpionfish hunts with a fury not inferior to land leopards - it can hide and wait until this or that fish swims close enough. A lightning-fast throw - and the ruff is already grabbing the prey. The whole appearance of the fish screams danger: these spines, growths, eyes, behavior and, of course, toxicity. However, at other times it is also beautiful - a variety of colors: there are black, grayish, brown, red, orange ruffs.

Habitats

Spiny predators often hide in places between stones, or under the canopy of algae. It is convenient for them to hunt and live at the bottom. In addition, ruffs can change color, adapting to their external environment. Also, the scorpionfish's spines and outgrowths on the body, as well as its leathery tentacles, serve well as camouflage. You can easily swim past, mistaking the ruff for a stone overgrown with various inhabitants. The fish itself is also confident in its invisibility and can behave calmly until it swims close to it. Then the ruff spreads its spines and flies away like a bullet.

The ruffe grows in a very interesting way - its skin, like crabs or snakes, does not grow with it and, having “outgrown” the old one, it sheds it and acquires a new one. The size of the ruffe depends most of all on its environment - the better it is fed and the safer the environment, the more often such “molting” occurs, that is, the ruffe eats itself off and lives well.

The danger of scorpionfish to others is obvious. Certainly, sea ​​creatures that's one thing, but fish are dangerous for people too. mostly thanks to its poison at the base of the spines. Different types The ruffe can also be found on the coast of Wales, the coast of Australia, and New Guinea. Ruffs were found even in rivers, this indicates the excellent adaptation of the fish not only to salt water, but also to fresh water.

The ruffe has few problems with hunting, camouflage works perfectly and sometimes it doesn’t even need to go anywhere - sit on the bottom and wait until the prey swims up on its own, thinking that you are a stone.