Synanceia

SYNANCEIA (Synanceia verrucosa), a fish of the scorpionfish family (Scorpaenidae; Red Sea, Java, Tahiti); its naked skin is covered with warts and leaf-like skin outgrowths; the snout is turned upward. The dorsal fin has 13 spiny rays; the pectoral fin is very long.

In each spiny ray of the fins, a pair of spindle-shaped venom glands lies in longitudinal grooves. These glands consist of a compact mass of secretory cells interspersed with indifferent flat "supportive" cells. During the formation of the secretion, part of the glandular cells disintegrates entirely, forming a false excretory duct. Synanceia is dangerous for fishermen, who may be pricked by the rays of its fins. When pricked, the venom of the glands enters the human body. The consequences of the sting are severe pain, swelling of the wound, lymphangitis, fever, and often gangrene of the wounded tissue. There have been cases of death. To protect themselves from Synanceia, fishermen in some places wear special boots. In our fauna, similar venomous properties (though weaker) are found in the black scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus) and the greater weever (Trachinus draco), both living in the Black Sea.