WE’RE ALL GOING ON A SUMMER HOLIDAY…

AH, AUGUST, THE MONTH WHEN FRANCE STOPS DEAD AND EVERYBODY RUSHES TO THE SEASIDE. NOT A CARE IN THE WORLD…

It occurs to me that there are a few aspects of seaside fauna that I have touched on in passing, but perhaps this would be a good moment for a better look. I refer to venomous sea-creatures.

Venomous or poisonous

There is a difference – a very clear-cut difference – and it is important to make it clear. An animal is poisonous if it contains poison within its body, but is incapable of transferring that poison directly into another animal. To become a victim of that poison you must eat it (for example the Fugu Fish) or get it into your system through the skin (for example certain frogs and toads). A venomous animal, on the other hand, can pass its toxin into you by direct injection (for example an adder) or by poisoning an open wound (for example a lizard like the Gila Monster or the Komodo Dragon). Usually, venom is used to capture prey efficiently. Any protective function is secondary.

Bony Fish

There are a number of fish that are capable of passing venom to another animal (in this case mostly a human animal), but their venom is never used in hunting; it is purely defensive. They are normally equipped with spines upon the upper part of their bodies, usually as part of their dorsal fins or gills, which contain venom. An incautious step that forces one or more such spines into an unwary foot will introduce a toxin that will hurt severely. If one or more spines break off, carrying its load of venom, so much the worse.

Weever fish

These are the venomous fish that you are likeliest to encounter around France and the United Kingdom, ranging from the south coast of England and Ireland, down the coast of France, Spain, and Portugal,

ByMikeGeorge

Mike George is our regular contributor on wildlife and the countryside in France. He is a geologist and naturalist, living in the Jurassic area of the Charente and into the north Mediterranean coast. Notice they are not “Weaver fish” as they are often miscalled. The name is probably derived ultimately from the Latin Vipera, a snake. The Spanish and Portuguese refer to them as “Spider-fish”.

The Weever Fish sits on the sea-bed, often quite close to the shore-line, where the bottom is sandy. It lies almost buried, in the hope of catching a passing shrimp or small fish in its huge, gaping mouth. Its dorsal fin has about 6 spines, carrying venom, purely to “protect its back”.

I have never, fortunately, trodden on such a fish (my interest on sea-shores did not include swimming or paddling) but I am told that the first reaction is that you have cut your foot on a sharp stone. This is followed within seconds by intense pain. Pain is really the only problem. The fish is saying “Get off”; it has no interest in killing you. Very rarely are there any complications, and the pain will start to fade after half-an-hour or so. If left untreated, the pain is usually gone the next day. The process can be speeded up by soaking the affected limb (or it may be a bottom, depending upon the disport in which you were engaged) in water as hot as the victim can bear without being scalded. This will speed the denaturing of the toxin.

Normally, your chance of encountering these fish is low, but it is not negligible. Records show that some areas, such as the Gower in Wales, may see several hundred cases in a year, but these are only the reported ones.

It is as well to check for any broken-off spines and remove them from the wound. Also, get the victim looked over at the local hospital emergency unit, in case there is a complication or an allergy problem.

Other fish

Probably the deadliest of the spineinjecting fish is the Reef Stonefish Synanceia verrucosa. Normally one would not expect to encounter it outside the tropics, but there are reports that it has set up home in the Eastern Mediterranean. Its lifestyle is not unlike that of the Weeverfish, but its venom is more toxic, and if you step on one of these, seek immediate medical help.

Other fish, often referred to as scorpion fish, have similar poison delivery systems. One of the most beautiful (and deadly) is the Lionfish, a spectacularly spined orange and brown fish that has become very popular in aquarium displays. These swim about among coral reefs, and you would have to be very unobservant not to see one well ahead of any contact. They definitely carry their own warning colouration. Best seek out a good aquarium and encounter them in safety!

With all these fish, once the spines have been removed, the danger is past, and many of the fish are used in local speciality foods. In fact, the bulk of the victims of fish-spine injuries are fishermen, to whose lot it falls to remove the spines. In Southern France, the rascasse, a blanket term for several sea-scorpion types of fish, is often used as an ingredient in the local delicacy, Bouillabaisse.

Stingrays

There are several fish of the cartilaginous ray family that carry an erectile spine and so can deliver a painful sting. Rarely are these encounters fatal. Again, the fish is usually issuing a warning. One such encounter, however, did prove fatal on a large canvas. Steve Irwin, known as “The Crocodile Hunter”, a popular Australian TV naturalist, was filming a marine sequence off the coast of Australia. During a break in filming he saw a very large stingray a short way off. Since he knew his daughter was compiling a film article on rays, he called his cameraman over and they set out to film the ray to add to her footage. Nothing easier. The ray approached the cameraman, and Irwin followed behind the ray for some now unascertainable reason. Unfortunately, this was the sort of approach that a seal would have made that was intent on eating the ray. The ray reacted by stopping dead in the water and erecting its spine, onto which Irwin swam. The spine penetrated his heart (the ray was, as I said, a large specimen) and he died almost instantly. Venom would have been irrelevant.

Invertebrates

There are, of course, several other venomous creatures, especially in tropical waters, which you are unlikely to encounter. The Blue-ringed Octopus, made famous in the James Bond film “Octopussy”, does in fact exist. Its bite can deliver a venom that contains tetrodotoxin, which causes death usually by respiratory paralysis. There is no antivenin, and each octopus carries enough toxin to kill 26 normal people. This is of course an extension of its feeding strategy, in which it uses the toxin to kill crabs and other crustacea. It has no desire to attack man. It is quite small and shy, and will only bite if cornered and interfered with. Probably only about 11 human deaths have been recorded. The only other serious hazard you may encounter is the tribe of jellyfish. There are many different species, and their toxicity is variable. The Portuguese manof-war Jellyfish (ok, so they're not technically jellyfish, but that's a whole other article) is quite dangerous, but rarely proves fatal. The stings, however, are very painful. Deadliest of all is the

Australian Box Jellyfish, which can often prove fatal. However, the stings only work on exposed flesh, which is why you may see Australian lifeguards wearing ladies’ tights, which are sufficient protection!

Jellyfish trail filaments below and around them, often extending far beyond the area of the float or body. It is said that a Manof-war can attack you without you even seeing the float approaching. The filaments are covered with special cells that, when they detect a change in the chemical environment, fire a tiny barbed harpoon connected to a venom delivery system. These enter the victim’s body (usually, of course, a food item) and sufficient contact will kill or disable the prey.

Should you be ensnared by such an attack, do not panic. Get to safety (the shore, for choice) while you can. Then wash off the stinging filaments with seawater, NOT fresh water, as this will alter the chemical environment and cause more cells to fire their poison darts. Scrape any “harpoons” out of your flesh using a credit card (if you have one). It is easiest to get a crowd around you to help! One thing, however, that you must not do, or allow anybody else to do, is to urinate on the jellyfish filaments or the wound. A curious legend has grown up, probably as a result of an episode of the TV comedy “Friends” some years ago, that urine will disable the stinging cells and neutralise the toxin. It will do neither. If anything, it will cause more cells to fire, and it may introduce bacteria into the damaged skin. Better, after the stinging cells have been removed, to wash the area with vinegar, which may soothe the pain, and get to hospital.

Have a lovely holiday!

August provides us with the rare chance to observe a 'Blue Moon'. What is it and does the Moon actually turn blue? Read our Moon section to find out more. The most prominent constellations and asterisms (star patterns) to find this month will be…

In the northern skies

Bootes - towards the western horizon with its brightest 'alpha' star, Arcturus, shining brightly

Corona Borealis - forming a clear 'C' shape is a little higher in the sky

Hercules - further north again, where you can identify the rhombus shape of the 'Keystone' asterism.

In the southern skies

Cygnus - you will find 'The Swan' high in the sky towards the 'Zenith' (the highest point any astronomical object will reach in the sky)

The Summer Triangle - formed by the lead stars of three constellations: Denab, Altair and Vega. Denab marks the tail of Cygnus

The Teapot - a prominent asterism found near the brightest area of the summer Milky Way

There are a few binocular targets for you to find and observe this month. For example, the Andromeda Galaxy which can be found by using the 'W' of Cassiopeia as a pointer. Secondly, the Ring Nebula, or M57, is a planetary nebula which can be found a little south of the star Vega which is in the constellation of Lyra. For more detailed information on the positions of these objects you can download a free application such as 'SkySafari'.

Moon phases and observing focus for August

Full Moon phase - 1st August at 19h00

Last Quarter phase - 8th around 11h30

New Moon phase - 16th around 10h30

First Quarter phase - 24th just before 11h00

Full Moon phase (2) - 31st at 02h30

As the cycle of the phases of the moon lasts approximately one month, we typically experience 12 full moons each year. Many cultures have given distinct names to each month's full moon. 12 months, 12 full moons, 12 names. Simple right? The moon phases actually take 29.5 days to complete, which means it takes just 354 days to complete 12 lunar cycles. So every 2.5 years or so a 13th full moon is observed within a calendar year. This 13th full moon doesn't conform to the normal naming scheme and is referred to as the Blue Moon.

Planet activity this month

Mercury is very low in the west now and best on the 1st of the month.

Venus is a bright morning object at the moment and can be observed low in the east so long as you avoid the sun as it rises.

Mars has faded now as an evening object and is not easily seen.

Jupiter is a very bright morning planet this month and will be found rising earlier every day.

Saturn reaches 'opposition' - when its orbit brings it closest to the earth - on the 27th when the rings will appear to brighten.

Uranus and Neptune are both morning planets now and may be observed with a telescope.

Meteor showers for AugustThe Perseids

This is one of the most impressive and most anticipated meteor showers of the year. The Perseids began in July but will reach a peak of activity around the 12th13th when hourly rates can be as high as 100. This year the Moon will be in a

ClaireWardlaw

Claire Wardlaw, originally from Edinburgh, lives in the Charente with her husband. Since their move nearly 6 years ago, Claire has become passionate about astronomy