Sharks are not the only predators of the open waters that can attack and kill a human. There are other threats to be on the lookout for when you’re enjoying the beauty of the ocean and other bodies of water. In this article, you will learn of a few creatures that can cause your death in a rather painful and sometimes terrifying way.
Electric Eel
The name of this creature alone should give a clue as to how dangerous it can be. The electric eel is an elongated freshwater fish that lives in the Amazon and Orinoco rivers of South America. To be technical, the creatures aren’t even really eels, but a type of knifefish that is related to the catfish. The South American rivers are home to these deadly creatures that are equipped with three specialized organs that generate electric currents that are strong enough to stun or kill an adult human. At times, the currents reach up to 600 volts.
When people disappear while swimming in the Amazon and Orinoco rivers, one of the causes could be suffering a stun by an electric eel that led to the person drowning to death. However, the electric eel does not eat humans and dines on a feast of smaller fish, crabs and small mammals. When it attacks, it is only because it feels threatened. People are advised to never handle an electric eel or enter waters that are known to harbor the fish.
Belcher’s Sea Snake
One of the most venomous snakes in the world actually lives in the waters off South East Asia and Northern Australia. The Belcher’s Sea Snake possess a poison that is strong enough to kill 1,000 people , just a few milligrams are needed to cause such an effect. Luckily, fewer than 25% of the snake bites from this species will contain venom, and the creature is reportedly quite docile. Documented bites from the creature have come from fishermen who have pulled the snake out of the ocean in their nets.
Candiru
Traveling through the South American rivers can be quite a life-threatening journey if you come in contact with candiru. These creatures are small, slender, nearly transparent relatives of the catfish. They typically feed on the blood of other fish, but the candiru pose a disgustingly horrific way to die for humans. In the Amazon, they are particularly feared. They can sometimes swims into the urethra or anus of a man or woman. Their hooked spines cause them to become stuck inside. The process is quite painful and can lead to death for the victim. This is because the candiru dies when the human leaves the water. Their body starts to rot and they cause infection, which can kill a human , especially if you live in a remote part of South America where there isn’t a nearby hospital. A delicate surgical procedure is required to remove the fish from inside your body.