A number of different anemone species fall under the umbrella of Stichodactylida and the severity of their stings vary. You will doubtless recall the heart-breaking opening to Finding Nemo, which depicts a clownfish couple living in a Stichodactylida. Despite Marlin's insistence to "Get inside the house, Coral" where the anemone's stinging properties protect its inhabitants from predators, it all ends in tragedy. But what exactly is a Stichodactylida sting like? Would it just have given the nasty barracuda a bit of a booboo and sent him on his way, or are things a little more intense than that? Well as it turns out, stings from a couple of Stichodactylida species can cause major problems even for human beings, let alone smaller predatory fish. A number of medical journals report that a species called Stichodactylida haddoni has been responsible for acute liver failure in humans, which, needless to say, can be fatal. Other species have been known to cause anaphylactic shock which can also result in death if untreated. So keep in mind that there's a reason why naturally immune Pixar characters live inside these things. Next time a diver comes along to find something for his fish tank, his liver will have shut down long before he makes it back to 42 Wallaby Way.
Peter Austin initially joined WhatCulture as an occasional contributor to our Film, Gaming and Science sections, but made the mistake of telling us that he'd been making videos in his bedroom for over a decade. Since then he's been a vital member of our YouTube team and routinely sets the standard for smart-casual wear in the office.
