Stonefish sting lethality in man has been scarcely documented since the middle of the 20th century. We report three clinical cases, including one fatality, emphasizing the cardiovascular toxicity of the Synanceia verrucosa venom, and its potentially lethal effects. All clinical data have been recently collected in New Caledonia and French Polynesia. Due to the medical significance of the venom, there is a notable lack of research on stonefish ichthyocrinotoxins.
Future research should investigate the toxins role in predator defence, parasite prevention, and mitigating epibiosis.
Further inquiry into stonefish toxins would expand ecological insights and may reveal therapeutic and industrial potential