Toxic, bone-crushing fish from Hell terrorizes vacation waters

A toxic, invasive silver-cheeked toadfish (harefish) with bone-crushing jaws is spreading in the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal, prompting warnings to tourists due to risks of bites and tetrodotoxin poisoning. A 2024 study documented 198 human-health incidents, including 27 fatalities, from 2004–2023, with Greek authorities deploying floating barriers to protect swimmers.