# What sea creature stung me? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 6, 2011, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sea-creature-stung-me/595369 "2011-09-06T10:46:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sea-creature-stung-me/595369/1 "2011-09-06T10:46:26Z")
I was swimming of the northwestern coast of Honshu and put the back of my hand against a rock with some fuzzy plants on it. There was an immediate low-level pain sensation, as if I’d touched a cactus with [fuzzy spines](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_K6JY3zILDJY/Sf-qj_3uRZI/AAAAAAAABjw/XKIMjF2IlOA/s400/DSC_4144.jpg). The initial pain wore off quickly, leading to an irritating slight burning sensation, but I hardly noticed it. When I woke up the next morning the area was red, and itched like Scrooge’s author (rimshot). 2 days later (now), the general redness has subsided into individual reddish bumps, and they still itch. Obviously it’s healing, and it’s not a big deal, but now I’m curious. What got me? The plants? Some small animal(s) I didn’t notice? ---
**Author:** ![Otara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Otara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otara)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sea-creature-stung-me/595369/2 "2011-09-06T11:06:37Z")
> **[Hydroid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroid)** > > Hydroid may refer to: These? Otara ---
**Author:** ![colonial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@colonial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colonial)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sea-creature-stung-me/595369/3 "2011-09-06T11:12:19Z")
Sounds like \*ichidamei _sea urchin sting symptoms: minor irritation and pain followed by somewhat slow apparent healing. The i_chidamei \*species is a recent mutant form arising, it is thought, from illegal dumping of radioactive waste. You had better get to a hospital right away because the next phase of _ichidamei_ envenomation consits of almost always fatal convulsions. Fortunately, timely treatment is not only 100% effective, it is can also be quite pleasant, if you like \*sake, \*about a pint a day of which in five days makes you as good as new! There is also much evidence suggesting that horomones secreted due to erotic arousal and release can help tip the scales in close-call situations such as yours. Consequently most hospitals have a special nurses’ detail to provide for this kind of treatment. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sea-creature-stung-me/595369/4 "2011-09-06T12:33:51Z")
Fuzzy plants? Are you sure they weren’t sea anemones? (Not plants, but some species do look rather like them) ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sea-creature-stung-me/595369/5 "2011-09-06T14:38:27Z")
Hm, they look like the hydroid from **Otara** ’s post. It was definitely a fern-looking thing. Pretty sure they weren’t anemones, **colonial**. Some of those are cool, BTW-- you can brush by them and they kind of weakly latch on. It’s a neat feeling. **Colophon** , unless the urchins were really small, I’m pretty sure it wasn’t them. Just to be sure though, I’m drinking twice the recommended dosage of beer every day until the spots go away! ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sea-creature-stung-me/595369/6 "2011-09-06T19:54:37Z")
Could it have been [coral](http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=36)? I was snorkeling in the Red Sea and brushed my arm across some coral. My skin _instantly_ erupted into itchy red bumps, which later became itchy festering sores and took months to finally heal and disappear completely. That was maybe 10 years ago and I still have two tiny scars on my forearm. Too long ago for me to recall details…I did go to a doctor when I got back to the states and was prescribed some sort of anti-inflammatory cream. Several people at the resort told me that it wasn’t that uncommon to get nasty sores from touching or handling certain corals. ---
**Author:** ![Otara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Otara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otara)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sea-creature-stung-me/595369/7 "2011-09-07T00:42:39Z")
There is fire coral, but most coral you have to touch hard enough to actually scape yourself, and get some kind of wound, just brushing it wont do it. Stinging hydroids are more like nettles, just a light touch is enough to get an effect. Otara ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sea-creature-stung-me/595369/8 "2011-09-07T14:10:19Z")
Yeah, just googled hydroid sting, and [my hand](http://imgur.com/CSsOo) looks a lot like the images I’m finding. It’s not so bad now on day 3 (although it still looks pretty red), but it’s pretty amazing how damn itchy a couple dozen stings can be for 2 days straight. Thanks for the help, **Otara**. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sea-creature-stung-me/595369/9 "2011-09-08T14:10:47Z")
Maybe it would help heal faster if you… dehydrated the wound. I’ll get my coat.