Venomous Fish Far Outnumber Snakes, Other Vertebrates, Study Says

Venomous snakes send shivers down many people's spines, but venomous fish are far more common, scientists say.

According to a new evolutionary study, venomous species of fish outnumber not just such snakes, but all other venomous vertebrates combined.

In total, the world's oceans, lakes, and rivers harbor more than 1,200 species of venomous fish, write researchers from the American Museum of Natural History in a recent issue of the Journal of Heredity.

Previously, scientists had estimated that there were only 200 venomous fish. The new additions double the number of known venomous vertebrates to more than 2,000 species.