Its now considered to be the worlds most venomous marine animal, able to kill a human in three to 15 minutes of excruciating pain, ending in heart and breathing failure. The vast majority of venomous marine creatures inhabit the shallow water tropics, particularly coral reef habitats, known for their high degrees of biodiversity, abundance, and competition. Coral reefs of the western Pacific within a triangle defined by the Philippines in the north, New Guinea in the east, and central Indonesia in the west have the highest marine biodiversity in the world. The reasons are complex and not fully understood, but include the extensive shallow, consistently warm water, the fragmented habitat, and, surprisingly, periodic disturbances caused by cyclones, volcanoes, earthquakes, El Ni os, and other changes in prevailing currents. The study of venomous organisms has lead to a rich terminology, so some definitions are in order.
Toxins are poisons produced by living organisms.
Venoms are toxins transmitted via some delivery mechanism. Envenomations are poisonings caused by a bite, sting, or puncture. Sea creatures use venoms for killing or stunning prey or as a counterattack against potential predators - or both. Although many sea animals are toxic, only a small proportion of these species can actively deliver their toxins, and are thus considered venomous. The spines of echinoderms, the bristles of fire worms, and the stinging cells of the jellyfish tentacles all lie in wait passively for their victims to swim or drift by.