When 20-year-old William Smith woke up on the floor of the pet shop where he worked, he was staring up at a ring of worried faces, feeling as if he'd been stabbed in the hand. No, he hadn't passed out from too much Goldschlager -- he'd been stung by a dead fuzzy dwarf lionfish that he'd accidentally brushed against. He's lucky, because a sting from some venomous fish can result in fever, convulsions, breathing trouble -- even death.

Today, 12 years later, Mr. Smith -- excuse me, Dr. Smith -- is an ichthyologist who studies venomous fish. Generally, venomous fish fall into 2 categories: they're either flamboyant or "complete camouflage experts." Apart from obvious uses like defense and hunting, Dr. Smith believes the fish might have evolved venom because it helped them kill bacteria trying to invade their skin. Consequently, Smith thinks that some of the most dangerous fish in the sea offer untold potential for bioprospecters to find drugs to aid humans.

Although most people would probably be frightened to work with venomous fish, Smith loves it. Referring to one of his fish, a stargazer, he claims, "They're the meanest things in creation. I was so excited to get it. It's the worst pet on earth." Check out this interesting piece in the NYT, and learn about these poisonous creatures -- as well as a few tips on how to protect yourself if you are stung.