“And equally important, if we are seeing that degraded venom used to develop antivenom, are we losing some of the effectiveness of the antivenom?

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“That is one of the follow-up bits of research we want to look at with the stonefish venom, to see whether the antivenom used to treat stings isn’t picking up some of that activity.”

Professor Fry said current antivenoms worked, but there was the possibility they could be improved.

Stonefish deploy a potent neurotoxin through spines on their back which they can raise when they feel threatened. The most common form of sting in Australia is people standing on them with bare feet in shallow coastal water.

The venom can lead to death, and will usually provoke intense pain and swelling at the sting site, however hot water has been found to provide temporary relief, because the venom breaks down at higher temperatures.

UQ PhD candidate Richard Harris said the study also gave more insight into how stonefish venom probably evolved.

“The venom hits nerves at two sites, in a similar way to venom of the death adder, and this action is what is lost when the stonefish venom is freeze-dried,” Mr Harris said.

“However, unlike the death adder, stonefish have evolved their unique venom not to kill, but for defence, and is likely a lot less potent.

“It appears that stonefish have likely evolved this venom to paralyse the mouths of potential predators, such as sharks, helping the soon-to-be-swallowed fish escape.”