Ever gone swimming in Rhode Island and wondered what creatures might be wading with you?

As the water warms up and the air temperature grows hotter, locals and visitors flock to the shores to cool off.

But while in the water, swimmers should be aware of their surroundings, according to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

Here are four creatures that might bite, pinch, or sting in the water in and around Rhode Island.

Clinging jellyfish

Clinging jellyfish are dime-sized creatures that have sticky pads on their tentacles that allow them to “cling” to seagrass, according to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

And their stings are known to be painful, sending several Rhode Island beachgoers to the hospital in past years.

The clinging jellyfish can be recognized by its orange-brown cross on its transparent body.

However, they are usually only encountered in calm waters where eelgrass or seaweeds grow, the institute said.

Lionfish

Lionfish, which have venomous spines, have spread up the East Coast in recent years to the Ocean State, according to the Divers Alert Network. They’re not common in New England waters due to the cold temperatures, but do show up, particularly during the warmer months.

They are an invasive species and can cause “very painful and sometimes complicated wounds” with their sharp spines, the network said.

Divers who are stung by lionfish should rinse the wound with clean water, remove any foreign material from it, and control bleeding if needed.

The wound should be soaked in hot water for 30 minutes, and vital signs are recommended to be monitored on the way to medical treatment.

Sharks

Sharks, including great whites, have been spotted in the Cape Cod and Rhode Island areas. Unlike the Cape, Rhode Island consistently finds itself at or near the bottom of the list when stories come out about the most shark-infested beaches in the world, but we do have sharks.

According to the International Shark Attack Files, there have only been two confirmed unprovoked attacks in the Ocean State. The word “confirms” matters, as suspected bites, such as a suspected 2019 bite at Moonstone Beach, don’t make the ISAF’s list.

To be cautious, it’s important to know sharks hunt in shallow water. It is best to avoid swimming in areas where seals or schools of fish are visible to minimize the risk of a shark bite, the National Parks Service said.

One great white shark was spotted this month by Woods Hole, Mass., according to the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.

A basking shark, which feeds on plankton, was recently seen near Block Island, the Atlantic Shark Institute said.

Blue crabs

Blue crabs are often found in Rhode Island waters, according to the Narrow River Preservation Association.

The blue-clawed creatures raise their pinchers toward their “enemies” in defense, the association said.

Blue crabs typically gravitate towards shallow and brackish waters, eelgrass beds, and bodies of water with muddy bottoms.

If a crab pinches you and holds on, you should calmly place the crab-attached limb into the water so the marine animal can release its grip and swim away, according to the Chesapeake Bay Program in Maryland.

Katie Landeck contributed to this report.