Poisonous fish are fish that are poisonous to eat. They contain
toxins which are not destroyed by the digestive systems of animals that eat the fish.[1]Venomous fish also contain toxins, but do not necessarily cause poisoning if they are eaten, since the digestive system often destroys their venom.[1]
Examples
Species of
puffer fish (the family
Tetraodontidae) are the most poisonous in the world, and the second most poisonous vertebrate after the
golden dart frog. The active substance,
tetrodotoxin, found in the internal organs and sometimes also the skin, paralyzes the diaphragm muscles of human victims, who can die from suffocation. In Japan, skilled chefs use parts of a closely related species, the
blowfish to create a delicacy called "
fugu".
The
spotted trunkfish is a
coral reef fish that secretes a colourless
ciguatera toxin from glands on its skin when touched. The toxin is only dangerous when ingested, and poses no immediate harm to divers. However, predators as large as
nurse sharks can die as a result of eating a trunkfish.[2]
Many eel-like fish of the order
Anguilliformes have toxic proteins in their blood which has to be destroyed with heat before eating. Moray eels also produce toxic mucus, and can store toxins in their flesh and organs.[3] The
giant moray is a
reef fish at the top of the
food chain. Like many other apex reef fish, it is likely to cause
ciguatera poisoning if eaten.[4][5] Outbreaks of ciguatera poisoning in the 11th to 15th centuries from large, carnivorous reef fish, caused by
harmful algal blooms, could be a reason why
Polynesians migrated to
Easter Island,
New Zealand, and possibly
Hawaii.[6][7]
Poisonous fish are fish that are poisonous to eat. They contain
toxins which are not destroyed by the digestive systems of animals that eat the fish.[1]Venomous fish also contain toxins, but do not necessarily cause poisoning if they are eaten, since the digestive system often destroys their venom.[1]
Examples
Species of
puffer fish (the family
Tetraodontidae) are the most poisonous in the world, and the second most poisonous vertebrate after the
golden dart frog. The active substance,
tetrodotoxin, found in the internal organs and sometimes also the skin, paralyzes the diaphragm muscles of human victims, who can die from suffocation. In Japan, skilled chefs use parts of a closely related species, the
blowfish to create a delicacy called "
fugu".
The
spotted trunkfish is a
coral reef fish that secretes a colourless
ciguatera toxin from glands on its skin when touched. The toxin is only dangerous when ingested, and poses no immediate harm to divers. However, predators as large as
nurse sharks can die as a result of eating a trunkfish.[2]
Many eel-like fish of the order
Anguilliformes have toxic proteins in their blood which has to be destroyed with heat before eating. Moray eels also produce toxic mucus, and can store toxins in their flesh and organs.[3] The
giant moray is a
reef fish at the top of the
food chain. Like many other apex reef fish, it is likely to cause
ciguatera poisoning if eaten.[4][5] Outbreaks of ciguatera poisoning in the 11th to 15th centuries from large, carnivorous reef fish, caused by
harmful algal blooms, could be a reason why
Polynesians migrated to
Easter Island,
New Zealand, and possibly
Hawaii.[6][7]