Deep-sea poisonous fish. Poisonous fish. Japanese version of Russian roulette
Do you think blissful horror is the only feeling that the most poisonous fish in the world can cause in a person? And here it is not. A rare gourmet or thrill-seeker will miss the opportunity to try a dish made from poisonous fugu. Why is this creature dangerous, and what other representatives of the water world are worthy of the title of the most poisonous?
Fugu is the Japanese name for the pufferfish family. This creature is also known as the four-toothed, dogfish, and deathfish. Fugu organs contain a poison that is 275 times more toxic than cyanide. Most of the dangerous substance is in the ovaries, liver and intestines of the animal. And although one fish may contain only a few tens of milligrams of poison, this is quite enough to kill 30 people.
As a result of the ingestion of tetrodotoxin into the human body, the risk of death is high. Death ends with 60% of poisonings. First comes paralysis, and then respiratory arrest. Interestingly, in this case, a person feels not only numbness, but also narcotic euphoria.
Despite the sad statistics, fugu dishes are more than popular in Japan. True, before preparing fugu, the chef must obtain a license. In ancient times, licenses were not issued, but there was a law: if the client died, the cook committed ritual suicide.
Habitat. Subtropical and tropical waters. First of all, these are the basins of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. However, there are known cases of fugu fishing in the Black Sea.
warty
It is the most poisonous fish in the Pacific Ocean. If you inadvertently step on it, then without timely help, a lethal outcome is guaranteed. Although poisonous, wart meat is used in Japanese national cuisine. It is used to make sashimi, a fillet dish. different varieties meat and fish.
It is easy to confuse the wart with a coastal stone, therefore its second name is a stone fish. The entire body of the fish is covered with warts and tubercles of various sizes. In addition to everything, she leads sedentary image life and keeps in coastal waters. As a rule, it lies at the bottom, plunging into the ground, which makes the wart almost invisible. Therein lies its danger.
The wart is gifted with the ability to squirt venom through the spines of its dorsal fin. The venomous spikes rise when the fish is irritated. The injection not only leads to acute pain, hallucinations and loss of consciousness, but also to disruption of the nerve centers. If a large blood vessel is damaged, death is possible after 2 hours. But even if the worst consequences of poisoning can be avoided, a person can turn into an invalid.
Habitat. Waters of the Red Sea, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Most often, warts can be encountered off the coast of India and Australia. Its favorite habitats are coral reefs, heaps of rocks and dense algae.
This fish is easily recognizable by its variegated coloration and long ribbon fins. Because of its expressive fins, it is also called lionfish and lionfish. These fins should never be touched, they contain toxic needles. Their poison remains effective even after the death of the fish. If you have no desire to receive a lightning prick, do not approach this fish from the side.
Just one shot can cause a person to lose consciousness or go into severe shock. Deaths have not yet been recorded, however, poisoning with zebra fish venom is accompanied by convulsions and disruption of the heart. In addition, gangrene may develop in the puncture area. The pain from the injection lasts for several hours.
Habitat. Waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. This includes the coastal regions of Japan, China and Australia, as well as the Red Sea basin. Lionfish lives among coral atolls.
By the name it is not difficult to guess that this is a predator. The dragon prefers to dive into sandy soil, leaving only the dorsal fin and head visible. The spines of the fish's fin complement the poisonous glands. The dragon is easily confused with the Black Sea goby.
The defeat of the poison of a large dragon is mainly due to imprudent handling. For example, fishermen often get stung when taking a dragon out of the net, and you can also accidentally step on this fish. The dragon's sting is not fatal, but it can cause piercing pain and necrosis of the damaged area. In the worst case, paralysis or a disorder of the respiratory apparatus is possible. The poison remains dangerous for several days after the death of the fish.
Habitat. The large dragon is common in the waters of the Black and Baltic Seas. It lives in both deep and shallow waters.
This aquatic inhabitant has earned the nickname "ugly fish." It's not the most attractive appearance that's to blame. The toad fish has no scales, its entire body is covered with unsightly growths and poisonous spines. During spawning, she is able to make sounds comparable to the noise of the subway.
The pain of being stung by the thorn of a toad fish resembles the sensations caused by the sting of a scorpion. Then a tumor appears and the temperature rises. Fatal outcomes as a result of the action of the poison of the toadfish have not yet been recorded.
Habitat. Waters of Central and South America. Poisonous toad fish live in reefs and crevices under rocks. They have a habit of burrowing into soft bottoms.
The very name of this marine fish hints at its poisonousness. It comes from the name "scorpion fish". This creature can hardly be called cute, but in its unusualness, few can compare with it. The rich coloration makes them invisible against the background of the colorful coral atoll, which greatly increases the risk of an unexpected encounter with this fish.
Habitat. Water mediterranean sea and the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa and Europe. The named fish can be found off the coast of the Philippines, Thailand and even in the Black Sea. The scorpionfish lives in the shelf zones and shallow waters of coral atolls.
Following the example of relatives, the stingray tries to keep to the bottom. Here he buries himself in the sand or hides in piles of stones. If unintentionally disturbed, he is likely to attack. Poison glands are armed with spikes located on the tail. In this case, one should take into account the large “piercing” force of the tail strike itself. Interestingly, the natives of Malaysia used the stingray spikes as the point of arrows.
Both scuba divers and ordinary swimmers can become victims of a stingray. After the injection, there is a sharp pain and swelling. This is followed by diarrhea, loss of consciousness and convulsions. Lesions to the extremities can be cured after a few days, while an injection in the stomach or chest can be fatal.
Habitat. Stingrays are common in the seas of temperate and tropical latitudes. Most often they stay on a sandy or muddy bottom.
Despite the fact that sea snakes belong to the class of reptiles, they lead an aquatic lifestyle, which means they can be included in our list. These are dangerous and very unpredictable animals up to 4 meters long. In no case should they be touched or teased.
The venom of a sea snake is dominated by a substance that paralyzes nervous system. When attacking, the snake strikes with two teeth. Unlike the sting of a poisonous fish, the sting of a sea snake will not cause much pain. However, after a certain time, coordination is disturbed, obvious weakness and convulsions appear. In the absence of qualified assistance, death can occur within 7 hours. According to statistics, 7 people out of a dozen survive.
Habitat. Seas of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They usually stay near the banks and estuaries of rivers.
According to scientists, at least 2 million species of organisms live in the ocean, of which no more than 200 thousand have been described. This means that the above list does not include all the poisonous inhabitants of the ocean. Many of them are unknown even to the most scrupulous researchers. This fact once again proves that danger can lie in wait at every step.
Video
This fish is considered one of the most poisonous in the world. Another name for stone fish is wart. The fish got this name for its unsightly, and even ugly appearance. It is found in the shallow waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as in the waters of the Red Sea, off the coast of Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, the Marshall Islands, Fiji and Samoa. Russians have a real chance of encountering dangerous fish on the beaches of Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada or Dahab. The skin of the stone fish is soft and completely covered with warty protrusions. The skin color of this underwater inhabitant varies from bright red to dark brown. But on the body there are shades of white, yellow and gray tones. It has a series of spikes on its back that release a poisonous toxin. It is the most dangerous venomous fish known, and its venom causes extreme pain with possible shock, paralysis, and tissue death depending on the depth of penetration. At the slightest irritation, the wart raises the spines of the dorsal fin; sharp and durable, they easily pierce the shoes of a person who accidentally stepped on a fish, and penetrate deep into the leg. With deep penetration, the injection can be fatal to a person if he is not provided with medical assistance within a few hours. If the poison gets inside, depending on the depth of penetration, a strong tightening bandage or a hemostatic tourniquet is applied, which is placed between the wound and the nearest bend. If the thorn hit a large blood vessel, death can occur in 2-3 hours. Survivors sometimes get sick for months. The venom consists of a mixture of proteins, including the hemolytic stonustoxin, neurotoxin, and cardioactive cardioleptin. Because the venom is protein based, it can be denatured by applying a very hot compress to the wound. Some relief can be obtained by treating the wound with a local anesthetic. However, this is only a temporary measure to reduce pain and shock. Medical assistance must be provided as soon as possible. Survivors usually suffer localized nerve damage, sometimes leading to atrophy of the attached muscle tissue. The pain can be so severe that the victims of the injection want to cut off the injured limb.
2. Zebra fish.
Zebra lionfish, or zebra fish, or striped lionfish (lat. Pterois volitans) is a fish of the scorpion family. Its luxurious appearance will surely attract attention, but you should know that sharp and poisonous needles lurk in beautiful striped fins. The main food of these marine inhabitants is crabs, shellfish, small fish. You can meet zebra fish in the Pacific and Indian Ocean. Divers warn anyone who wants to touch this unusual creature - it is very dangerous, you risk getting shock, accompanied by convulsions and impaired cardiac activity. They are found in the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans - off the coast of China, Japan and Australia. Recently, it has become widespread in coral reefs Caribbean coast of the island of Haiti and in the Mona Strait. They are the object of commercial spearfishing, having a rather gentle and delicious meat. They pose a threat to the Caribbean Sea ecosystem, destroying many types of coral fish.
3. Sea dragon.
The most poisonous fish of the European continent. You can meet her in the southern part of the Baltic Sea, as well as in the Black and Japanese Seas. Dragons, small and unremarkable in appearance, love to burrow into the sand, leaving only their heads on top. They are quite aggressive and dangerous even for those who swim near the shore. If a person steps on a dragon or decides to take it in his hand, then as a defense, the fish will release its poisonous spines. The whole body except for the head is covered with small scales. The spines of the first dorsal fin and the long, sharp spike on the gill cover are equipped with venom glands. The poison is not fatal to humans, but it can cause allergic reactions. The poison is so strong that the dragon remains dangerous even for some time after death. The fish are active at night, burrowing into the sand or silt during the day. They feed on small bottom fish and crustaceans. Eggs and larvae are pelagic
4 Pufferfish
Brown puffer, or brown puffer, or brown dog-fish, or eye-dog-fish, or northern dog-fish (lat. Takifugu rubripes) is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the family of pufferfishes of the pufferfish order. Despite the fact that in Japan it is considered a delicacy and is very expensive, the average tourist should be very careful when meeting with her. Pricked with its needle, the fish releases poison - tetrodotoxin, which can kill a person, because the antidote for it has not yet been found. It is located both on the skin and in the internal organs, so it is strictly forbidden to cook fugu on your own. The fish reaches a length of 50 cm and is found at a depth of about 100 meters. Distributed in the south of the Sea of Okhotsk (northern coast of Hokkaido Island), in the western waters of Japan (along the mainland coast from Busan to Olga Bay; along the island from the southwestern coast of Honshu Island to southwestern Sakhalin), the Yellow and East China Seas, along the Pacific coast of Japan from Volcano Bay to Kyushu. In Russian waters of the Sea of Japan, where it enters to the north of Peter the Great Bay and to South Sakhalin, it is common in summer.
Fugu fish contains a lethal dose of tetrodotoxin in the internal organs, mainly in the liver and caviar, gallbladder and skin. The liver and caviar of fugu fish should not be eaten at all, the rest of the body - after careful special processing. The poison reversibly (capable of being metabolized) blocks the sodium channels of nerve cell membranes, paralyzes muscles and causes respiratory arrest. At present, there is no antidote, the only way to save a poisoned person is to artificially maintain the work of the respiratory and circulatory systems until the poison ends. Despite licensing the work of fugu chefs, every year a number of people who eat an incorrectly prepared dish die from poisoning. At present, it is possible to mass-produce puffer fish that does not contain poison. Studies have shown that puffer fish is not capable of producing neurotoxin, but only accumulates it in its body. Initially, tetrodotoxin is produced by marine bacteria, which are then eaten by a variety of living organisms.
Eating improperly cooked fugu can be life-threatening. Therefore, in order to prepare fugu in special restaurants, since 1958, Japanese chefs have had to undergo special training and obtain a license. In the past, there was a tradition in Japan according to which, in case of poisoning with puffer fish, the cook who prepared the dish had to also eat it (or commit ritual suicide).
For a long period in Japan, it was forbidden to eat fugu as food, and there was even a ban on catching fugu fish. Similar bans are now in place in some countries of Southeast Asia, however, they are not always effective. So, despite the ban on puffer fish in Thailand since 2002, it can still be purchased at local markets.
The survival of living organisms in the wild largely depends on their adaptability to their habitats. But what is an ocean? For a diver, it is full of fabulous wonders: colorful fish, colorful corals. For a gourmet, the ocean is a supplier of various delicacies: seafood, shellfish and other inhabitants of the aquatic environment. But in fact, this is a rather cruel world where everyone eats someone until he himself becomes the prey of a bloodthirsty predator. Therefore, mimicry is important in the aquatic environment. Predators try to become invisible in order to get closer to their prey. And the latter by all means wants to show the potential threat that it is impossible to eat it. The bright coloring of the fish seems to scream: “I am poisonous!” And often this is true. The topic of this article will be the most poisonous fish in the world. We will look at where they are found and tell you what needs to be done to alleviate the suffering of a person who has become their victim, and even save his life.
Paradoxically, there are also such inhabitants of the seas who combine deadly poison and delicious meat in their bodies. One of these is the poisonous Japanese puffer fish. You can taste it only in specialized restaurants. But in this case, it is better to make a will before dinner. Few things can happen...
Fish and people: a bit of history
Probably, humanity first encountered the poisonous inhabitants of the seas back in the Stone Age. Because already at the dawn of civilization, on the pyramids of the pharaohs of the fifth dynasty (2700 BC), there is a hieroglyph depicting a dogfish. It also gained notoriety in China. In the "Book of Herbs" - a medical treatise written in the period 2838-2700. BC e. - given detailed description how to treat gourmets who had the imprudence to eat the meat of this fish. The biblical book Deuteronomy (1450 BC) also teaches what to eat and what to shun for the Jews. Aristotle and Pliny the Elder tried to describe the dangerous species that live in the Mediterranean Sea. In the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries, Europeans began to come across poisonous fish from tropical and equatorial latitudes in the net. James Cook gave a description of the pufferfish in 1774. During his second trip around the world, he (with sixteen other crew members) was poisoned by the meat of this fish. Although, as everyone knows, he did not die from this. Unfortunately, such a useful science as zootoxinology, which studies poisons accumulated in the organisms of living beings, as well as their possible use in medicine, appeared only in the 20th century.
Some more theory
There are also plenty of poisonous creatures on land. Plants, mushrooms, insects, amphibians and reptiles... However, land is nothing compared to the ocean. Many inhabitants of the seas are somehow poisonous: fish, jellyfish, snakes, corals. What makes them so? Many predators, being less mobile than their prey, lie in wait in hiding. Their poison is aimed at quickly immobilizing the victim, paralyzing it. Such predators have dangerous teeth and spikes. Some stun their lunch with an electric shock. Such are the slopes. Victims, in the course of species evolution, acquire means of "individual chemical protection." Many fish, in addition to their bright, memorable coloration, have poisonous spines. A predator, grabbing such a prey, will not only prick itself, but also be poisoned. There are also poisonous fish that have very dangerous mucus on their bodies. Touching it leads to poisoning. In the classification of all these fish are called actively poisonous. "Don't touch me or you'll regret it!" says only their bristling appearance. But those who like to eat seafood should be wary of completely different fish. They are called passively poisonous. Evolution has led to the protection of the population, but not of the individual. It looks like an ordinary fish. But eat it and you'll be poisoned. A surviving predator will think ten times before tasting one of her relatives.
What do fish lovers need to know?
Unless you dive into choppy seas to come face to face with coral reef dwellers, and even if you don't run barefoot along the water's edge, don't think you're completely safe from poisonous creatures. You can also get poisoned in a restaurant. In this sense, primary and secondary poisonous fish are distinguished. The first develop themselves a deadly secret. It can accumulate in spines, teeth, and scales. Sometimes the poison is a product of metabolism. In this case, fish meat or its caviar and milk should not be eaten. Moray eels, for example, have poisonous blood. Other inhabitants of the seas have all the meat. But secondary poisonous fish are no less dangerous. They accumulate in their body harmful substances from the reservoir - its habitat. For example, the blue-green algae that fish eat release cyanide. Thus, it is possible to poison yourself with an ordinary minnow if it is caught from such a pond. The leaching of fertilizers from the soil, which drain into water bodies with rain, also makes their inhabitants secondary-poisonous. Nitrates work well only on plants, not on people. Therefore, it is important to know where the catch comes from before tasting it.
Did you know that the most dangerous inhabitant of the ocean is ... a jellyfish. "Transparent killer" refers to this species that lives in tropical waters off the coast of Australia. Its tentacles stretch after the dome for thirty meters. Her touch paralyzes the human heart muscle, causing sudden death in 100% of cases. Also off the coast of the Green Continent lives a small blue-ringed octopus weighing only 70 grams. However, this baby is able to kill ten people with its poison in two seconds. Fish keep up with jellyfish, shellfish and snakes. Every year, more than 50 thousand people become their victims - incomparably more than from sharks. The most poisonous fish in the world is Synanceia verrucosa, or wart, from the Scorpion order. On its dorsal fin is a spike, the injection of which causes such severe pain that a person loses consciousness. Poison injected into the blood leads to vascular collapse and cardiac arrest. At the same time, it is difficult for everyone to see the danger even up close. For the purpose of disguise, this small fish takes shape and color. environment. It is very difficult to distinguish it from a piece of coral or cobblestone. That is why it is also called "stone fish". The closest relatives of warts, scorpions (or, also have the properties of a chameleon. In addition, they tend to burrow into sand or silt at low tide. Therefore, in order to step on their extremely poisonous thorn, you do not need to dive into dangerous world coral reefs.
Where are the most poisonous fish in the world?
Most predators, not chasing prey, but lying in wait for it, live in tropical waters. They teem with waters off the coast of Southeast Asia, East Africa, Australia, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Enough dangerous creatures in the Pacific Ocean. Fugu, or pufferfish, is found off the coast of Japan. But the most dangerous place on Earth in terms of the density of poisonous inhabitants per cubic liter of water is Australia. And that's not counting sharks, electric rays, jellyfish and clams! And there are 51 species of water snakes, of which Hydrofis bseheris, an inhabitant, is listed in the Guinness Book for poisonousness. Local sea fish are also considered no less dangerous: poisonous wart, scorpionfish, lionfish, inimicus. And you need to know this when going on vacation to the Green Continent. Seven of the top ten most dangerous species live off the coast of Australia. But with global warming, many inhabitants of the tropical latitudes began to move further and further from the equator. They are already met off the coast of Chile, Japan, and South China. But in the Red, Mediterranean and even the Black Seas, there are also enough unsafe creatures. In general, scientists have described two hundred and twenty species of poisonous fish. In a word, they simply cannot be counted.
What to do in case of poisoning?
Most people become victims of actively poisonous fish. And not because they are chasing inexperienced swimmers. These fish, if they are predators, inject toxins into smaller prey. And more often poisonous spikes serve as a means of individual protection against large and toothy fish. What do swimmers need to remember? Do not step on corals or touch them with your hands. For recreation in the tropics, it is better to purchase special shoes for swimming (since, in addition to fish, there is still a danger of stepping on sea urchin- also poisonous, by the way). If possible, you need to avoid And not grab with your hands the inhabitants of the depths swimming close to you - you don’t know which fish are poisonous and which are not. If you still feel a prick, immediately get out on land or call for help. Toxins that affect the nervous system act with lightning speed, and a person can die if timely assistance is not provided to him.
First of all, you need to take measures to eliminate the poison. If it is a hand, the victim himself can suck the poisoned blood from the wound by spitting it out. In the leg, toxins can be squeezed out by pressing on both sides around the affected area. Next, the victim needs to relieve the pain, because it is often unbearable and this can cause fainting or shock. Necrosis often occurs at the site of the lesion, there is a risk of re-infection and even gangrene. Therefore, the wound should be treated with a disinfectant.
Silent killers
If the body of a fish is covered with spikes, bristled with thorns, if its mouth is full of sharp teeth, then even a fool understands that these creatures are very dangerous. And the very name of poisonous fish speaks for itself: pufferfish, sea scorpion, dragon, stingray, prickly shark, terrible tubercle, imimicus, which means “enemy” in Latin ... But the local population in those places where these dangerous creatures, yet eats them. Having lost their frightening thorns, being cleansed of poisonous mucus, they give very tender and tasty meat. So, the inhabitants of Australia eat and praise scorpionfish, and the fishermen of the Black Sea catch katrans for restaurants. But passive-poisonous fish, photos of which you need to see in order to remember, are more insidious. Nothing in their appearance resembles those terrible monsters that lifeguards in the Red Sea resorts scare beachgoers with. However, in such a harmless-looking fish as a puffer, a poison lurks that is much more effective and faster than potassium cyanide. Evolution does not care about saving the life of one individual, but about the survival of the species. In addition, this fish alone can swell out of fear and turn into a ball. Such prey can get stuck in the throat. After tasting one or two ... ten fish, all the predators of the Pacific Ocean now know that you should not swallow a small puffer.
Is it possible to get poisoned by "our" fish?
There are several types of poisonous seas. These are, first of all, the prickly shark katran, the astrologer, the mouse-lyre, the dragon. Angler and stingray enter Azov. In the seas washing the Far East coast of Russia, there are high-beam perch, stargazer, katran and pufferfish, called fugu in Japan. In the Baltic, sculpin and stingrays are among the dangerous fish. As you can see, among this cohort, only fugu is a passive-poisonous species. All the rest, after removing the spikes, can be taken without any fear. But here, too, there are all sorts of troubles. There are so-called seasonally poisonous fish of the Black Sea, and fresh water too. These are some species of bream, carp, perch, as well as tench, barb, barbel, kutum and others. During spawning, you can get poisoned by caviar and milk of these fish. A serious danger comes from polluted water bodies and from the rapid bloom of blue-green algae. In this case, even the most edible fish becomes poisonous, as it accumulates toxins from the environment. In medicine, several bursts of "epidemics" have been described among the Yuksovskoye lakes ( Leningrad region), Ukshozero (Karelia) and Sartlan (Novosibirsk region).
Who is Fugu?
Undoubtedly, the most poisonous fish living in this pufferfish. The sailors of the Kuril Islands call it a puffer, and the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun call it a puffer. This fish with a white belly and a gray-brown back has no scales, but at the moment of danger raises skin plates and swells like a ball. However, this is not the danger of fugu. The poison contained in its meat, and especially in the liver, skin, genitals, is so toxic that it is twenty-five times higher than curare and 275 times potassium cyanide. The active substance - tetrodotoxin - blocks the processes of nerve cells. Symptoms of severe poisoning appear in the first minutes. Lethal outcome occurs during the first day. First, a person feels a slight tingling in the lips and tongue. Then comes the headache and pain in the abdomen and limbs. Lost coordination of movements, vomiting begins (in this case, the patient still has a chance to survive). Soon breathing becomes difficult, blood pressure drops and body temperature drops. Blueing of the mucous membranes and skin is observed. The patient falls into a coma, his breathing stops. Unfortunately, the antidote against the poison of this fish has not yet been discovered. But despite these chilling details, puffer meat is still considered a delicacy in Japan. Scientists have found that these marine fish are poisonous only in adulthood. "Safe fugu" have been grown, but are not popular among gourmets.
samurai nation
As we remember, the first European who tasted a dish of poisonous puffer fish was James Cook. But the Japanese have been using it since ancient times. Fugu has firmly entered the culture and art of the Land of the Rising Sun. In one of the parks in Tokyo, there is even a monument to this fish. What makes millions of Japanese literally entrust their lives to a chef? After all, statistics show that every year several dozen people die from fugu poison and much more. large quantity victims are hospitalized. Suicidal attitudes, balancing on the verge of life and death - it's all there in abundance in Japanese culture. The fugu was brought into fashion by samurai - stern knights, cold-blooded, ready to do hara-kiri in order to maintain a good name. For a long time, the authorities banned the fishing of this fish. But in vain. It was sold on the black markets. Now the chef, in order to obtain a license for cooking puffer dishes, must take special courses and pass an exam. Before the commission, he must butcher the carcass, cook three dishes from it and ... taste each piece. And only with a happy outcome of the case, poisonous puffer fish, photos of dishes with it adorn the restaurant menu.
Japanese version of Russian roulette
Why do people not want to eat puffer meat, which initially does not contain tetrodotoxin? Gourmets who have tasted such a safe fish call its taste ordinary and even banal. Poisonous fish is popular in Japan, even with all the ensuing sad consequences. But do the Japanese come to the restaurant only to tickle your nerves? Dishes with possible, and this word must be emphasized, poison cost from one hundred to five hundred dollars. This is how gourmets describe the taste of the dangerous fugu: "It is akin to Japanese art - as refined, refined, smooth as natural silk." Europeans, on the other hand, say that the fish looks like chicken, and the consistency resembles jelly. In fugu dishes, it is not the complete absence of poison that is important, but its presence in the most minimal doses. Then the client feels something similar to the effect of a drug. After all, tetrodotoxin is 160,000 times more active than cocaine! This was adopted by surgeons, using this substance in operations to remove tumors. Of course, everything depends on the dose - both in medicine and in the kitchen. The cook who passed the exam takes into account the weight of the client, his age, state of health and even nationality. The restaurant worker vigilantly watches the diners in order to notice the first alarming symptoms and take action. Poisonous Japanese fish is served in several variations. The most favorite dish is fugusashi. From the thinnest slices of raw fish, the chef creates whole pictures. This dish is served with sauces. Poisonous fish soup, Fuguzosun, is also common. Sometimes the pufferfish is boiled and served with accompanying ingredients.
There are about 600 poisonous fish in the world. Of these, 350 are active. Such an apparatus with a toxin is given from birth. The rest of the fish are secondarily poisonous. Their toxicity is related to nutrition. By consuming certain fish, crustaceans, mollusks, secondary species accumulate their poison in certain organs or the whole body.
Primarily poisonous fish
poisonous fish categories have toxin-producing glands. The poison enters the bodies of the victims through a bite, a puncture with special spikes or fin rays. Often the attacks are directed at offenders. That is, evolutionarily, fish began to produce poison for protection.
sea dragons
Poisonous fish species include 9 of their names. All live in the waters of the temperate climate zone and do not exceed 45 centimeters in length. Dragons belong to the perch-like.
The venom of dragons is filled with a spike on the gill cover and the axis of the dorsal fin. The toxin is a complex protein. It disrupts the functioning of the circulatory and nervous systems. The venom of snakes has the same effect. It is similar in nature to the sea dragon toxin.
For humans, their poison is not fatal, but it causes severe pain, burning, and leads to tissue swelling. Dragon meat is edible and considered a delicacy.
Whelps are poisonous representatives of the Black Sea
stingrays
These poisonous sea fish are stingrays, that is, they have flattened and large pectoral fins. They are rhombus shaped. The tail of the stingray is always devoid of a fin, but often has a needle-like outgrowth. They are attacked by stingrays. They, like other rays, are the closest relatives of sharks. Accordingly, stingrays do not have a skeleton. Bones are replaced by cartilage.
There are 80 species of stingrays in the seas. Their toxicity is different. The blue-spotted one has the strongest poison.
The blue-spotted stingray is the most poisonous of the stingrays.
One percent of the people they inject die. The number of casualties per year is in the thousands. On the coasts of the North, for example, at least 7 hundred cases of stingray attacks are recorded every 12 months. Their venom has a neurotropic effect, affecting the nervous system. The toxin causes instant, burning pain.
Among stingrays there are freshwater ones. One of the species lives, for example, in the Amazon. Since ancient times, the Indians living on its shores have been making poisoned arrowheads, daggers, and spears from fish thorns.
sea lionfish
They belong to the scorpion family. Outwardly, lionfish are distinguished by enlarged pectoral fins. They go behind the anal, resembling wings. Lionfish are also distinguished by pronounced needles in the dorsal fin. There are also spikes on the head of the fish. Each needle contains poison. However, removing the spikes, lionfish, like other scorpionfish, can be eaten.
The spectacular appearance of lionfish is a reason for their aquarium maintenance. Admire the fish at home also allow them small size. You can choose from almost 20 types of lionfish. The total number of scorpion species is 100. Lionfish in it are one of the genera.
Despite the poisonousness of lionfish, they are often planted in aquariums due to their spectacular appearance
The most poisonous fish among the lionfish - warty. Otherwise it is called. The name is associated with the disguise of the wart as sea corals, sponges. The fish is dotted with growths, bumps, spikes. The latter are poisonous. The toxin causes paralysis, but there is an antidote.
If one is not at hand, the injection site is heated as much as possible, for example, lowering into hot water or substituting under the hair dryer. This relieves pain by partially destroying the protein structure of the venom.
Wart or fish stone master of disguise
sea bass
This is a genus of fish. It has 110 species of fish. All belong to the scorpion. Like river perches, fish are distinguished by spiny dorsal fins. Axes in them 13-15. There are also spines on the gill covers. In the thorns - poison.
When injected, it enters the wound along with the mucus that covers the gills and fins. The toxin is carried through the lymphatic system, causing lymphadenitis. This is an enlargement of the lymph nodes. This is the response of the immune system to poison.
Pain and swelling quickly develop at the site of the prick with sea bass thorns. However, the fish toxin is unstable, it is destroyed by alkalis, ultraviolet light and when heated. The poison of perches from the Barents Sea is especially weak. The most toxic Pacific individuals. If several poisons are injected into one person, respiratory arrest is possible.
Sea bass
Katran
This is a poisonous representative. The predator weighs about 30 kilograms, does not exceed 2.2 meters in length. There is a katran in the Atlantic, and also enters poisonous fish of the Black Sea.
The katran toxin is a heterogeneous, that is, heterogeneous, protein. It is produced by the glands of a spike located in front of the dorsal fin. The injection leads to sharp pain, redness, burns. The itching persists for several hours. The burn goes away in a couple of days.
Eel meat poisoning is fraught with itching, numbness of the legs, tongue, diarrhea and difficulty swallowing. At the same time, a taste of metal is felt in the mouth. About 10% of those who are poisoned are paralyzed, followed by death.
Sea eel
mackerels
The family includes tuna, mackerel, horse mackerel,. All of them are edible. Tuna is considered a delicacy. IN poisonous fish of the world mackerel "record" being stale. Meat contains histidine.
This is an amino acid. It is part of many proteins. When the fish is kept warm for a long time, bacteria develop that converts histidine into saurine. It is a histamine-like substance. The body's reaction to it is similar to severe allergies.
You can identify poisoned mackerel meat by a sharp, burning taste. After eating meat, after a few minutes a person begins to suffer from a headache. Further, it dries up in the mouth, it becomes difficult to swallow, the heart begins to beat faster. At the end, red stripes appear on the skin. They itch. Poisoning is accompanied by diarrhea.
Mackerel venom is expressed in eating not fresh fish meat
Sterlet
This red fish is poisonous due to screeching - chords made of dense fabric. It replaces the spine of the fish. The screech resembles a cord. It is made up of cartilage and connective tissue. The combination is harmless as long as the fish is fresh. Moreover, screech spoils faster than sterlet meat. Therefore, you can use cartilage only on the first day after catching the fish.
Not only a screech can ruin a meal, but also a gallbladder bursting during gutting. The contents of the organ give the meat a bitter taste. Possible indigestion.
Sterlet fish
Under certain conditions and nutrition, almost 300 species of fish become poisonous. Therefore, in medicine there is a term ciguatera. They mean fish poisoning. Especially often cases of ciguatera are recorded in the coastal regions of the Pacific Ocean and in the West Indies.
From time to time, such delicacies as: spotted grouper, yellow trevally, crucian carp, Japanese anchovy, horned boxfish fall into the list of inedible ones.
The total number of fish in the world exceeds 20 thousand species. Six hundred poisonous ones seem like a small fraction. However, given the variability of secondary toxic fish and the prevalence of primary poisonous fish, one should not underestimate the specific “narrowness” of the class.
