MARINE ANIMALS THAT ARE POISONOUS TO EAT 111 



Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna zygaena Linnaeus) (Similar to 

 Fig. 4, Bottom). Tropical to warm-temperate belt of the Atlantic 

 and Pacific Oceans. 



Medical Aspects. The most severe forms of poisoning usually 

 result from the eating of the liver. The musculature in most in- 

 stances is only mildly toxic with the symptoms seldom more than 

 that of a mild gastrointestinal upset, with a predominating diar- 

 rhea. Symptoms from liver poisoning usually develop within 30 

 minutes, and consist of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, 

 headache, joint aches, tingling about the mouth, and a burning 

 sensation of the tongue, throat, and esophagus. As time goes on, 

 the nervous symptoms may become progressively severe, resulting 

 in muscular incoordination and difficulty in breathing due to 

 muscular paralysis, coma, and finally death. 



Treatment. See Page 126 on the treatment of fish poisoning. 



Prevention. Avoid eating the liver of any shark unless it is known 

 with certainty to be edible. The livers of large tropical sharks are 

 said to be especially dangerous. The flesh of tropical and arctic 

 sharks should be indulged in only with caution. 



POISONOUS MORAY EELS 



The marine eels which have been reported in human intoxica- 

 tions have been largely members of the family Muraenidae, the 

 moray eels. Some of these eels may attain a length of ten feet or 

 more, and are heavy-bodied. All of the species involved in human 

 poisonings are inhabitants of tropical reefs. Most of the reported 

 poisonings have occurred from persons eating the flesh. Eel soup 

 is a particularly dangerous form of preparing the fish, since the 

 poison is readily water soluble. 

 Species Reported Poisonous: 



Moray Eel, Gymnothorax fiavimarginatus (Riippell), (Fig. 68, 

 Top). Hawaiian Islands, westward to East Africa. 



Moray Eel, Gymnothorax javanicus (Bleeker) (Fig. 68, Next to 

 Top). Hawaiian Islands, westward to East Africa. 



Moray Eel, Gymnothorax meleagris (Shaw and Nodder) (Fig. 

 68, Center). Hawaiian Islands, westward to East Africa, Japan 

 south to Australia. 



Fig. 68. Top to bottom: Moray eel, Gymnothorax fiavimarginatus (Riippell). 



Moray Eel, Gymnothorax javanicus (Bleeker). Moray Eel, Gymnothorax 



meleagris (Shaw and Nodder). Moray Eel, Gymnothorax pictus (Ahl). 



Moray Eel, Gymnothorax undulatus (Lacepede). (Arita) 



