Plentiful around coral reefs, they are mostly- taken by emgllng. Some of the 5I1 

 attain a very large site. «5 



There are a number of poisonous speoies in this faoily which are often eates 

 by mistake because of the large nuaber of speoies irtiich resemble than. 



1. Ohagurohata (Plate 14 Figure 40) 



Soientifio name - Cephalopholis argus Schneider 



Local name - kaleaej (Marshallese)^ ^^p6f™9. (Saipan Okinawan) 



Distribution - Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Philippines, Australia, South Seas, Hawaii 



area 

 Morphology - Body comparatively flat laterally. Coloration is characteristic, th 

 dark blackish sides having scattered small bright indigo spots with black borders 

 The posterior half of the body also has black stripes which, although indistinct 

 in life, show clearly in presejrved specimens. 



To xicity . Experiments at Saipan with three fresh specimens produced no 

 poisoning, the only effects noted being caused by the cooked flesh of fish which 

 had been left for 16 hours and which had developed a stench of putrefaction. It 

 was noted that in the latter case most of the experimental ajiimals developed 

 diarrhea. At Jaluit two specimens were tested, one of which produced symptoms of 

 poisoning. 



On the whole, few experiments indicated strong toxicity and only one animal 

 died. This species should be considered mildly poisonous. 



This species is abundant in coral reef areas and is easily hooked. There 

 have been many cases of poisoning in human beings, 

 [page 70] 



[Tables 62, 63, 64] 

 [Page 71] 

 [Tables 65, 66] 

 [Page 72] 



[Tables 67, 68, 69] 

 [page 73] 

 [Tfcble 70] 



In rare oases, when large quantities have been eaten, the poisoning has been 

 ■c severe that the victim could not stand up, but the majority of cases are of a 

 mild degree. One person reported a case of poisoning as a result of eating the 

 head, viscera, and flesh of a specimen of this species weighing 250 monme 

 [937.5 gr]. Those who ate the flesh sliced raw were mildly poisonecH IFKeir 

 hands and feet stung when placed in water. !niey also ate the stomach, which con- 

 tained some crabs which they thought caused the poisoning. Numbness spread gra- 

 dually, beginning in the extremities. After this experience one victim was cured 

 of nervous trouble and rheumatism. 



According to fishermen from Okinawa, this fish is also found there and has 

 been responsible for cases of poisoning. 



2. Akajin (Plate 15 Figure 41) 



Scientific name - Pleotropomus truncatus Fowler 

 Local name - akajin, kurobanlakajln ^Salpan Okinawan) 



42 



