POISONOUS FISHES OF WEST INDIES 



"Goatfish is a generic term for fishes of the red 

 mullet family (Mullidse) ; I cannot find any ref- 

 erence to these fishes as poisonous. 



"Grouper is a generic term for fishes of the 

 genus Epinophelus of the sea perch family (Ser- 

 ranidse). The species are numerous and valued 

 as food ; some are reputed to be poisonous at cer- 

 tain seasons, probably during the breeding sea- 

 son. E. catus, E< tigris and E. venenosus are 

 suspected West Indian species. 



"Many species of perrot wrasses (Scaridss) 

 and many plectognaths, especially globe-fishes. 



"Tetrodon and porcupine fishes (Diedon) are 

 known to .be poisonous, their flesh containing a 

 poisonous secretion. 



"These fishes, of course, are not used as food. 



"Poisonous fishes are found chiefly in tropical 

 seas. Those that are normally poisonous are 

 generally well known to be so and are not used 

 as food, but there is a tendency to regard as pois- 

 onous others that resemble them in coloration, 

 food, or habits, and to refrain from eating many 

 brightly coloured or reef -dwelling species that 

 may be quite wholesome. 



"Those that are sometimes poisonous may be 

 so owing to the decomposition of the flesh; this 

 would apply to all fishes, but especially to species 

 whose flesh decomposes very rapidly, such as most 

 Scombridse and Carangidse. 



77 



