Blowfish Pufferfish
Toxic pufferish/blowfish?
I am doing a science project and cannot find which pufferfish species are toxic. Are all species toxic? Or just some?
Not all species are toxic but a majority of them are. Below is an excerpt from an article I wrote on marine toxins:
“Pufferfishes are notorious for their potent toxin, making the fish inedible unless prepared by skilled fugu chefs. The toxin these fish possess is a tetrodotoxin (TTX), named for its presence in fish of the order Tetraodontiformes including pufferfishes (Tetraodontidae) and porcupinefishes (Diodontidae). This toxin is produced by several bacteria species including Microbacterium arabinogalactanolyticum, Serratia marcescens, Vibrio alginolyticus and Bacillus spp. (Yu et al, 2004; Wu et al, 2005) and is then concentrated in the skin and liver of the fish. TTX is a powerful neurotoxin with symptoms ranging from initial numbness of the tongue and lips to paralysis, seizures and respiratory failure often resulting in death. In humans initial symptoms can occur in as little as 15 minutes and death can be in as little as 4-6 hours (Benzer, 2007). Fish from this family are often brightly coloured, possibly to display their toxic capacity or simply because they are able to display to members of the opposite sex with minimal threat of predation.”
Finding a list of species that are toxic is not easy but if you have access to scientific journals, this article lists a lot of the toxic species within the family:
TTX accumulation in pufferfish
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part D: Genomics and Proteomics, Volume 1, Issue 1, March 2006, Pages 145-152
Tamao Noguchi, Osamu Arakawa and Tomohiro Takatani
Puffer Fish – Blowfish – Porcupine Fish – Underwater Footage – Best Shot Footage – Stock Footage
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Puffer fish Orange lamp XXL 18″ blowfish taxidermy $30.99 |
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Puffer fish Red lamp XXL 16″ blowfish taxidermy $28.99 |
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14 inch Parrot Blowfish Puffer fish with hanger taxidermy real fish # 1293 $18.99 |
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Puffer fish Purple lamp Medium 7″ blowfish taxidermy $19.99 |
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13 inch Parrot Blowfish Puffer fish with hanger taxidermy real fish # 1741 $14.99 |
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19 inch Parrot Blowfish Puffer fish with hanger taxidermy real fish # 1777 $27.99 |
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20 inch Parrot Blowfish Puffer fish with hanger taxidermy real fish # 1776 $27.99 |
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19-3/4 inch Parrot Blowfish Puffer fish with hanger taxidermy real fish # 1773 $27.99 |
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12 inch Parrot Blowfish Puffer fish with hanger taxidermy real fish # 1742 $14.99 |
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13-1/2 inch Parrot Blowfish Puffer fish with hanger taxidermy real fish # 1735 $14.99 |
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12 inch Parrot Blowfish Puffer fish with hanger taxidermy real fish # 1821 $14.99 |
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12 inch Parrot Blowfish Puffer fish with hanger taxidermy real fish # 1740 $14.99 |
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13 inch Parrot Blowfish Puffer fish with hanger taxidermy real fish # 1738 $14.99 |
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12 inch Parrot Blowfish Puffer fish with hanger taxidermy real fish # 1739 $14.99 |
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12-3/4 inch Parrot Blowfish Puffer fish with hanger taxidermy real fish # 1743 $14.99 |
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12-1/2 inch Parrot Blowfish Puffer fish with hanger taxidermy real fish # 1737 $14.99 |
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12 inch Parrot Blowfish Puffer fish with hanger taxidermy real fish # 1736 $14.99 |
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Blowfish Art Print Painted with Rum Pufferfish Tiki $20.00 |
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Blowfish Art Print Painted with Rum Pufferfish Tiki $20.00 |
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Blowfish Art Print Painted with Rum Pufferfish Tiki $20.00 |
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Blowfish Art Print Painted with Rum Pufferfish Tiki $20.00 |
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Blowfish Art Print Painted with Rum Pufferfish Tiki $20.00 |
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Real 10 inch Porcupine Blowfish Puffer fish with hanger taxidermy # T-622 $11.99 |
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GOMU Series 1 Erasers Blue Puffer Fish Blowfish G35 $2.19 |
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11 inch Porcupine Blowfish Puffer fish with hanger taxidermy # 1028 $11.99 |
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Puffer fish miniature 3.5″ blowfish taxidermy P09 $4.99 |
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Blowfish PUFFER Fish Cabinet Drawer PULL Handle $3.94 |
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Blowfish PUFFER Fish Cabinet Drawer PULL Handle $3.94 |
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Blowfish PUFFER Fish Cabinet Drawer PULL Handle $3.94 |
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Blowfish PUFFER Fish Cabinet Drawer PULL Handle $3.94 |
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Real 17 inch Porcupine Blowfish Puffer fish with hanger taxidermy # T-629 $18.99 |
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7-1/2 inch Porcupine Blowfish Puffer fish with hanger taxidermy # T-243 $9.99 |
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BLOWFISH Puffer Fish CABINET Drawer Pull KNOB Ceramic $2.97 |
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2 Piece lot of cute Porcupine Blowfish Puffer fish with hanger taxidermy # T-628 $12.99 |
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Puffer fish miniature 3.5″ blowfish taxidermy P08 $4.99 |
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SPINY BLOWFISH LIGHT / LARGE SIZE – 15-18 $200.00 A classic for every tiki bar! This hanging lamp is made from a nicely preserved genuine spiny blow fish that has been treated against insects and finished with two coats of clear varnish. It has been wired at the top with a quick change brass light fixture with attached electrical cord and plastic googly eyes have been added too. 15″ – 18″ long measured from the tip of the nose to the end of th… |
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Porcupine Fish Lamp Puffer Blowfish This porcupine fish will make a great conversation piece in your home or office! Often reffered to as a Blowfish or a Puffer Fish, this have been dried and preserved to display. When confronted by a predator, porcupine fish puff up like a beach ball, and it’s quills/ spines are very sharp. Each fish measures approx. 6+” long, and when lit from inside by the light included, it casts a magical glow!… |
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Puffer Blow Fish 4.5 by Wild Life Artist $6.16 Surface Washable… |
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Helaine’s Blowfish Pufferfish Jr. Jersey T-Shir Humor Jr. Jersey T-Shirt by CafePress This Blowfish was in a tank at the Chinese resaurant where we ate. NO, he wasn’t on the menu Hang this cutie in your home or give him as a gift…. |
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Helaine’s Blowfish Pufferfish White T-Shirt Humor White T-Shirt by CafePress This Blowfish was in a tank at the Chinese resaurant where we ate. NO, he wasn’t on the menu Hang this cutie in your home or give him as a gift…. |
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Helaine’s Blowfish Pufferfish Cute Golf Shirt by CafePress $20.00 This Blowfish was in a tank at the Chinese resaurant where we ate. NO, he wasn’t on the menu Hang this cutie in your home or give him as a gift. Cute Tee, TShirt, Shirt. About our Golf Shirt: Tee off in casual style. Our pique knit golf t-shirt is a comfortable, lightweight way to play 18-holes and beat the heat. Features, stylish white pearl buttons, yet it feels like wearing your favorite t-shir… |