Page 56 - Fish and Amphibians (Britannica Illustrated Science Library)

52 DIVERSITY FISH AND AMPHIBIANS 53

Danger in the Water Deadly Weapons Deadly Delicacy

Each spine is covered from base to tip In Japan the fugu, or puffer fish, is a succulent but lethal delicacy.
here are poisonous fish in all the seas in the world. The toxic with a sheath. When the spine pierces, It contains tetratoxin, a deadly poison. Nonetheless, its flesh is so
delicious that Japanese gourmets, even at the risk of their lives,
the pressure causes the poison gland
substances they produce are usually not meant for threatening within to release its contents. Covering consider fugu the king of fish. To prepare this high-risk dish, chefs
T humans but for defending themselves from larger must have a certificate from a special school that teaches the
preparation of fugu.
aquatic predators. Although some species of puffer fish Poison
THIRTEEN DORSAL SPINES gland
have poisonous flesh, in Japan they are considered The fiercer the attack, the more
a delicacy when properly prepared. damaging are the wounds they
inflict. They can do worse damage
if the spine breaks and sticks Spine of fin
in the victim's body.
A Swimming Fortress
The poison gland lies along INTESTINE
Red lionfish, also called scorpion fish, are fascinating sea the inside of a long central The puffer fish's
creatures found in aquariums all over the world. They belong to Base of spine groove and is covered with intestinal wall is also
glandular tissue that secretes poisonous.
the family Scorpaenidae, which includes fish that have spines and
the venom.
venom, such as the spotted scorpion fish. The dorsal fin of the red
lionfish has spines containing small sacs of potent venom, which it
uses in self-defense. It has a long body with high, wide fins. The OVARY
potency of the venom depends on the species. The most toxic of
STOMACH the internal
When the fish takes in organs
water, the stomach
swells and causes the
fish to expand.
LIVER
Highly poisonous;
compressed when
RED LIONFISH
the stomach
Pterois volitans expands
Habitat Indian and Pacific
oceans, Sri Lanka
Largest size 15 inches (38 cm) Living Rock
Family Scorpaenidae
Spotted scorpion fish belong to another group of the
Scorpaenidae family. Buried in the sand along ocean
beaches, their strong, thick spines can pierce footwear
when stepped on. They can live up to four months
eating only the fish that swim near their mouths.
LIKE A PEACOCK
Lionfish are highly sought after
for aquariums because of their Pressure on the spines opens Poisonous
attractive coloring. This one is the sacs of poison. Through spines
spreading its pectoral fins like a CAUDAL FIN channels in the middle of the
peacock's tail. Its showy colors spines, the poison is injected
frighten predator into deliberate or accidental
species with the coded aggressors.
message: “I'm
poisonous!”

SPOTTED SCORPION
FISH
Scorpaena plumieri

TWO PECTORAL
SPINES THREE ANAL
Appendages below the mouth SPINES 1,200 times
are used for attacking smaller The first three spines
fish or crustaceans by rushing of the anal fin point
against them head-on. When it downward. The relative potency of the venom of a
sees potential prey, it pounces. puffer fish compared with cyanide. This
gives an idea of its killing potential.