Prof. Dr. Peter Wirtz, Madeira
Info
(Jenyns, 1842)
Distribution:
Eastern Pacific: California, USA to Pisco, Peru and the Galapagos Islands.
Biology:
Found on soft bottom.
Juveniles inhabit estuaries.
Makes a loud grating noise.
Synonymised taxa:
Liosaccus melanostictus Fowler, 1944
Tetrodon annulatus Jenyns, 1842
Puffer fish can produce toxins such as tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin and accumulate them in the skin, gonads and liver.
The toxin tetrodotoxin, which is contained in the fugu, is 1000 times more toxic than cyanide and there is no antidote serum, death then occurs by respiratory paralysis
The degree of toxicity varies depending on the species, but also on the geographical area and season.
We recommend that you never prepare puffer fish yourself, as the risk of fatal poisoning is far too great.
If you still absolutely want to eat puffer fish meat (fugu), then the fish should only be slaughtered by a Japanese special chef with a license and several years of training.
Only the training of these special chefs can guarantee the correct slaughter, complete removal and proper disposal of all toxic parts of the fish.
Distribution:
Eastern Pacific: California, USA to Pisco, Peru and the Galapagos Islands.
Biology:
Found on soft bottom.
Juveniles inhabit estuaries.
Makes a loud grating noise.
Synonymised taxa:
Liosaccus melanostictus Fowler, 1944
Tetrodon annulatus Jenyns, 1842
Puffer fish can produce toxins such as tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin and accumulate them in the skin, gonads and liver.
The toxin tetrodotoxin, which is contained in the fugu, is 1000 times more toxic than cyanide and there is no antidote serum, death then occurs by respiratory paralysis
The degree of toxicity varies depending on the species, but also on the geographical area and season.
We recommend that you never prepare puffer fish yourself, as the risk of fatal poisoning is far too great.
If you still absolutely want to eat puffer fish meat (fugu), then the fish should only be slaughtered by a Japanese special chef with a license and several years of training.
Only the training of these special chefs can guarantee the correct slaughter, complete removal and proper disposal of all toxic parts of the fish.
