The fish is normally native to the Indian Ocean and has entered the Mediterranean Sea as an invasive species via the Suez Canal. It has begun to spread, especially in the southern parts – off Greece, Cyprus, Egypt and Turkey.
“It is poisonous, so if you see one, you should absolutely not touch it,” says Kristina Snuttan Sundell, professor of zoophysiology at the University of Gothenburg.
Like many pufferfish, the silver-cheeked – also called silver-striped – pufferfish contains the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin. The poison is found primarily in the fish’s liver and gonads, but also in its skin. Because it blocks signals in nerves and muscles, even in low doses it can cause respiratory and cardiac paralysis and be fatal. However, anyone who comes into contact with one does not necessarily suffer such a fate.
“If you touch it, you may experience a tingling and numbing sensation, but it is not fatal,” says Sundell.
Sharp teeth
According to reports in The Telegraph and others, the pufferfish has bitten people. It has strong teeth because it feeds on mussels, snails, sea urchins and other hard-shelled creatures. But Sundell does not think it is particularly likely that it would attack.
“Fish that feel threatened often try to swim away. But they can bite by mistake and some fish become aggressive if they have a mating territory to defend,” she says.
Over the past ten years, the species has increased significantly in numbers and spread westward towards Italy. Above all, it is affecting fishing, reports AFP.
Swim the other way
Sundell doesn’t think anyone planning a sun holiday in Greece or Cyprus needs to be afraid of swimming.
“But if you see it, you should definitely swim in the other direction and absolutely not touch it.”
In Japan, poisonous pufferfish, known as fugu, is considered a delicacy.
“But I don’t think you should choose pufferfish from the menu. Maybe if you know it was prepared by a certified chef,” says Sundell.
There are about 120 species of pufferfish (Tetraodontidae), and some of them contain the poison tetrodotoxin, which is one of the strongest animal poisons we know of.
In Japan, pufferfish is called fugu, and when cooked as a dish, it has been called the world’s most dangerous meal, or a gastronomic version of Russian roulette. Fugu chefs undergo extensive training before being licensed to prepare the dish. Among gourmets, the liver is the most prized, as it is the most poisonous (but is prohibited by law from being served).
The silver-cheeked pufferfish, Lagocephalus sceleratus, has arrived in the eastern Mediterranean from the Red Sea via the Suez Canal. It is considered a delicacy, but its skin and some internal organs contain a neurotoxin that can cause muscle cramps if cooked incorrectly. The toxin is not affected by boiling or heating.
Source: Swedish Museum of Natural History
