The ocean world is indeed a masterpiece, filled with a myriad of colorful animal and plant species… However, many marine creatures pose deadly threats.
The Nha Trang Oceanographic Institute has recently studied and published a list of 41 species of toxic organisms capable of causing death…
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| Orange-spotted Pufferfish (Torquigener pallimaculatus) | Zebra Pufferfish (Arothron immaculatus) |
The most impressive might be the Zebra Pufferfish (Arothron immaculatus), which has a striking appearance with an egg-shaped body, black-edged dorsal fin, and white belly… However, its eggs contain an astonishing amount of toxins; just 100 grams of eggs can kill 200 people, with the highest toxicity levels occurring from April to October. Similarly, the Orange-spotted Pufferfish (Torquigener pallimaculatus) is also fearsome, as 100 grams of its eggs or liver can kill 60-70 people.
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Devil Crab (Zosymus aeneus) |
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Blue-ringed Octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata) |
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Textile Cone Snail (Conus textile) |
Poisoning from pufferfish has a very high mortality rate. In emergencies, using some readily available herbs like perilla leaves, mung beans, or young sweet potato leaves can provide effective first aid. (According to YkhoaNet)
Meanwhile, the Blue-ringed Octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata), a familiar seafood species, also has a striking appearance, with beautiful blue spots covering its body and tentacles. However, this species is a deadly marine creature. Its toxin is concentrated in its saliva. Just 100 grams of its meat and tentacles can kill two people; while 100 grams of its saliva can kill up to 23 people…
In the waters of Vietnam, scientists from the Nha Trang Oceanographic Institute (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology) have specifically identified a list of 41 toxin-containing species that can be fatal, most of which inhabit the sea; only two species of freshwater pufferfish were recently discovered in some provinces of the Mekong Delta.
Specifically, this includes one species of octopus, two species of cone snails, three species of crab, one species of mantis shrimp, 22 species of fish, and 10 species of sea snakes. The two freshwater pufferfish identified are the Green-spotted Pufferfish (Chelonodon nigroviridis) and the Red-eyed Pufferfish (Carinotetraodon lorteti).
According to the scientists at the Nha Trang Oceanographic Institute, most of the aforementioned toxic species have a wide habitat range, from the Gulf of Tonkin to the Gulf of Thailand, including pufferfish, cloud-patterned gobies, mantis shrimp, and sea snakes. However, some species like cone snails, crabs, and blue-ringed octopuses have only been encountered in the central and southeastern coastal regions.
Research by scientists indicates that the toxins in these seafood species belong to the neurotoxin group, so when humans are exposed to these toxins, they directly affect the brain’s nervous system and the cardiovascular system, causing typical poisoning symptoms in humans.
Most of these toxins are dangerous, with a high mortality rate and a very rapid onset, even at low doses. Eggs and liver are often the two places with the highest concentration of toxins. However, there are exceptions where meat and skin contain even higher levels of toxins, even though these parts are generally considered the least toxic.
For example, the cloud-patterned goby is classified as a species that concentrates toxins in its skin. The most easily recognizable feature of this fish is its reddish-brown body; each side has four black cloud-like spots; the dorsal fin and tail fin have many rows of black spots… The toxin of this species is present in various body parts, with the highest concentration in the skin, where 100 grams can kill 9-10 people.
Notably, the scientists from the Nha Trang Oceanographic Institute indicated that unlike previous studies, all different body parts of the three seafood species: crab, blue-ringed octopus, and mantis shrimp contain toxins. These scientists warn against “absolutely not using these toxic seafood species for food preparation in any form.”
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| Green-spotted Pufferfish (Chelonodon nigroviridis) | Red-eyed Pufferfish (Carinotetraodon lorteti) |
In fact, most cases of poisoning, even fatalities, occur when people consume seafood containing strong toxins. Additionally, humans may also be affected by touching or accidentally coming into contact with species such as sea snakes, blue-ringed octopuses, and cone snails, leading to bites, stings, or toxin injections. The toxins in the saliva enter the human body through wounds when the teeth or venomous spines of these species come into contact.
GIANG HUONG
