- Ichthyoallyeinotoxism
Ichthyoallyeinotoxism, or
hallucinogenic fish poisoning , is caused by eating the heads or body parts of certain species of ichthyoallyeinotoxic herbivorous fish found in several parts of the tropics, notably the Indian Pacific. The effects of eating ichthyoallyeinotoxic fishes, are reputed to be similar in some aspects toLSD . Experiences may include vivid and terrifying auditory and visual hallucinations. This has given rise to the collective common name for ichthyoallyeinotoxic fishes of "dream fish".The species most commonly claimed to be capable of producing this kind of toxicity include several species from the "
Kyphosus " family, including "Kyphosus fuscus", "K. cinerascens" and "K. vaigiensis", as well as certain mullet ("Mugil cephalus", "Neomyxus chaptali"), goatfish ("Mulloidichtys samoensis", "Upeneus arge"), grouper ("Epinephelus corallicola") and rabbitfish ("Saganus oramin"), [ [http://www.erowid.org/animals/fish/fish_info1.shtml] ] although it is unclear whether the toxins are produced by the fish themselves or by marine algae in their diet, and a dietary origin may be more likely.In 2006, two men who ate fish, apparantly the species "
Sarpa salpa ", caught in the Mediterranean were affected by ichthyoallyeinotoxism, and suffered hallucinations lasting for several days. [de Haro L, Pommier P. Hallucinatory fish poisoning (ichthyoallyeinotoxism): two case reports from the Western Mediterranean and literature review. "Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia)". 2006;44(2):185-8. PMID 16615678] [ [http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=911] ]References
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