Warning: Do not eat this fish; it can kill you
Marine biologist Alan Deidun warns against consuming highly toxic invasive silver-cheeked toadfish after two juveniles were caught in Maltese waters
Marine biologist Alan Deidun has warned of increased sightings of the highly toxic invasive silver-cheeked toadfish.
Posting on his Facebook page, Deidun said two juvenile silver-cheeked toadfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus) were recently caught in Maltese waters.
The silver-checked toadfish, also known as the invasive pufferfish, is a highly toxic species of fish that has proliferated in the Mediterranean Sea after migrating through the Suez Canal from the Red Sea. It is recognized by its silvery body, dark back, and distinctive markings.
The fish contains tetrodotoxin (TTX), a potent neurotoxin concentrated in its liver, ovaries, intestines, and skin.
Tetrodotoxin is up to 1,200 times more toxic than cyanide, and even tiny amounts can be fatal. It affects the nervous system by blocking sodium channels, leading to symptoms such as Numbness and tingling in the mouth and extremities muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, paralysis and insevere cases, death due to respiratory failure.
There is no known antidote for tetrodotoxin poisoning. Prompt supportive care, such as respiratory support, is crucial if the fish is consumed.
Deidun said the species was first recorded in Maltese waters in 2015.
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