Several species of fish are claimed to produce hallucinogenic effects when consumed, a condition known as ichthyoallyeinotoxism. For example, Sarpa salpa, a species of sea bream referred to as the "dream-fish", is commonly claimed to be hallucinogenic. These widely distributed coastal fish are normally found in the Mediterranean and around the Iberian Peninsula, west to the Azores and along the west and south coasts of Africa. Occasionally they are found in British or more northerly waters. They may induce hallucinogenic effects similar to LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) if eaten. However, based on the reports of exposure, the effects are more likely to resemble those of deliriants than of serotonergic psychedelics such as LSD. In 2006, two men who apparently ate the fish experienced hallucinations lasting for several days (an effect common with some naturally occurring deliriants). The likelihood of hallucinations depends on the season. Sarpa salpa is known as "the fish that makes dreams" in Arabic.
Other species claimed to be capable of producing hallucinations include several species of sea chub from the genus Kyphosus. It is unclear whether the toxins are produced by the fish themselves or by marine algae in their diet. Other hallucinogenic fish are Siganus spinus, called "the fish that inebriates" in Reunion Island, and Mulloidichthys flavolineatus (formerly Mulloidichthys samoensis), called "the chief of ghosts" in Hawaii.
Cause of hallucinations
The active agent(s) that cause hallucinations in humans, and the origin of these agents, are not clear. Some authors think they could come from toxins associated with macroalgae that accumulate in the flesh of the fish. Toxins from the green algae Caulerpa prolifera in the Mediterranean Sea appear to be implicated, as is the seagrass Posidonia oceanica. When herbivores eat seagrass leaves they ingest algal epiphytes and toxic dinoflagellates that live on the seagrass leaves. The German anthropologist Christian Rätsch thinks that dreamfish might contain the hallucinogen DMT.Pickover, Clifford A (2005) [ Sex, Drugs, Einstein, and Elves] Chapter 1, page 9, Smart Publications. .
Hallucinogenic species + Fish species reported as hallucinogenic Diet Family Image Species Common name Max length Reported locations Notes Other sources Herbivores Clown and damselfishes Abudefduf septemfasciatus Banded sergeant Gilbert Islands Abudefduf septemfasciatus: Sevenband Damselfish Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 23 October 2013. Rabbitfish Siganus argenteus Streamlined spinefoot MauritiusHalstead BW, Cox KM (1973) "An investigation on fish poisoning in Mauritius", Proc Roy Soc Arts Sci Mauritius, 4 (2): 1–26.Siganus argenteus: Yellowspotted Spinefoot Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 23 October 2013. Siganus corallinus Blue-spotted spinefoot MauritiusSiganus corallinus: Blue-spotted spinefoot Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 23 October 2013. Siganus luridus Dusky spinefoot IsraelRaikhlin-Eisenkraft B and Bentur Y (2002) "Rabbitfish ("Aras"). An unusual source of ciguatera poisoning" Israeli Medical Association Journal, 4: 28–30.Herzberg A (1973) "Toxicity of Siganus luridus (Ruppell) on the Mediterranean Coast of Israël" Aquaculture, 2: 89–91.Siganus luridus: Squaretail Rabbitfish Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 23 October 2013. Siganus rivulatus Marbled spinefoot Mauritius Israel (suspected)Spanier E, Finkelstein Y and Raikhlin-Eisenkraft B (1989) "Toxicity of the saupe, Sarpa salpa (Linnaeus, 1758), on the Mediterranean coast of Israel" Journal of Fish Biology, 34: 635–636. Siganus rivulatus: Squaretail Rabbitfish Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 23 October 2013. Siganus spinus Little spinefoot Réunion islandSiganus spinus: Little spinefoot Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 23 October 2013. Sea breams Sarpa salpa Salema TunisiaChevaldonne P (1990) "Ciguatera and the saupe, Sarpa salpa (L.), in the Mediterranean: a possible misinterpretation" Journal of fish biology, 37: 503–504. Francede Haro L, Treffot MJ, Jouglard J and Perringué C (1993) "Trois cas d'intoxication de type ciguatérique après ingestion de Sparidae de Méditerranée", Ictyophysiologica Acta, 16: 133–146.IsraelRaikhlin-Eisenkraft B, Finkelstein Y, Spanier E (1988) "Ciguatera-like poisoning in the Mediterranean" Vet Hum Toxicol, 30 (6): 582–583.Sarpa salpa: Salema porgy Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 23 October 2013. Sea chub Kyphosus cinerascens Blue sea chub HawaiiKyphosus cinerascens: Blue Seachub Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 23 October 2013. Kyphosus vaigiensis Brassy chub HawaiiKyphosus vaigiensis: Lowfinned Drummer Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 23 October 2013. Kyphosus bigibbus Brown chub Norfolk IslandRoughly TC, Roberts BJ (1960) "Bounty descendant live on remote Norfolk Island" National Geographic Magazine, 116 (6): 575. Formerly Kyphosus fuscusKyphosus bigibbus: Striped Drummer Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 23 October 2013. Surgeon fish Acanthurus triostegus Convict surgeonfish HawaiiHelfrich P (1963) "Fish Poisoning in Hawaii Hawaii Medical Journal, 22 (5): 361–372.Acanthurus triostegus: Convict Tang Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 23 October 2013. Omnivores Goatfish Mulloidichthys flavolineatus Yellowstripe goatfish HawaiiJordan DS, Evermann BW and Tanaka S (1927) "Notes on new or rare fishes from Hawaii", Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 16 (20): 649–680.Randall JE (1958) "A review of ciguatera, tropical fish poisoning, with tentative explanation of its cause", Bulletin of Marine Science Gulf Caribbean, 8 (3): 236–267. Formerly Mulloidichthys samoensis.Called "the chief of ghosts" in HawaiiTitcomb, Margaret (1951) "Memoir: Native use of fish in Hawaii" Journal of the Polynesian Society, 60" 1–146.Mulloides flavolineatus: Yellowstripe goatfish Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 23 October 2013. Upeneus taeniopterus Finstripe goatfish Hawaii Formerly Upeneus argeUpeneus arge: Bandtail Goatfish Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 23 October 2013. Mullet Mugil cephalus Flathead grey mullet HawaiiHelfrich P, Banner A. (1960) "Hallucinatory mullet poisoning" Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1: 86–89.Mugil cephalus: Striped Mullet Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 23 October 2013. Neomyxus leuciscus Acute-jawed mullet Hawaii Formerly Neomyxus chaptalliNeomyxus leuciscus: Brown Mullet Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 23 October 2013. Carnivores Groupers Epinephelus corallicola Coral grouper Gilbert IslandsCooper MJ (1964) "Ciguatera and other marine poisoning in the Gilbert Islands", Pacific Science, 18 (4): 411–440.Epinephelus corallicola: Malabar Grouper Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
Ichthyoallyeinotoxism
Ichthyoallyeinotoxism, or hallucinogenic fish inebriation, is a clinical syndrome that refers to a hallucinogenic inebriation of a distressing nature that can arise from consuming hallucinogenic fish. It is characterised by "psychologic disturbances of hallucination and depression. Gastrointestinal disturbance may occur".Report of the Seminar on Ichthyosarcotoxism Papeete 1968, South Pacific Commission. "Ichthyoallyeinotoxism is a kind of ichthysarcotoxism (fish flesh poisoning) responsible of an unusual clinical feature: it is the unique case of central nervous system ichthyotoxicity. The most frequent signs are dizziness, loss of co-ordination and hallucinations."de Haro, L., Prost, N., Arditti, J., David, J. M., & Jouglard, J. (1998) "Ichthyoallyeinotoxism: a rare pathology" Toxicon, 36 (12): 1738–1739.
Ichthyoallyeinotoxism may result from eating the flesh or the head of the fish where the poison is reputedly concentrated. This biotoxication is sporadic and unpredictable in its occurrence. The poison affects primarily the central nervous system. The symptoms may develop within a few minutes to 2 hours and persist for 24 hours or longer. Symptoms are dizziness, loss of equilibrium, lack of motor coordination, hallucinations and mental depression. A common complaint of the victim is that "someone is sitting on my chest", or there is a sensation of a tight constriction around the chest. The conviction that he is going to die, or some other frightening fantasy, is a characteristic part of the clinical picture. Other complaints consist of itching, burning of the throat, muscular weakness and abdominal distress. No fatalities have been reported, and in comparison with other forms of ichthyosarcotoxism, hallucinogenic fish poisoning is relatively mild... Ordinary cooking procedures do not destroy the poison.R Bagnis R, F Berglund, PS Elias, GJ van Esch, BW Halstead and K Kojima (1970) "Problems of Toxicants in Marine Food Products: 1. Marine biotoxins" Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 42: 69–88.
See also 5-Bromo-DMT Entheogen Hallucinogenic plant Venomous fish Ciguatera
References
External links Fish N' Trips (About Hallucinogenic Fish and Ichthyoallyeinotoxism) - Hamilton Morris - Hamilton's Pharmacopeia Dolphins 'getting high' on puffer fish, zoologist Rob Pilley says news.com.au, 30 December 2013.