Halluzinogener Fisch

Ingesting the dreamfish Sarpa salpa can result in hallucinations that last for several days.

Several species of fish are claimed to produce hallucinogenic effects when consumed. For example, Sarpa salpa, a species of sea bream, is commonly claimed to be hallucinogenic.Vorlage:Unreliable source? These widely distributed coastal fish are normally found in the Mediterranean and around Spain, and along the west and south coasts of Africa. Occasionally they are found in British waters.Vorlage:Failed verification They may induce hallucinogenic effects that are purportedly LSD-like if eaten. In 2006, two men who apparently ate the fish experienced hallucinations lasting for several days. 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.

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	23 cm	Gilbert Islands
	Rabbitfish		Siganus argenteus	Streamlined spinefoot	40 cm	Mauritius
			Siganus corallinus	Blue-spotted spinefoot	35 cm	Mauritius
			Siganus luridus	Dusky spinefoot	30 cm	Israel
			Siganus rivulatus	Marbled spinefoot	27 cm	Mauritius Israel (suspected)
			Siganus spinus	Little spinefoot	28 cm	Réunion island
	Sea breams		Sarpa salpa	Salema	51 cm	Tunisia France Israel
	Sea chub		Kyphosus cinerascens	Blue sea chub	50 cm	Hawaii
			Kyphosus vaigiensis	Brassy chub	70 cm	Hawaii
			Kyphosus bigibbus	Brown chub	75 cm	Norfolk Island	Formerly Kyphosus fuscus
	Surgeon fish		Acanthurus triostegus	Convict surgeonfish	27 cm	Hawaii
Omnivores	Goatfish		Mulloidichthys flavolineatus	Yellowstripe goatfish	43 cm	Hawaii	Formerly Mulloidichthys samoensis. Called "the chief of ghosts" in Hawaii
			Upeneus taeniopterus	Finstripe goatfish	33 cm	Hawaii	Formerly Upeneus arge
	Mullet		Mugil cephalus	Flathead grey mullet	100 cm	Hawaii
			Neomyxus leuciscus	Acute-jawed mullet	46 cm	Hawaii	Formerly Neomyxus chaptalli
Carnivores	Groupers		Epinephelus corallicola	Coral grouper	49 cm	Gilbert Islands

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". "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."

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 construction around the chest. The conviction that he is going to die, or some other frightening phantasy, 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.

Psychedelic fish

Hallucinogenic fish can be contrasted with psychedelic fish. Psychedelic fish do not produce hallucinations if eaten, but look as if they were the product of a psychedelic hallucination.

• 
  Psychedelic frogfish
• 
  Psychedelic mandarin
• 
  Synchiropus splendidus

See also

• 5-Bromo-DMT
• Entheogen
• Hallucinogenic plant
• Serotonergic psychedelic
• Venomous fish

External links

• Dolphins 'getting high' on puffer fish, zoologist Rob Pilley says news.com.au, 30 December 2013.