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. [1] [2] These widely distributed coastal fish are normally found in the Mediterranean and around Spain, and along the west and south coasts of Africa. [3] Occasionally they are found in British waters. [4] They may induce hallucinogenic effects similar to LSD if eaten. [5] However, based on the reports of exposure they are more likely to resemble hallucinogenic effects of deliriants than the effects 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). [6] [7] The likelihood of hallucinations depends on the season. [8] [9] Sarpa salpa is known as "the fish that makes dreams" in Arabic. [6]
Other species claimed to be capable of producing hallucinations include several species of sea chub from the genus Kyphosus . [6] 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, [10] called "the fish that inebriates" in Reunion Island, and Mulloidichthys flavolineatus (formerly Mulloidichthys samoensis), [11] called "the chief of ghosts" in Hawaii. [12]
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, [13] as is the seagrass Posidonia oceanica . [8] When herbivores eat seagrass leaves they ingest algal epiphytes and toxic dinoflagellates that live on the seagrass leaves. [14] The German anthropologist Christian Rätsch thinks that dreamfish might contain the hallucinogen DMT. [15]
A few reporters have eaten the dream fish and described their strange effects. The most famous user is Joe Roberts, a photographer for the National Geographic magazine. He broiled the dream fish in 1960. After eating the delicacy, he experienced intense hallucinations with a science-fiction theme that included futuristic vehicles, images of space exploration, and monuments marking humanity's first trips into space. [15]
Diet | Family | Image | Species | Common name | Max length | Reported locations [6] | Notes | Other sources |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Herbivores | Clown and damselfishes | Abudefduf septemfasciatus | Banded sergeant | 23 cm | Gilbert Islands [16] | [17] [18] | ||
Rabbitfish | Siganus argenteus | Streamlined spinefoot | 40 cm | Mauritius [19] | [20] [21] | |||
Siganus corallinus | Blue-spotted spinefoot | 35 cm | Mauritius [19] | [22] [23] | ||||
Siganus luridus | Dusky spinefoot | 30 cm | Israel [24] [25] | [26] [27] | ||||
Siganus rivulatus | Marbled spinefoot | 27 cm | Mauritius [19] Israel (suspected) [28] | [29] [30] | ||||
Siganus spinus | Little spinefoot | 28 cm | Réunion island [31] | [10] [32] | ||||
Sea breams | Sarpa salpa | Salema | 51 cm | Tunisia [33] France [34] Israel [28] [35] | [3] [36] | |||
Sea chub | Kyphosus cinerascens | Blue sea chub | 50 cm | Hawaii [37] | [38] [39] | |||
Kyphosus vaigiensis | Brassy chub | 70 cm | Hawaii [37] | [40] [41] | ||||
Kyphosus bigibbus | Brown chub | 75 cm | Norfolk Island [42] | Formerly Kyphosus fuscus | [43] [44] | |||
Surgeon fish | Acanthurus triostegus | Convict surgeonfish | 27 cm | Hawaii [37] | [45] [46] | |||
Omnivores | Goatfish | Mulloidichthys flavolineatus | Yellowstripe goatfish | 43 cm | Hawaii [47] [48] [49] | Formerly Mulloidichthys samoensis. [50] Called "the chief of ghosts" in Hawaii [12] [51] | [11] [52] | |
Upeneus taeniopterus | Finstripe goatfish | 33 cm | Hawaii [47] [48] [49] | Formerly Upeneus arge | [53] [54] | |||
Mullet | Mugil cephalus | Flathead grey mullet | 100 cm | Hawaii [47] | [55] [56] | |||
Neomyxus leuciscus | Acute-jawed mullet | 46 cm | Hawaii [47] | Formerly Neomyxus chaptalli | [57] [58] | |||
Carnivores | Groupers | Epinephelus corallicola | Coral grouper | 49 cm | Gilbert Islands [16] | [59] [60] |
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". [61] "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." [13]
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. [62]
Hallucinogenic fish can be confused with psychedelic fish. Fish that look like psychedelic paintings are often referred to as psychedelic fish, while fish that can give you hallucinations if you eat them are often called hallucinogenic fish. Psychedelic fish do not generally produce hallucinations if eaten, but look as if they were the product of a psychedelic hallucination. Hallucinogenic fish do not generally look like psychedelic fish, but can produce hallucinations if eaten. [63] [64] [65]
The yellowmargin triggerfish, pineapple trigger, yellowface triggerfish or yellow-face triggerfish is a marine fish in the family Balistidae. It is found in coastal tropical waters and reefs of the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea south to Natal, South Africa and east from southern Japan south to Indonesia, Philippines and Samoa, at water depths from 2–50 m (6.6–164.0 ft).
The goatfishes are fish of the family Mullidae, the only family in the order Mulliformes. The family is also sometimes referred to as the red mullets, which also refers more narrowly to the genus Mullus.
Rabbitfishes or spinefoots are perciform fishes in the family Siganidae. The 29 species are in a single genus, Siganus. In some now obsolete classifications, the species having prominent face stripes—colloquially called foxfaces–are in the genus Lo. Other species, such as the masked spinefoot, show a reduced form of the stripe pattern. Rabbitfishes are native to shallow waters in the Indo-Pacific, but S. luridus and S. rivulatus have become established in the eastern Mediterranean via Lessepsian migration. They are commercially important food fish, and can be used in the preparation of dishes such as bagoong.
Ichthyoallyeinotoxism, or hallucinogenic fish inebriation, comes from eating certain species of fish found in several parts of the tropics, the effects of which are reputed to be similar in some aspects to LSD. Experiences may include vivid auditory and visual hallucinations. This has given rise to the collective common name "dream fish" for ichthyoallyeinotoxic fish.
Favonigobius melanobranchus, the blackthroat goby, is a species of goby native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean as well as being recorded in the Mediterranean Sea. This fish is found on sandy bottoms and seagrass beds at depths of from 0 to 5 metres. It can reach a length of 5.5 centimetres (2.2 in) TL.
The yellow goatfish, also known as yellowsaddle, is a species of goatfish native to the Atlantic Ocean around the coasts of Africa and the Americas. This species can reach a total length of 39.4 cm (15.5 in), but most reach lengths only around 28 cm (11 in). They are of minor importance to local commercial fisheries, though they have been reported to carry the ciguatera toxin.
The orange-spotted spinefoot, also known as the deepbody spinefoot, gold-saddle rabbitfish, golden rabbitfish, golden-spotted spinefoot, goldlined spinefoot or yellowblotch spinefoot, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found in the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.
The masked spinefoot, also known as the masked rabbitfish, bluelined rabbitfish, blue-lined spinefoot, decorated rabbitfish or maiden spinefoot, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It occurs in shallow, coral-rich areas of clear lagoons and seaward reefs of the Indo-West Pacific region.
Sarpa salpa, known commonly as the dreamfish, salema, salema porgy, cow bream, karanteen, salpa, saupe or goldline, is a species of sea bream, recognisable by the golden stripes that run down the length of its body, and which can cause ichthyoallyeinotoxism when eaten. It is the only species in the genus Sarpa. It is found in the East Atlantic, where it ranges from the Bay of Biscay to South Africa, as well as in the Mediterranean. It has occasionally been found as far north as Great Britain. It is generally common and found from near the surface to a depth of 70 m (230 ft).
Fish are very diverse animals and can be categorised in many ways. Although most fish species have probably been discovered and described, about 250 new ones are still discovered every year. According to FishBase about 34,800 species of fish had been described as of February 2022, which is more than the combined total of all other vertebrate species: mammals, amphibians, reptiles and birds.
Siganus doliatus, commonly known as the barred spinefoot, scribbled rabbitfish, pencil-streaked rabbitfish, barred Spanish mackerel, blue-lined rabbitfish or two-barred rabbitfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is native to the western Pacific Ocean where it occurs on reefs and in lagoons.
The dusky spinefoot, also known the squaretail rabbitfish,is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is native to the western Indian Ocean which has spread to the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal. Its fin spines contain venom. It is regarded as a food fish.
Poisonous fish are fish that are poisonous to eat. They contain toxins which are not destroyed by the digestive systems of animals that eat the fish. Venomous fish also contain toxins, but do not necessarily cause poisoning if they are eaten, since the digestive system often destroys their venom.
Siganus virgatus, the barhead spinefoot, doublebar rabbitfish or doublebar spinefoot is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.
Siganus rivulatus, the marbled spinefoot, rivulated rabbitfish or surf parrotfish, is a gregarious, largely herbivorous ray-finned fish of the family Siganidae. Its natural range encompasses the western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea from where it colonised the Mediterranean Sea by Lessepsian migration through the Suez Canal. It is the type species of the genus Siganus.
Siganus labyrinthodes, the labyrinth spinefoot, is a little known species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found in the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean.
Siganus randalli, the variegated spinefoot or Randall's rabbitfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found in the Western Pacific Ocean.
Siganus spinus, the little spinefoot, scribbled rabbitfish, blunt-nosed spinefoot, spiny rabbitfish, or spiny spinefoot, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.
Siganus trispilos, the threeblotched rabbitfish, threespot rabbitfish, threeblotch spinefoot or threespot spinefoot is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is endemic to the eastern Indian Ocean off northwestern Western Australia.