Exploration for Toxic Marine Animals in the Tropical Pacific

The report summarizes advances made on the study of ciguatera and other marine toxins. Ciguatera is a disease that results from the ingestion of certain fishes associated with coral reefs. Techniques for purification and isolation of the cuasitive toxin have been developed. The major effect of the toxin is to upset the ionic balance of excitable membranes particularly the balance of the Nation. The toxin apparently arises in the benthic flora of coral reefs as it is found in the gut contents of reef herbivores, and can be passed from reef herbivores to reef carnivores. In some of the reef carnivores the toxin may be stored for long periods. A number of other toxic algae, invertebrates and fish have been found.