John Turnbull, Marine Explorer, Australien
Info
Fangblenny blennies of the genus Meiacanthus are said to be poisonous, they do in fact have a cocktail of poison, however it is not dangerous to humans.
Recent studies of the liquid substance have led to the identification of 3 chemicals that aid the saber-tooth blenny in their attack against other fish, in which they bite small pieces of skin from the body of the victim fish.
The three components are:
Phospholipase: these enzymes damage animal cell membranes enabling or facilitating the initiation of the other two substances in the bite, a neuropeptide and enkephalin.
Neuropeptide Y, a peptide that causes the blood pressure of the victim animals to drop rapidly (in a test with mice, there was a 40% drop in blood pressure).
The activity of the victim animals is significantly reduced by a drop in blood pressure, giving the small blennies the opportunity to retreat relatively safely after their attack.
Enkephalin, also an opioid that, similar to heroin and morphine, quickly leads to a strong pain relief of the bite accompanying symptoms
in the victim animals.
Nature has put in place an amazingly considerate and humane protective mechanism here, sparing the victims and allowing the blenny to escape unimpeded.
FishBase states that the fish is poisonous!
Synonym:
Petroscirtes lineatus De Vis, 1884
Jumping guard
A jumping guard prevents (nocturnal) fish from jumping out.
Wrasses, blennies, hawkfishs and gobies jump out of an unprotected tank in fright if their night rest is disturbed, unfortunately these jumpers are found dried up in the morning on carpets, glass edges or later behind the tank.
https://www.korallenriff.de/en/article/1925_5_Jump_Protection_Solutions_for_Fish_in_the_Aquarium__5_Net_Covers.html
A small night light also helps, as it provides the fish with a means of orientation in the dark!
Recent studies of the liquid substance have led to the identification of 3 chemicals that aid the saber-tooth blenny in their attack against other fish, in which they bite small pieces of skin from the body of the victim fish.
The three components are:
Phospholipase: these enzymes damage animal cell membranes enabling or facilitating the initiation of the other two substances in the bite, a neuropeptide and enkephalin.
Neuropeptide Y, a peptide that causes the blood pressure of the victim animals to drop rapidly (in a test with mice, there was a 40% drop in blood pressure).
The activity of the victim animals is significantly reduced by a drop in blood pressure, giving the small blennies the opportunity to retreat relatively safely after their attack.
Enkephalin, also an opioid that, similar to heroin and morphine, quickly leads to a strong pain relief of the bite accompanying symptoms
in the victim animals.
Nature has put in place an amazingly considerate and humane protective mechanism here, sparing the victims and allowing the blenny to escape unimpeded.
FishBase states that the fish is poisonous!
Synonym:
Petroscirtes lineatus De Vis, 1884
Jumping guard
A jumping guard prevents (nocturnal) fish from jumping out.
Wrasses, blennies, hawkfishs and gobies jump out of an unprotected tank in fright if their night rest is disturbed, unfortunately these jumpers are found dried up in the morning on carpets, glass edges or later behind the tank.
https://www.korallenriff.de/en/article/1925_5_Jump_Protection_Solutions_for_Fish_in_the_Aquarium__5_Net_Covers.html
A small night light also helps, as it provides the fish with a means of orientation in the dark!
