MARINE TOXINS AND VENOMOUS AND POISONOUS MARINE ANIMALS
331
Caltech. I recall we discussed the taxonomy, ecology, venom apparatus
and the toxins of the venomous fishes. We also found time to consider
the clinical problem of envenomation by fishes, and no doubt we mused
over expeditions and experiences in the field of marine toxinology.
In looking over my notes of that afternoon I find that a great deal
of our knowledge on the venomous fishes at that time came from less
than a dozen published works. If it became necessary to repeat that
seminar today, I would need to read scarcely less than 500 articles,
most of which have been written during these past 15 years. As in
most areas of the biological sciences, contributions in marine toxinology
continue to be made at an ever increasing, and sometimes alarming,
rate. It would not be possible in this short review to present all of the
FIG. 12. Some venomous fishes. Top to bottom : Pter& wolitans, zebrafish ; Scorpaena
guttata, sculpin ; Scorpaenopsk diabolw, scorpionfish ; Scorpaena plumieri, scorpionfish. (From Evermann and Seale, 1907 ; Hiyama, 1943 ; and Halstead, 1959.)
331
Caltech. I recall we discussed the taxonomy, ecology, venom apparatus
and the toxins of the venomous fishes. We also found time to consider
the clinical problem of envenomation by fishes, and no doubt we mused
over expeditions and experiences in the field of marine toxinology.
In looking over my notes of that afternoon I find that a great deal
of our knowledge on the venomous fishes at that time came from less
than a dozen published works. If it became necessary to repeat that
seminar today, I would need to read scarcely less than 500 articles,
most of which have been written during these past 15 years. As in
most areas of the biological sciences, contributions in marine toxinology
continue to be made at an ever increasing, and sometimes alarming,
rate. It would not be possible in this short review to present all of the
FIG. 12. Some venomous fishes. Top to bottom : Pter& wolitans, zebrafish ; Scorpaena
guttata, sculpin ; Scorpaenopsk diabolw, scorpionfish ; Scorpaena plumieri, scorpionfish. (From Evermann and Seale, 1907 ; Hiyama, 1943 ; and Halstead, 1959.)