Fish-urchin – threat treat

Fish-urchin known to people since olden times. This spiny inhabitant of the tropics and southern temperate latitudes has always attracted the attention of Europeans. No, not for its gastronomic advantages, because the fish-urchin terribly poisonous. She had noticed the unusual form and ability in case of danger to swell and spread his needle, which in the quiescent state close to the body.

A Family of fish-urchins has eight types. The largest specimens can reach lengths of sixty centimeters. A Blowfish has a special air bag. When she is not experiencing stress, it is in a relaxed, deflated state. When the Blowfish is forced to defend himself, she fills the bag with water and swells, taking the form of a ball and increasing in size several times. Pressed to the sides of the needle stand on end and stick out in all directions, preventing any attempt of a predator to swallow it. In some species the length of the needle reaches twenty inches. Because of these peculiarities of fish-urchin has two more “informal” name: sea porcupine and pufferfish.

But this is not enough, fish-urchin has another way to scare off the aliens, to show her culinary interest: it releases a toxic slime, which very well drives away aggressors. The latter circumstance greatly complicates the maintenance of fish-urchins in aquaria or pools. At the slightest sign of attack from the other inhabitants of the aquarium, the fish produces mucus, and then have to change all the water. In this regard, fish-hedgehog in captivity is usually contained in a separate tank. Prefers sandy soil, often buries itself in the sand completely. Leads predominantly nocturnal, by day hiding in secret places.

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Under natural conditions, fish-urchin feeds mainly on shellfish and crustaceans. Solid dental plates allow you to crack even the thick shell. And eats small fish. In captivity, fish-urchin can do without the clams.

If the European and American gourmets rejected the fish-urchin, the harsh Japanese samurai felt that it is quite good to food true warrior. Some types iglobryuhoobraznyh preparing the famous Japanese delicacy-puffer. For the sake of justice it is necessary to clarify that fugu is prepared from the representatives of several types of Blowfish, and the main focus is brown puffer. But the fish-urchin belongs to those species of fish which are used to cook this delicacy.

Internal organs of the fish contain a deadly poison, tetrodotoxin. It is ten times stronger than curare, is four hundred times stronger than strychnine. A lethal dose can be obtained only by touching the insides of the fish with his bare hand. Tetrodotoxin has the nerve action. When ingested, it causes paralysis of the respiratory muscles, a person dies from suffocation. The antidote to tetrodotoxin have not been created yet.

The Area of distribution of fish-urchins-surrounding the Earth warm, tropical region. Especially in the Red sea. She and other fishes of the red sea (e.g., its close relative – sea cucumber) are the hallmark of this reservoir. All of them are interesting.

But in other areas of the Earth dominated by a tropical climate, there is a widespread fish-urchin. Photos of these interesting creatures never cease to amaze lovers of the exotic: how inventive nature in adaptation to the environment and protection from predators!