Accession Number:

AD0012360

Title:

AN INVESTIGATION OF POISONOUS AND VENOMOUS FISHES AT PALMYRA ISLAND, LINE ISLANDS, DURING 13 APRIL TO 2 MAY 1953

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

COLLEGE OF MEDICAL EVANGELISTS LOMA LINDA CA

Personal Author(s):

• Halstead, Bruce W.
• Bunker, Norman C.

Report Date:

1953-05-06

Pagination or Media Count:

18.0

Abstract:

About 1200 lb of poisonous fishes were collected off Palmyra Island, one of the Line Islands in the tropical Pacific until recent years all but the puffers were edible. Collections were made in April during the reproduction period when toxicity was at a maximum. Hook and line, spear, dynamite, and trolling methods were used. The species which were frozen and stored for toxicity studies include the red snappers Lutjanus bohar, L. vaigiensis, and L. gibbus the moray eels Gymnothorax pictus, G. javanicus, and G. flavimarginatus the puffers Arothron hispidus, A. meleagris, and A. nigropunctatus the parrotfish Acanthurus triostegus the goatfish Parupeneus the groupers Serranus spp. and Cephalopholis argus the triggerfish Balistes flavimarginatus the sea bass Variola louti the pomacentrids Abudefduf spp. and lethrinids. Underwater movies were taken for food chain studies. A shipment of reef fishes of Fanning Island was also procured.

Descriptors:

• *TOXICITY
• *FISHES
• PACIFIC OCEAN
• HOOKS
• DYNAMITE
• UNDERWATER
• MOTION PICTURES
• PACIFIC OCEAN ISLANDS
• FOOD CHAINS
• TROPICAL REGIONS

Subject Categories:

• Biology

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE