Tom Watson, Theofanes Isamu and Germance Taro examine a large “fugu” pufferfish (Tetradon stellatus) speared by a night diver in the MMDC Giant Clam Nursery in Malakal Harbor, Republic of Palau. Inside the puffer’s mouth at the time it was killed was a fragment of freshly broken shell from a 3-year-old cultured giant clam, Tridacna derasa. The appearance of this fish coincided with a rash of unexplained crushing predation in the MMDC ocean clam nursery.
Germance and Tom dissect the puffer and examine the stomach contents, which include several freshly killed marine invertebrates but no obvious clam remains. Still, the presence of the clam fragment in the puffer’s mouth, its formidable teeth and the circumstantial evidence of freshly crushed clams in the ocean nursery suggested to us that this fish might be a potentialy serious predator on established giant clam nurseries.
The smooth puffer is known as “fugue” in Japan, where it is a highly prized seafood delicacy which can be deadly if not prepared properly. In the video Germance comments (in Palauan) that if the gonads (eggs) of this fish are fed to a dog, the dog will be dead within five minutes.
Thanks to Germance Taro, Thomas Watson, Theofanes Isamu and the staff of the MMDC. This video footage was shot at the MMDC in 1988 by Gerald Heslinga, with the support of NMFS/NOAA, the US National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration.
Thanks to the Republic of Palau Ministry of National Resources, its Bureau of Resources and Development, and its Division of Marine Resources for assistance.
