Toxicity in Holothurians: A Geographical Pattern
Bakus GJ. 1974. Toxicity in Holothurians: A Geographical Pattern. Biotropica. 6(4):229-236
Experiments on the toxicity of holothurians to fishes were conducted at Cocos Island (eastern Pacific), in Mexico, California, and Washington. Six of seven species of holothurians tested at Cocos Island are toxic to fishes. Five species in Mexico are toxic, one of two species in California is mildly toxic, and three of twelve species in Washington are mildly toxic to fishes, Feeding experiments confirm laboratory tests on toxicity. A summary of information is presented on the current status of our knowledge of toxicity in holothurians. The evidence supports the hypothesis that toxicity in tropical holothurians probably has evolved in part as a chemical defense mechanism against predation by fishes.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Bakus, Gerald
- Units
- SFCN
- Keywords
- Chemical Defense Mechanism, Cocos Island, Feeding Experiments, Fishes, Predation