Biology:Salema porgy
| Salema porgy | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | Sarpa Bonaparte, 1831
|
| Species: | S. salpa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Sarpa salpa | |
Sarpa salpa, known commonly as the dreamfish, salema, salema porgy, cow bream, karanteen, salpa, saupe or goldline, is a species of sea bream, recognisable by the golden stripes that run down the length of its body, and which can cause ichthyoallyeinotoxism when eaten.[2] It is found in the East Atlantic, where it ranges from the Bay of Biscay to South Africa , as well as in the Mediterranean.[3] It has occasionally been found as far north as Great Britain.[2] It is generally common and found from near the surface to a depth of 70 m (230 ft).[1]
Description
The body of the saupe is oval and laterally compressed. It has silvery reflections and is streaked with 10 to 12 bright yellow longitudinal lines that run from the fairly short head to the caudal fin. The small mouth has very protruding teeth. The golden eye is quite large and close to the mouth, the back is yellow-gray to greenish with gold highlights, the fins are grayish.
Males are typically 15 to 30 cm (6–12 in) in length, while females are usually 31 to 45 cm (12–18 in).[4] The maximum size is 51 cm (20 in).[3]
Life and comportment
The saupes live in schools near the shores where they like seagrass beds (posidonia) and rocky grounds. Their activity is essentially diurnal and their diet mainly vegetarian: green and brown algae from the surface zone, as well as posidonia which they can graze assiduously. A few small invertebrates can complete the menu.
Hermaphrodites, a curious peculiarity of sparids, saupes change sex with age and reproduce in spring and autumn.
Consumption and toxicity
The vegetarian diet of the saupe makes it almost impossible to fish with a rod, its modest size and its living areas also making it not very vulnerable to fishing with a net or harpoon. This is why this fish is rare on plates and practically not sold. The soup is practically no longer consumed except in France , Israel and Tunisia.[5] These three countries are the only ones where cases of Mediterranean ichthyoallyeinotoxic are regularly described. In Algeria the sauce is commonly known under the name chelba (local dialect).
Sarpa salpa became widely known for its ichthyoallyeinotoxic effects following widely publicized articles in 2006, when two men ingested it at a Mediterranean restaurant and began to experience many auditory and visual hallucinogenic effects.[6] These hallucinations, described as frightening, were reported to have occurred two hours after the fish was ingested and had a total duration of 36 hours.[7] These hallucinogenic properties are used in the Pacific Ocean by the Melanesians and Polynesians during religious rites. Such uses were also described in the Mediterranean during the Roman Empire.[5]
The fish, and especially its viscera, have been assessed as potentially unsafe by a study conducted on Mediterranean specimens.[8] Saupes are not toxic all year round but only during certain periods, which raises suspicion of the role of algae toxins ] or phytoplankton ingested by fish, and swarming at certain periods, which renders it ichthyoallyeinotoxic.[5]
Since the accidental introduction of Caulerpa taxifolia into the Mediterranean, the saupe has tended to accumulate in its body the toxins produced by this alga. It is therefore recommended to empty it as soon as it is fished.[9]
Its taste qualities are also variously appreciated. Despite its pleasant flesh, its strong and particular taste can put off some people.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Russell, B.; Pollard, D.; Mann, B.Q.; Buxton, C.D.; Carpenter, K.E. (2014). "Sarpa salpa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T170169A1286510. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T170169A1286510.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/170169/1286510. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fish that triggers hallucinations found off British coast. The Daily Telegraph May 13, 2009. Accessed May 27, 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2015). "Sarpa salpa" in FishBase. April 2015 version.
- ↑ Jadot, C.; Donnay, A.; Acolas, M.; Cornet, Y.; Begoutanras, M. (2006). "Activity patterns, home-range size, and habitat utilization of Sarpa salpa (Teleostei: Sparidae) in the Mediterranean Sea". ICES Journal of Marine Science 63 (1): 128–139. doi:10.1016/j.icesjms.2005.06.010.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Luc De Haro. "Intoxications par organismes aquatiques". Revue de médecine tropicale, 2008, N° 68, pages 367-374. http://www.revuemedecinetropicale.com/367-374_-_De_Haro_Conference.pdf..
- ↑ Pommier, De Haro (October 2006). "Hallucinatory Fish Poisoning (Ichthyoallyeinotoxism): Two Case Reports From the Western Mediterranean and Literature Review". Clinical Toxicology 2006, Vol. 44, No. 2 : Pages 187. doi:10.1080/15563650500514590.
- ↑ "'Hallucination' fish netted in Channel" (in en). 2009-05-13. http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/may/13/hallucination-fish-cornwall.
- ↑ Khaled Bellassoued; Jos Van Pelt; Abdelfattah Elfeki (22 Sep 2014). "Neurotoxicity in rats induced by the poisonous dreamfish (Sarpa salpa)". Pharmaceutical Biology 2015, Vol. 53, No. 11 : Pages 286-295. doi:10.3109/13880209.2014.916311. "Liver and especially the visceral part of S. salpa presented toxicity, which clearly indicates the danger of using this fish as food."
- ↑ See on info-chassesousmarine.fr.
External links
- Photos of Salema porgy on Sealife Collection
Wikidata ☰ Q1130118 entry
 |  |
