. Fishes. Fishes. 54 Adaptations of Fishes Spines of the Sting-ray. — In all the large group of sting- rays the tail is provided with one or more large, stiff, barbed spines, which are used with great force by the animal, and are capable of piercing the leathery skin of the sting-ray itself. There is no evidence that these spines bear any specific poison, but the ragged wounds they make are always dangerous and often end in gangrene. It is possible that the mucus on the surface of the spine acts as a poison on the lacerated tissues, rendering the wound something very different from a simple cu
. Fishes. Fishes. 54 Adaptations of Fishes Spines of the Sting-ray. — In all the large group of sting- rays the tail is provided with one or more large, stiff, barbed spines, which are used with great force by the animal, and are capable of piercing the leathery skin of the sting-ray itself. There is no evidence that these spines bear any specific poison, but the ragged wounds they make are always dangerous and often end in gangrene. It is possible that the mucus on the surface of the spine acts as a poison on the lacerated tissues, rendering the wound something very different from a simple cut. Protection Through Poisonous Flesh of Fishes. — In certain groups of fishes a strange form of self-protection is acquired by. Fig. 38.—Common Filnfish, Stephnnolepis hispidus (Linnti?us). Virginia. the presence in the body of poisonous alkaloids, by means of which the enemies of the species are destroyed in the death of the individual devoured. Such alkaloids are present in the globefishes (Tetraodontidcc), the filefishes {MonacaiitJiiis), and in some related forms, while members of other groups {Batrachoididw) are under suspicion in this regard. The alkaloids produce a disease known as cigua- tera, characterized by paralysis and gastric derangements. Severe cases of ciguatera with men, as well as with lower animals, may end fatally in a short time. The flesh of the filefishes {Stephanolepis tomentosus), which. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Jordan, David Starr, 1851-1931. New York, H. Holt and Company
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