Screening of Toxic Crabs in the Ryukyu and Amami Islands∗

Abstract

As already reported1), intoxication in humans and domestic animals due to crabs occurred sporadically in the Ryukyu and Amami Islands, and several toxic species of crab were reputed by the inhabitants to be present. To identify the toxic species, a screening test was conducted on a large number of specimens from these areas, and three species, Zosimus aeneus, Platypodia granulosa1) and Atergatis floridus2), were found to contain a potent neurotoxin3). Thereafter, the screening has been extended to the crabs around the mainland of Japan, aiming chiefly at A. floridus. The present paper decribes the overall results of these screenings. © 1969, The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science. All rights reserved.