Inter-species variation in stonefish (Synanceia spp.) ichthyocrinotoxins; an ecological perspective

Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Lennox-Bulow, Danica;Smout, Michael;Wilson, David;Seymour, Jamie
Michael SmoutJamie Seymour
Abstract

Although stonefish (Synanceia spp.) are well-known to harbour a highly noxious defensive venom in their dorsal spines, very little is known about the composition and ecological function of the ichthyocrinotoxins that they secrete onto their epidermis. This study profiled reef (Synanceia verrucosa) and estuarine (Synanceia horrida) stonefish ichthyocrinotoxins via electrophoresis, liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry to visualise and compare the composition of these toxins between the two species. Stonefish ichthyocrinotoxins were found to be multifarious concoctions that exhibited subtle differences between reef and estuarine species. We speculate that these variations and similarities are driven by the different and similar ecology of these fish species. Further research into the activity of the toxins components is now required to better understand their ecological role.

Journal

Toxicon

Publication Name

Toxicon

Volume

221

ISBN/ISSN

1879-3150

Edition

N/A

Issue

N/A

Pages Count

7

Location

N/A

Publisher

Pergamon

Publisher Url

N/A

Publisher Location

N/A

Publish Date

N/A

Url

N/A

Date

N/A

EISSN

N/A

DOI

10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.106977