Brown booby (Sula leucosgaster) envenomation and death caused by toadfish (Porichthys porosissimus) ingestion in Southeastern Brazil

Envenenamento e morte de atobás-marrons (Sula leucogaster) causados pela ingestão de magangá-liso (Porichthys porosissimus) no sudeste do Brasil

Abstract

A case report of six brown booby (Sula leucogaster) envenomation following the ingestion of toadfish (Porichthys porosissimus) specimens in Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil is discussed herein. Several macro- and microscopic pathological alterations were observed in the examined brown booby specimens, and rapid envenomation (<24 h) is suggested due to the digestion stage of the fish found in their gastrointestinal tracts. This is the first report to mention the death of adult and juvenile brown boobies due to envenomation by the toadfish P. porosissimus. Further studies assessing the role of discarded fish as a driving force of negative effects on seabirds, such as envenomations, for example, along the southeastern coast of Brazil are recommended.

Keywords:
Fatal ingestion; poisonous fish; seabirds; Western Atlantic