Abstract
A water-soluble toxin designated as aluterin was found in the viscera and gut contents of the filefish, Alutera scripta, which has been believed to have the toxic viscera in Okinawa and Saipan. The ingested materials of one specimen showing a moderate toxicity were mainly composed of the crushed zoantharian identified as Palythoa tuberculosa. The zoantharian was then demonstrated to be toxic and to contain a toxin not distinguishable from aluterin. The preparation of toxicity as high as 0.06 μg/g was obtained from it by a simple procedure. These results may suggest that the filefish becomes toxic from feeding on the toxic zoantharian.
