Puffer fish may contain the potent and deadly toxins tetrodotoxin and/or saxitoxin which can cause severe illness and death. These are central nervous system toxins and are more deadly than cyanide. Symptoms start within 20 minutes to 2 hours after eating the toxic fish.

Are puffer fish safe to touch?

Poison spikes: One of the adaptations that helps the pufferfish survive is the ability to produce a poison known as tetraodotoxin. This toxin is secreted across their body, making puffers dangerous to touch and even more dangerous to consume.

Do pufferfish attack humans?

They just look so cute. But the truth is that they are extremely dangerous sea creatures – there is enough toxin in one pufferfish to kill 30 adult humans. Depending on where you live – Central America, Mexico, the United States, just to name a few, these dangerous predators may have a home close to you.