XANTHID CRAB OR KUMONG-KUMONG (ZOZYMUS AENEUS) IS THE MOST POISONOUS CRAB IN THE PHILIPPINES AND MAY KILL YOU IN LESS THAN 3 HRS. WHEN EATEN
20th of February, 2021 at 1:45pm
For my readers and followers, you probably noticed that I do not really venture that much about ocean creatures when it comes to foraging, most of my written articles that has been featured on my book deals with edible wild floras here and abroad, since neurotoxic venoms are mostly common in tropical marine creatures and so I do not recommend to any how consume these creatures, not to mention the presence of harmful algal blooms or HABs in fresh and marine waters also produce these toxins that are potent enough to kill a person.
Kagang-bugton (Zozymus aeneus) are crabs that is living among coral reefs and come out at night. It shares common name as reef crab with other poisonous crabs. It grows up to 2.4 in × 3.5 in, it has recognisable patterns of brownish patches on lighter background.
A xanthid crab or Krukudlong can harbour paralytic shellfish toxins or PSTs, tetrodotoxin and palytoxin PSTs. These toxins were identified in the gut contents, blood, liver and urine of the unlucky victim. It can kill a full grown adult in just 3 hours or less.
This crab are largely distributed in Indo-Pacific from East Africa to Hawaii. Here in the Philippines it can be found in Ilocos, La Union, Batangas, Quezon, Albay, Sorsogon, Mindoro, Marinduque, Panay Island, Palawan, and Zamboanga.
Sadly, these neurotoxins can not be destroyed by heating the flesh of the animal, or cooking it does not guarantee any protection from the adverse effects of such toxic substances. So I hope you can inform fisherfolks and coastal communities about this, or atleast remind them.
Symptoms of an individual who have consumed a poisonous crab may include the following:
1. Numbness of tongue and the surrounding of the lips
2. Difficulty in breathing
3. vomiting and salivating
4. Unquenchable thirst and dizziness
5. Abnormal taste buds
6. Blurred vision or poor eyesight
7. Headache and stomach ache
8. Loose bowel movement
9. Difficulty in speaking and swallowing
10. Paralysis
There are still recorded cases of poisoning among Filipinos, in just less than 20 years, you can find reports about people eating them. I hope this article can reach many people as much as possible in order to prevent anyone from eating this crustacean.
Remember, it is lethal so forage safely and learn about the species of organisms in your locality before eating or cooking them.