psychoactive animal's / bird's / Insect's / spider's / fish / snakes's etc- post here

[msimm]

Of all the hallucinogenic things your least likely to actually try, the psychedelic fish!

Toxic species of puffer fish have been identified as the key psychoactive ingredient in the making of the zombi drug.
A number of species of fish found as far afield as South Africa, Hawaii and Norfolk Island in the Pacific have been reported as 'dream fish' or 'nightmare fish' on account of the fact that they cause hallucinations.
Eating the so-called 'dream fish' of Norfolk Island. A species of Kyphosus (it has been suggested that it may be K. fuseus or more likely K. vaigiensis) is reputed to cause dreadful nightmares. Christian Ratsch, the German anthropologist, states that the 'dream fish' contains large amounts of the hallucinogen DMT.


Reports by the local people of Hawaii of fish having psychoactive effects led researchers from the University of Hawaii to investigate this unusual phenomenon.
They toyed with the idea of calling the syndrome ichthyosarcephialtilepsis but thankfully decided on the more straightforward 'hallucinatory mullet poisoning'!
In fact, four species of fish are known to cause such symptoms, two of the mullet family (Mugilidae), Mugil cephalus and Neomyxus chaptalli, and two belonging to the goatfish or surmullet family (Mullidae), Mulloidichthys samoensis and Upeneus arge.
The last of these is known locally as weke pahala ('the night- mare weke') and a report from 1927 states that about thirty or forty Japanese labourers unwittingly ate the fish and suffered 'mental paralysis' and delirium. Not all those who eat it report having nightmares; some seemed to have enjoyed the hallucinatory effects.


The symptoms vary from person to person. In the case of one family who shared the same fish, some members experienced intoxication whilst others were completely unaffected.
That this could be due to some kind of allergic reaction has been rejected, as individuals who experience hallucinations and other effects when eating the toxic variety of fish happily consume the non-toxic variety regularly without any problems.
Neither can the intoxication be explained away as psychosomatic; infants who have eaten it wake up screaming and try to get out of their cots, showing all the signs of having nightmares.
What causes the psychoactive effects is something of a mystery; it is unlikely to be bacterial in origin since the fish is often eaten straight from the sea, allowing no time for decay to set in.
Some local fishermen think that it may be due to the fish eating a certain kind of algae but researchers consider this unlikely.


Hallucinogenic effects from these species of fish have been reported from two of the Hawaiian islands, Kauai and Molokai, and the toxins in question are apparently only present in the fish during June, July and August.
Hawaiian fishermen reported that the nightmare- inducing fish could be distinguished by distinctive red blotches on the lips and sides of the head but others said that they looked the same as the non-toxic fish.
It is not clear which parts of the fish contain the toxins; some say it is only the brain or head, the head and the tail, whilst others maintain the entire fish is psychoactive.
Two further species of fish found in Hawaii are rumoured to cause similar effects - the tang or surgeonfish (Acanthurus sandvicensis), and the rudder fish (Kyphosus cinerascens), the latter being a close relative of the Norfolk Island 'dream fish'.


There is no real evidence that these various different kinds of poisonous fish were ever used systematically for their dream inducing properties.
Most reported cases indicate that such intoxication was, and still is, almost always accidental.
Dr Bruce Halstead of the World Life Research Institute stated in 1959 that he had discovered the presence of a hallucinogenic substance in a fish, but did not name either the species in question or the location at which it was found for fear that the Russians would make use of it for developing nerve drugs.
Ratsch has suggested that the yellow stingray (Urolophus jamaicensis) was used for its inebriating and aphrodisiac venom in pre-Columbian times by the Maya.


http://www.erowid.org/animals/fish/fish_info1.shtml

The Psychedelic Fish (Pterosynchiropus
splendidus however, is not a hallucinogenic fish (but it is nice to look at):

Reputation Comments on this post:

Whoa, thats crazy. Swim is now very intrigued.

[RoboCop]

I was just about to start this thread! you beat me to the punch. Also check these weird drugs out.

Reindeer are also known to eat the fly-agaric of their own volition (as are Siberian bears in the rutting season who, according to native opinion, do so in order 'not to fear') and Siberians who find them in such a state bind them with ropes and quickly slaughter them to consume their flesh, which is psychoactive for a short time after death.

Bees that have taken the nectar of the psychoactive plant Atropa belladonna thereby transfer the tropane alkaloids contained in it and these remain active in the resulting honey, which if eaten by humans has mind-altering effects.
Multiple wasp stings are known to induce mildly hallucinogenic effects, such as increasing the intensity of colors and the perception of geometric forms. The use of ants for their apparent hallucinogen properties was once a common tradition among various Californian Indians.

A number of species of fish found as far afield as South Africa, Hawaii and Norfolk Island in the Pacific have been reported as 'dream fish' or 'nightmare fish' on account of the fact that they cause hallucinations.
Eating the so-called 'dream fish' of Norfolk Island. A species of Kyphosus (it has been suggested that it may be K. fuseus or more likely K. vaigiensis) is reputed to cause dreadful nightmares. Christian Ratsch, the German anthropologist, states that the 'dream fish' contains large amounts of the hallucinogen DMT.

[msimm]

Ya, I always thought it was interesting what an incredible variety of
*things* will induce such profound perceptural changes. I particularly
like that Reindeer account, thanks.

[djryand]

That is the coolest looking fish I have ever seen. Thanks for the pic. If I ever get a saltwater tank I am definitely getting one of those beauties!!!

I've thought about this kinda thing before: I wondered if there are any bugs or animals out there that are psychoactive. I am aware of the frog w/ dmt, so I bet there's many more yet discovered!! Here i go to eat bugs

[Alfa]

I hope this book will ever be translated in English:





http://www.ecn.org/nautilus/toro.html

Reputation Comments on this post:

thx for sharing info on this book, swim's intrigued

[Alfa]

Apes were first to get high on drugs
By Roger Highfield, Science Editor
(Filed: 26/12/2001)
HUMAN beings were not the first to use recreational drugs. Some apes take stimulants and hallucinogens, sometimes munching roots that now show promise in treating human addicts, say scientists.
Prof Michael Huffman of the Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University and Don Cousins, author of The Magnificent Gorilla, report in a forthcoming issue of the journal African Study Monographs that apes may indulge in drugs - from a pick-me-up of the kind found in coffee to hallucinogens.



Monkey on your back: apes may use drugs recreationally

Earlier work in the journal Bioscience by Prof Huffman suggested that the practice of medicine began with our hairy ancestors: some chimps swallow bristly, rough leaves to sweep parasites out of the gut, while others suck the bitter pith from the tree Vernonia amygdalina, which contains compounds active against parasites responsible for malaria and dysentery.
Now it seems that apes may use drugs recreationally. African apes eat the seeds of Kola trees which contain caffeine and theobromine and are legendary for their effect in preventing fatigue. They found that two hallucinogenic plants are ingested by gorillas in Equatorial Guinea and chimpanzees in the Republic of Guinea: Alchornea floribunda and A. cordifolia (Euphorbiaceae).
A floribunda is used in Gabonese cults where the root has a reputation as an intoxicant and aphrodisiac. It is said to provide a state of intense excitement followed by a deep, sometimes fatal depression. Most intriguing, said Prof Huffman, is how local people claim to have discovered the intoxicating effects of the plant by watching animals, including gorillas, go into a frenzy of fear, as if being chased by invisible objects, after eating the roots.
The apes even resort to a drugs detox. The Tabernanthe iboga root has been exploited by gorillas of Sindara on the Ngounie river, South of Lambarene.

[Alfa]

Drunk elephants kill six people


Assam is home to half of India's elephants

Drunken elephants have trampled at least six people to death in the northeast Indian state of Assam, local officials say.


The herd of wild elephants stumbled across the supplies of homemade rice beer after they destroyed granaries in search of food.


The incident happened near Tinsukia, 550 kilometres (344 miles) from the Assam capital, Guwahati.


"They smashed huts and plundered granaries and broke open casks to drink rice beer. The herd then went berserk killing six people," a forestry official told AFP news agency.






Police said four of those killed were children.


According to experts, elephants often emerge from Assam's forests in search of food.


But much to the annoyance of the local residents, they destroy rice fields and granaries.


Environmental questions


Growing elephant numbers and the devastation of the animal's natural habitat are partly to blame for the problem.


Officials in Assam say at least 150 people have been killed by elephants in the last two years.


The deaths have led villagers to kill up to 200 elephants.


"It has been noticed that elephants have developed a taste for rice beer and local liquor and they always look for it when they invade villages," an elephant expert in Guwahati told Reuters news agency.


The region is home to more than half of India's elephant population, estimated at 10,000.


The Assam Government's protection of elephants over the last 20 years, including a ban on their hunting, has led numbers to increase to about 5,500. </DIV>

[Joaspah]

Recently i read an article about the first discovered psychoactive bug, some sort of ant as i remember but now i can't find any info about it anymore...


... someone...????

[Waffa]

NONE of this info here is to be used by anyone as testing for recreational drugs because many of the living organs here listed can be extremely poisonous and WILL kill you most likely if you just "think" you know what you do! There is reason why there is not to much information about this subject - most of the time the risk is not worth it

From Wiki i noticed there is nothing under "psychoactive animals" .. also there is relatively little information about drug sources what does not involve plants or chemistry - so i was thinking about making a thread where everyone can post animal/bugs related information - maybe it can be also good for wiki in future. What will be posted here might involve the animals & chemistry (extraction, synthesis, excrement) but the original source of psychoactive ingredient should be something from what is moving around or have a mind of some kind .

I was thinking about posting here for starter some and maybe rest of the community can help me by adding more and more their finds and i have read from forum - some of you might have personal experience with some of these already.

Also it's helpful to post here things what is widely "believed to be" but actually is not ( myth's, legends ) - this would be helpful for users who google and thought they discover something what is not here. Also if you have, take time to explain why some people believed this would work (or did work).

( i will edit this post and add updates here [with ref to post(er) - optional] - this would prevent double "finds" and can leave room for speculations if something is or is not. Do not hesitate to point out my bad 3th language so i can fix it, also other factual mistakes to make this post more worth for others.

Here we go for starters with some of the know ones:

Psychoactive Animals & other living organs what are not plants (that can be used as recreational drugs

Psychoactive toads

Sonoran desert toad aka Colorado River Toad – Bufo alvarius (Southwestern United States - California, Arizona, New Mexico, northern Mexico)
Skin has 5-MeO-DMT and bufotenin(dine) (is this 5-hydroxy-DMT ?)

Cane Toad - Bufo marinus (Giant Neotropical Toad or Marine Toad)
bufotenin(dine)



honey bee - Apis mellifera
Also said to be psychoactive but i haven't confirmed yet what psychoactive's can be extracted from him. As i understand bees might take nectar from plants like Atropa belladonna and transfer tropane alkaloids to the honey what is then eaten by people might produce mind-altering effects.

Multiple wasp stings is known to produce mildly hallucinogenic effect, not sore what chemical is cause for tripping jet

some Ants use like Red harvester ants for their apparent hallucinogen properties was once a common tradition among various Californian Indians
"The venom of red ants contains formic acid and polypeptide kinins that induce pain, inflammation and can lower blood pressure . Some kinins have nicotinic cholinergic activity that may be responsible for the induction of hallucinations"

Scorpions arachnids stings (mostly used India’s western states, haven't seen to much info about it, here is post in drugs forum about it)

Snakes - there is been reports about poisones snakes giving strong hallucinogenic effect for some people.




High from fish & Ichthyoallyeinotoxism

( hallucinations within minutes of eating a poisonous fish and may last for days, often with no other effects. There is no antidote) nicknames are / "dream fish" and "nightmare fish"


Kyphosus genus - Melanesian Kyphosus fuseus, Kyphosus fuscus, K. cinerascens and K. vaigiensis (not sore if Kyphosidae - sea shubs is also "trippi" fish)
Large amount of DMT (not sore yet what DMT but i belive its dimethyltryptamine not 5-MeO)

Salema porgy / Sarpa salpa from Sparidae family - again not sore what ichthyoallyeinotoxins might be in this fish but there is a lot of talk about two guys who tripped many days after eating it. Also it was believed to be used as recreational drug in the Med during the Roman Empire.



Also some ichthyoallyeinotoxic fishes, such as certain mullet (eg Mugil cephalus, Neomyxus chaptalli / ), goatfish Mulloidichthys samoiensis & Upeneus arge & Hawaiian Weke pueo "nightmare weke",Acanthurus sandvicensis, tangs, damsels, crambidae Myelobia smerintha and rabbitfish (eg spinefoots are perciform fishes in the family Siganidae) are believed to produce LSD similar effects - i haven't have time to confirm exact species and chemicals jet, some say tropane might be present also in same of them.

Myths / Unlikely usable for "high":

Some people believe Poison's tree frogs like Epipedobates Tricolor can be used for tripping, actually they just have (among others) painkiller chemical that can be extracted called epibatidine it is about 200 times stronger then morphine and has no known negative side effects but it's not for tripping. Btw frogs and toads are different who does not know )

Puffer-fish Tetraodontidae (puffers, balloonfish, blowfish, bubblefish, globefish, swellfish, toadfish, and toadies) some Japanese claim they get high of it but i am not so sore about it becouse of the lethal tetrodotoxin what is main chemical. But i might be wrong, correct me.

European fire salamander - Salamandra salamandra
sayd to be psychoactive but i only can notice that he have neourotoxin called Samandarin & thats all.



There also can be found a lot of stories about this subject but i have no time to separate them from fiction, so if you have time take a look at Animals Used As Drugs . If anyone is lucky to have Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Substances then you should find a lot of info from there i believe.

Reputation Comments on this post:

	Nice compilation. Don't forget to expand it when you have some time.
	Now thats the sort of list swim was looking for, thanks
	Great job with this. I hope you continue to update!

[Potter]

Pendell discusses tetrodotoxin in Pharnako/Gnosis.

The idea is to get a sublethal dose of the toxin, paraesthesia of the face and extremities, feelings of lightness and floating, but not quite to the nausea and vomiting stage (avoiding the later "dead as fuck" stage) 1mg is all it takes to do you in, so you can imagine the risks.

Seems it's used as a potent non-addictive system analgesic...

[UberDouche]

My unicorn's pet spider told me of a vendor who, years ago, sold tetrodotoxin in microgram quantities on blotter paper. The spider never got up the nerve to try it, but still has it.
The spider said its never gonna touch it as it doesn't want to be the waking dead, or any kind of dead for that matter.

[Gradient]

Originally Posted by UberDouche

My unicorn's pet spider told me of a vendor who, years ago, sold tetrodotoxin in microgram quantities on blotter paper.

Wow. That's basically a weapon, not a drug to be placed on blotters by a vendor. I can easily see an LSD hardhead mistakenly taking a 10-strip of TTX tabs, and shutting down like a computer without electricity. Some close friends have attested to a tingly feeling on the tongue from eating the meticulously prepared puffer-fish that generate TTX (lotta faith in that chef's skill), but certainly nothing pleasant to note. I'm with Waffa on this; no reason to anticipate any valuable psychoactivity. Unless the goal is death through termination of action-potential propagation by preventing sodium ion current - in which case this would be ideal for pretty much any organism - there is absolutely no recreational value here, and plenty of risk for overdose.

[chibi curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Gradient

Some close friends have attested to a tingly feeling on the tongue from eating the meticulously prepared puffer-fish that generate TTX (lotta faith in that chef's skill), but certainly nothing pleasant to note.

That's pretty much the point I heard about in physiology. The toxin causes local paralysis, apparently a feeling similar to lidocaine. If you know you've overdosed, it's not a huge deal, they just put you on a ventilator until you metabolize the toxin. But if you go to bed assuming you haven't eaten too much, and it catches up with you, you're screwed.

Frankly, if I want numb lips, I'd rather just coat them with benzocaine gel....