Found on coral reefs, it has a speckled appearance with white spots on a maroon-coloured background. If eaten, the poison in the crab will cause diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, difficulty in breathing and convulsions. Death may result. No antidote exists for the poison. Shellfish Mussels and clams may be infected with poison from blooming toxic plankton known as red tide.
Shellfish eat the toxic plankton and accumulate the poison in their gills.
When eaten, the poison affects the nervous system. The victim feels a tingling and numbness of the mouth, face and extremities. These symptoms may be followed by vomiting, dizziness, a sensation of lightness, and difficulty in swallowing and speech. Respiratory failure may lead to death. No antidote has been found for the toxin.