Tetrodotoxin and derivatives in several species of the gastropod Naticidae.

The organs of 195 specimens of 4 species of the gastropod Naticidae, collected from fish markets in Taiwan, were assayed for toxicity. The calf moon shell Natica vitellus contained weak toxicity (10-99 MU/g) in the muscle and digestive gland. The bladder moon shell Polinices didyma contained moderate (100-999 MU/g) and weak toxicity in the muscle and digestive gland, respectively. The digestive gland in 1 out of 20 specimens of the pear-shaped moon shell P. tumidus was toxic (4 MU/g). All tissues of the butterfly moon shell N. alapapilionis were non-toxic. The toxins were partially purified from the toxic specimens of the calf moon shell and the bladder moon shell, and identified to be tetrodotoxin and anhydrotetrodotoxin.