Ventilation rates in three prey fish species treated with venom of the olive sea snake, Aipysurus laevis

Abstract

1. Three prey species of fish ( Chromis nitida, Dascyllus aruanus and Istiblennius meleagris) were envenomated with Aipysurus laevis venom at three dose levels. 2. Controls and low venom dosage groups maintained relatively constant ventilation rates with minimal differences among these three groups. 3. Medium and high venom dosage groups exhibited ventilation rates elevated above control levels. 4. There was an initial increase in ventilation rate resulting from handling, a more marked increase when envenomation was moderate or severe, followed by a gradual decline toward control levels in moderate envenomation (and in one severe envenomation) but rapid decline to death in most severe envenomations.