Ciguatera in the Canaries

The origin of ciguatera in Canary Islands, as in other parts of the world, are benthic dinoflagellates of the genus Gambierdiscus. It is well documented the presence of these microalgae in Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and Gran Canaria (Fraga et al 2011; Fraga and Rodríguez, 2014) but not their temporal and spatial distribution throughout the archipelago. This genus was recently reported in Madeira Is. (Kauffaman and Böhm-Beck, 2013) and cases of ciguatera in the Savage Islands, between Madeira and Tenerife, were recorded. In the African coast, it was found Gambierdiscus off the coast of Morocco and also in Cape Verde Islands (Silva, 1956; Ennaffah and Chaira, 2014). The source itself for ciguatera in Canaries (local or neighbour areas in Macaronesia), remains to be discovered and there could exist several vectors.

There are no scientific evidences yet about origins and vectors of ciguatera illness transmission in the Canaries. Some technical reports elaborated in the region suggested a number of species that may act as potential vectors based on their eating habits (herbivores or omnivores). These species would accumulate toxins in their diet and transmit them to their predators (amberjack, grouper, abbots, barracuda, wahoo, etc.).

Some of these potential vectors for ciguatera could be the following:

BOGUE (Boops boops)

Author: Pontes, M. (FISHBASE)

Habitat: Pelagic or benthopelagic, over all seabed habitats, from the surface to 250 m depth; juveniles are observed sometimes in large tidal pools.

Biology: Form numerous shoals that in coastal waters usually concentrate mainly in the vicinity of veriles and lows. They initially consume zooplankton, but also other omnivorous species of benthic invertebrates, algae (mainly in adults) and fish eggs.

SADDLED SEABREAM (Oblada melanura)

Author: Veiga, P. (FISHBASE)

Habitat: benthopelagic, all seabeds, from the shore to 35 m depth, usually swimming in midwaters.

Biology: usually forming schools, sometimes very numerous. It is an omnivorous species that feeds both on planktonic invertebrates and other fish spawning like small fish (gueldes), benthic invertebrates and algae.

BLACK SEABREAM (Spondyliosoma cantharus)

Author: Patzner, R. (FISHBASE)

Habitat: demersal, from shore to 250 m depth, on rocky, rocky-sandy bottoms (also in sebadales or patches).

Biology: usually forming schools. Omnivorous diet that includes small invertebrates and algae.

SALEMA (Sarpa salpa)

Author: Patzner, R. (FISHBASE)

Habitat: Demersal coastal habitats, from shore to 50 m depth, on rocky, rocky-sandy bottoms (also in sebadales or patches) covered by seaweeds.

Biology: gregarious, can form very numerous shoals. The adult specimens are almost exclusively herbivorous.

CANARY DAMSEL (Abudefduf luridus)

Author: Patzner, R. (FISHBASE)

Habitat: demersal, on rocky, rocky-sandy bottom, from the shore (including large tidal pools) up to 50 m depth.

Biology: gregarious, although strictly speaking they do not form shoals. It is usually found on the seabed or a few meters above it. The diet is omnivorous but with a high degree of herbivory, mainly eating seaweed and small invertebrates associated to them.

PARROTFISH (Sparisoma cretense)

Author: Minguell, C. (FISHBASE)

Habitat: demersal, rocky, rocky-sandy bottom, from the shore to 100 m depth, but mainly above 50 m; youth are also in Sebadales or patches.

Biology: They have a great tendency to form schools of numerous examples (“jets”), especially during the summer, but can also be found alone or in pairs. With its powerful teeth torn pieces of turf and calcareous algae, along with invertebrates that are in them, they are their main food.

BERMUDA SEA CHUB (Kyphosus sectatrix)

Author: Minguell, C. (FISHBASE)

Habitat: benthopelagic, rocky, rocky-sandy bottom, from breaking areas up to 50 m depth. It can be found in oceanic waters under floating objects.

Biology: gregarious, it develops many schools, especially in very steep seabeds. It is basically a herbivorous species, but also consumes small crustaceans and mollusks.

ORNATE WRASSE (Thalassoma pavo)

Author: Patzner, R. (FISHBASE)

Habitat: Demersal rocky, rocky-sandy bottoms from the intertidal pools up to 250 m depth; especially abundant in shallow waters covered by algae.

Biology: It prefers shoals with numerous individuals and feeds on various benthic microinvertebrates (mollusks, crustaceans, polychaetes, etc.).

WHITE TREVALLY (Pseudocaranx dentex)

Author: Carvalho Filho, A. (FISHBASE)

Habitat: Benthopelagic coastline, over rocky, rocky-sandy bottoms, from shore to 100 m deep.

Biology: Although it may be found alone or in small groups, shows a tendency to form schools of numerous copies. Often actively swimmer a few meters above the bottom, reaching close to the surface, but it is not uncommon to see large specimens in the shelter of caves and ledges. The diet is based almost exclusively on benthic invertebrates, which get rummaging over the seafloor (Falcón et al. 2009).