Re: Lukot - Marine Spaghetti from the Philippines

August 3, 2006
From: Richard Parker

Concerning message #17296:

Many thanks, Bill for this answer, which has relieved me somewhat - I thought it was a much more basic secretion than that.

But that has led to another speculation:
Apparently the colour of the eggs can change according to the type of algae the sea hare has eaten recently, and can also contain toxins derived from the algae, so I'll be checking the colour is ok before I eat any more of it, and hoping the local harvesters do the same.

Filipinos eat such sea food raw, as 'kinilaw' which is 'cooked' in vinegar, and sliced onions, ginger and chili are added.
see: http://www.coconutstudio.com/kinilaw_art.htm

Could the vinegar or spices de-nature some of the toxins that such foods could contain? I note that it's also recommended as a remedy for jellyfish stings. If so, then it's a very good example of the kind of 'folk wisdom' that's fast getting forgotten.

regards
Richard Parker

richardparker01@yahoo.com

Parker, R., 2006 (Aug 3) Re: Lukot - Marine Spaghetti from the Philippines. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17301

Dear Richard,
It certainly seems that the colour of the eggs that a sea hare produces can change within 48 hours of a change in algal diet. However there is good evidence to show that secondary metabolites present in the algae [which include the distasteful, and/or noxious chemicals], are NOT transferred to the egg masses by the sea hares. This leaves the puzzle of why Sea Hare eggs are seldom, if ever, eaten by other animals. Laboratory experiments with fish and crabs show quite clearly that they reject the eggs as food. Whatever deters them doesn't seem to come from the algae, so there doesn't seem to be much point in checking the egg colour before you eat them.

Concerning the efficacy of vinegar as a home remedy for toxins and stings. All I am willing to say is that I live in Sydney where every year surfers and swimmers are regularly stung by bluebottles - the local name for Physalia - and other unidentified stingers. And every year there is a debate over whether vinegar, methylated spirits, ice, hot water, rubbing sand or even soluble aspirin on the affected skin, etc is the best cure for these stings. All I can say is the pain goes away eventually, even though new 'experts' with 'new cures' never do.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Aug 3). Comment on Re: Lukot - Marine Spaghetti from the Philippines by Richard Parker. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17301

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