Resistance and vulnerability of crustaceans to cytolytic sea anemone toxins.

Crustaceans (Mithraculus, Neopetrolisthes, Periclimenes, Stenorhynchus sp.) living in association with sea anemones, shore crabs (Metopograpsus oceanicus) and brine shrimps (Artemia salina) were found to be resistent to the exposure of cytolytic sea anemone toxins (up to 100 micrograms/ml) and to other membrane-active compounds such as gramicidin A and saponin. The gill filaments of the crustaceans were not affected, indicating that the chitin layer protects the epithelium from the action of the cytolytic toxins. However, crustaceans are highly susceptible to sea anemone toxins when injected parenterally.