# @science on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DE0ZKPoM7tl
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/61248116-science-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/f85f47fa43.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-01-14T20:03:41.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Science 🧬 (@science) — https://gondola.cc/science

## Caption

Sea lions attack a puffer fish! 🐡⁠
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But why?⁠
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Scientists report mammals can get “high” from chewing pufferfish! When threatened, puffers release a chemical called tetrodotoxin which alters the sea lions’ behavior after they consume it. The tetrodotoxin is a serious chemical that can be more deadly than cyanide if humans ingest it!⁠
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At Los Islotes in La Paz, @matthewunderwater witnessed a behavior unlike anything I have ever seen. We watched for 30 minutes in horror as the sea lions hunted the black guineafowl pufferfish, pulled it up to the surface like a balloon, and let it escape back to the rocks at the bottom only to repeat the process of torturing the fish.⁠
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📹️ courtesy of: @matthewunderwater⁠
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#sealions #pufferfish #underwater #marinelife #science #marinebiology #biology

## Stats

- **Views:** 129,989
- **Likes:** 3,411
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 57

## Tags

pufferfish, science, sealions, marinelife, biology, underwater, marinebiology

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