Charles Darwin wrote something about puffers...

[Namwuob]

Dear all,

Does somebody have an idea what kind of red fibrous matter Darwin saw from a Diodon, which I belive is now Chilomycterus antennatus. He mentioned it in 'The Voyage of the Beagle'.

I'm a diver, and doing some research for my blog. I couldn't find anything similar mentioned anywhere. On Facebook I didn't get any answers, so I thought maybe here somebody saw that?

I mean it was Darwin, wouldn't he have said it's blood, or algae, parasites if it was?

Thanks!

[Pufferpunk]

I am not aware of any "tint| that would emit from any part of a puffer.

[Corvus]

Have also never seen something like that when handling various Diodontids dead and alive including species from the Atlantic.

[Namwuob]

Thanks for the answers! Could you think of any parasite or algae that appears as red fibrous matter? Are puffed puffers likely to bleed when handled?