It is well known that tetrodotoxin (TTX) and paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) are the two most toxic marine toxins as Na(superscript +) -channel inhibiting neurotoxins. Recently, several cases of food poisoning due to ingesting the marine animals were reported in Taiwan. The causative agent in these food poisoning cases was found to be TTX or PSP. In this connection, 24 species of puffer collected in Taiwan were examined for toxicity and toxic components. It was found that the toxicity of puffer collected in Taiwan was quite different from that of others reported. All the toxins obtained from several toxic puffer species showed to be TTX, anhydrotetrodotoxin (anh-TTX) and 4-epi-TTX. Some products manufactured from puffer also showed mild toxicity. Further, marine and freshwater mollusk had higher susceptibility to TTX and PSP than did fish and crustacea. Meanwhile, several species of the gastropod mollusk Naticidae (moon shells), Nassariidae and Muricidae were found to contain TTX and anh-TTX. There was no relationship between the toxicity and the count of each bacteria genus or the total viable count in the moon shell.