tetrodotoxin

2 9.9

A very strong poison in pufferfish and some newts that blocks nerve signals

noun
/ˌtɛtrədoʊˈtɒksɪn/

Specialized

: tetrodotoxina

Tetrodotoxin (TTX), found in the skin of newts and other animals and possibly obtained by them from environmental sources, is an extremely poisonous substance that also binds to sodium channels.
tetrodotoxin (TTX)

It's from other animals that have tetrodotoxin laden bacteria in them.

Examples

She was poisoned with tetrodotoxin after eating a toxic pufferfish.
The eastern newt produces tetrodotoxin, making it unappealing to fish that might otherwise eat it.
This tetrodotoxin... should be nicely into your system by now.

Law Abiding Citizen (2009)
It's from other animals that have tetrodotoxin laden bacteria in them.

Tom Scott
And the puffer fish, which produces one of nature's most powerful poisons... tetrodotoxin.

The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)
The lab detected trace levels of tetrodotoxin in his blood, indicating a serious health risk.

Synonyms

neurotoxin

vstetrodotoxin

Specialized

9 7.8

A poison that damages nerves and can stop movement

is a specific highly potent example that blocks nerve signals in animals

How Toxic

tetrodotoxin

Specialized

2 9.9

neurotoxin

Specialized

9 7.8

toxin

Specialized

140 5.3

Surface Forms

tetrodotoxin singular

tetrodotoxins plural

Morphology

tetrodotoxin = Tetraodon + toxin (semi-transparent) = tetraodon + toxin

The -toxin element clearly signals a poisonous substance, but the first element is an obscure genus/combining form referring to pufferfish, so the full referent is not fully guessable for average learners.

Etymology

Tetrodotoxin comes from the pufferfish name Tetraodon, which breaks into the parts tetra 'four' and odon 'tooth', plus toxin 'poison'. So it means the 'poison of the four-toothed fish', and that fits because it is a powerful poison that blocks nerve signals.