Animal Profiles
Fish

Pufferfish

Tetraodontidae

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Pufferfishes include many marine and freshwater species. This account follows the white-spotted puffer, a reef-associated fish with a rounded body and a varied diet of algae and small animals.

White-spotted puffer (Arothron hispidus), the representative described here.

White-spotted puffer (Arothron hispidus), the representative described here.

Albert kok · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
Arothron hispidus is the representative described here. It occupies Indo-Pacific and eastern Pacific coastal habitats, including reef slopes, lagoons and estuaries. Young fish can use weedy sheltered areas.
Habitat
Coral reef, Coast
Diet
Omnivore
Food
Algae, detritus and numerous invertebrates enter the diet.

Classification

Common name
Pufferfish
Browse group
Fish
Scientific name or taxon
Tetraodontidae
Taxon rank
family
Order
Tetraodontiformes
Family
Tetraodontidae
Source classification
Actinopterygii

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • Its body carries white spots.
  • It eats algae and invertebrates.
  • Adults commonly occur alone.

Habitat and range

Arothron hispidus is the representative described here. It occupies Indo-Pacific and eastern Pacific coastal habitats, including reef slopes, lagoons and estuaries. Young fish can use weedy sheltered areas.

Appearance and adaptations

White spots cover the darker upper body and tail, while pale bars mark the belly. The body has small spines rather than the conspicuously long spines of porcupinefishes.

Diet and behaviour

Algae, detritus and numerous invertebrates enter the diet. Fish are usually solitary and can defend areas of sandy or rubble habitat. This account does not imply that all puffers share the same diet.

Sources

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