Colours

Distinguishing features

A medium sized fish with large eyes, and a brown body covered with small white spots and pale stripes on the belly. It swims slowly using the dorsal and anal fins.

Size

Depth range

Synonyms

Distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

Reef fronts, flats, and sheltered lagoonal and backreef habitats.

Can be found in most locations around the island.

Behaviour

It feeds on a wide range of prey, such as worms, algae, molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms. The puffers have exceptionally strong, chisel like teeth which they use to render the reef in search of food. They are usually seen singly, moving slowly over the reef or resting in a hollow. There is little published information on their ecology, although they are well known for the poison (tetrodotoxin) contained in their skin and internal organs, which has caused many human fatalities.

Web resources

Danger

References