Arothron meleagris
Whitespotted Pufferfish
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Actinopterygii
Order
Tetraodontiformes
Family
Tetraodontidae
Genus
Arothron
Species
Arothron meleagris
Distinguishing features
The body is covered with prickles.
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 11 - 13. (Fishbase)
Size
- Up to 50 cm (Total Length)
Depth range
- From 1 m to 73 m
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
In the indo-pacific, it is found in East Africa south to Durban, South Africa and east to the Panama, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to Lord Howe and Easter islands. In the Eastern Pacific it is found in Guaymas, and from Mexico to Ecuador.
It occurs in coral-rich areas of clear lagoon and seaward reefs. It prefers oceanic localities. (Fishbase)
Diet
It feeds mainly on tips of branching corals and to a lesser extent on sponges, mollusks, bryozoans, tunicates, forams, algae, and detritus. (Fishbase)
