|
|
Both families have similar defense strategies and similar techniques. Puffers have bristly skin and porcupinefish are covered with sharp spines. Both can expand their bodies by swallowing water to discourage attack, to make them appear larger or too large to swallow. Both are also poisonous. Some species with limited abilities to inflate will secrete a toxin from their skin that will make them unpalatable to predators. More importantly, most of these fishes accumulate a poison on their tissues called tetrodotoxin that is even deadly to humans. Puffers have short, chunky bodies without scales and pelvic fins similar to their relatives, the boxfishes. They are slow, weak swimmers but they roam freely over the reef. They have sharp beaks and powerful jaws that can remove a diver's finger. Porcupinefish This species has a large head and large eyes that completely overwhelm the rest of its body. The entire body is covered with black dots and with spines that usually lie flat. It can regularly be found hovering above the reef in midwater. It is also found resting under a ledge during the day. This is the largest of the porcupine fishes at 28". Spiny Porcupinefish This species also rests under ledges by day. It is light tan, marked with several large blotches and bars on its back and sides. It has very long spines on top of the head that are usually lying flat. This helps distinguish it from Diodon hystrix. Spotted Pufferfish This fish is also called the Guineafowl Pufferfish and the Velcro Fish, in reference to its bristly skin that feels like Velcro, especially when it is inflated. It has a chunky, dark brown or black body covered with numerous little white so\pots. It is common among coral, on which it feeds. |
 |
This 
