Spotted porcupinefish

Diodon hystrix

The spot-fin porcupinefish, also known as spotted porcupinefish, black-spotted porcupinefish or simply porcupinefish, is a member of the family Diodontidae.
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Appearance

The spot-fin porcupinefish is a medium sized fish which grows up to 91 cm, but the average size mostly observed is 40 cm.
Its body is elongated with a spherical head with big round protruding eyes, a large mouth rarely closed.
The pectoral fins are large, the pelvic fins are absent, the anal and dorsal fins are close to the caudal peduncle. The latter move simultaneously during swimming.
The skin is smooth and firm, the scales are modified into spines.
The body coloration is beige to sandy-yellow marbled with dark blotches and dotted with numerous small black spots.

In case of danger, the porcupinefish can inflate itself by swallowing water to deter the potential predator with its larger volume and it can raise its spines.

The porcupinefish concentrates a poison, called tetrodotoxin, in certain parts of its body such as the liver, skin, gonads and the viscera. Tetrodotoxin is a powerful neurotoxin. This defensive system constitutes an additional device to dissuade the potential predators.
Porcupinefish The porcupinefish has a greenish-brown back and a white underside. It has small dark spots which cover its body and fins. Its distinctive spines are usually held flat to its body. However, when disturbed it is capable of inflating its body to stick out the spines for protection. Porcupinefish can grow to a maximum length of 3 feet, although they are usually found to be 1 to 2 feet. They are found mostly near cave openings and recesses in coral reefs to depths between 6 and 80 feet. Barbados,Diodon hystrix,Fall,Geotagged,porcupinefish,spot-fin porcupinefish,spotted porcupinefish

Distribution

The porcupinefish is found in all the tropical and subtropical waters of the world even the Mediterranean Sea.

Juveniles are pelagic up to the time that they are about 20 cm in length. Adults favour lagoons, top reefs and seaward coral or rocky reefs from one to 50 m depth, sheltering under ledges or in caves during the day.
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Behavior

This fish is solitary, except during mating periods, it has a nocturnal activity with a maximal activity at sunset and sunrise.
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Habitat

The porcupinefish is found in all the tropical and subtropical waters of the world even the Mediterranean Sea.

Juveniles are pelagic up to the time that they are about 20 cm in length. Adults favour lagoons, top reefs and seaward coral or rocky reefs from one to 50 m depth, sheltering under ledges or in caves during the day.
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Food

The porcupinefish's diet is based on Sea urchins, gastropods and crustaceans.

References:

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