Porcupinefish
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| Porcupinefish, also commonly called blowfish (and, sometimes, balloonfish and globefish) are sometimes collectively (but erroneously) called pufferfish, not to be confused with the morphologically similar and closely related Tetraodontidae, who are more commonly given this name. Porcupinefish are medium to large sized fish, and are found in shallow temperate and tropical seas worldwide. They have the ability to inflate their body by swallowing water or air, thereby becoming rounder. This increase in size (almost double vertically) reduces the range of potential predators to those with much bigger mouths. A second defense mechanism is provided by the sharp spines, which radiate outwards when the fish is inflated. Some species are poisonous, having a tetrodotoxin in their internal organs, such as the ovaries and liver.
For more information, visit the Wikipedia entry. Get back to Tetraodontiformes | |
| Long-spine porcupinefish | Slender-spined porcupine fish |
