Kingdom : Animalia Class : Actinopterygii Family : Tetraodontidae Scientific Name : Tetraodontidae Size(L) : 17cm - 60cm (7in - 24in) Water Type : Fresh, Brakish, Salt Optimum pH Level : 5.7 - 6.4 Life Span : 4 - 8 years Colour : Grey, Yellow, Blue, White, Brown Skin Type : Scales Distinctive Features : Inflatable body and sharp poisonous spikes
- Puffer fish are medium-sized fish found in the warm coastal water worldwide.
- There are around 120 species of puffer fish in the world.
- After the golden poison frog, puffer fish are the second most poisonous creature on earth.
- They are most famous for their distinctive defense mechanism.
- When under threat they expand their body very quickly to a remarkable size, exposing the long, poisonous spikes covering their body.
- The venom on their spikes is extremely toxic to animals and humans.
- Despite this if an animal manages to eat the puffer fish, it is likely to die.
- As the puffer fish releases toxins to harm its predator, just before dying.
- That being said, not all the species of puffer fish are poisonous.
- The non-toxic species are preyed upon by sharks, larger fish and also humans.
- In certain places in Japan, the non-toxic puffer fish are a delicacy and specially trained chef cut them so as to not harm the consumers.
- Depending on the species, they vary in size from being 17cm to 60cm long.
- The dwarf puffer fish/the pygmy puffer/the pea puffer fish is the smallest puffer fish species growing to be only an inch long.
- They are also known for their distinctive breeding methods with the male guiding the female to the shore to lay eggs.
- The eggs float on water surface and hatch after a week, leaving the underdeveloped fry, in the water.
- The puffer fish fries have a hard shell protecting them, till their limbs, tail and fin grow out.
- Once they are big and grown up enough, they join their community in the reefs below.