Animal Species:Black-spotted Porcupinefish, Diodon hystrix (Linnaeus, 1758)
The Black-spotted Porcupinefish is a tropical species that has black spots on the head, body and fins. It is usually found on coral and rocky reefs.
A Black-spotted Porcupinefish at North Solitary Island
Ian Shaw
© Ian Shaw
Identification
The Black-spotted Porcupinefish has stout spines on the head and body. It is greenish to grey-brown above and paler below. The head, body and fins are covered with fine black spots.
Size range
The species grows to at least 70 cm in length.
Similar Species
Distribution
It occurs in tropical marine waters worldwide.
In Australia it is known from off north-western Western Australia and the northern Great Barrier Reef to northern New South Wales.
Distribution by collection data
Biomaps map of Black-spotted Porcupinefish specimens in the Australian Museum collection.
Habitat
The species is usually found on coral and rocky reefs.
Classification
- Species:
- hystrix
- Genus:
- Diodon
- Family:
- Diodontidae
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
Mark McGrouther
, Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:
Tags fish, ichthyology, Black-spotted Porcupinefish, Diodon hystrix, coral, rocky, reefs,
