ANIMAL SPECIES:False-eye Puffer, Canthigaster papua (Bleeker, 1848)
The False-eye Puffer get's it's name from the black spot at the base of the dorsal fin which looks like an eye.
Alternative Names/s
Sharpnosed Puffer, Solander's Toby, or Blue-spotted Toby.Identification
The False-eye Puffer can be recognised by its colouration. It is brown to orange with numerous small blue-green spots on the body and caudal fin. Black-edged blue-green lines radiate from the eye and a black spot is present below the dorsal fin.
Size range
The species grows to 9 cm in length.Distribution
It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Western Pacific.
In Australia it is known from the offshore reefs of north-western Western Australia and from the northern Great Barrier Reef.
Distribution by collection data
Biomaps map of False-eye Puffer specimens in the Australian Museum collection.
Classification
- Species:
- papua
- Genus:
- Canthigaster
- Family:
- Tetraodontidae
- 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. (as Canthigaster solandri) Allen, G.R. & J.E.
- Randall. 1977. Review of the Sharpnose Pufferfishes (Subfamily Canthigasterinae) of the Indo-Pacific. Records of the Australian Museum. 30(17): 475-517.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
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A False-eye Puffer at Ribbon Reef. View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
Lateral view of a False-eye Puffer. View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
Dorsal view of a False-eye Puffer. View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
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