Animal Species:Lantern Toby, Canthigaster epilampra (Jenkins, 1903)

The Lantern Toby can be recognised by its colouration. It is whitish with numerous small blue spots. In Australia it is known from the northern Great Barrier Reef.

Lantern Toby at Bougainville Reef

Lantern Toby at Bougainville Reef
Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Alternative Name/s

Bluespotted Toby, Grey-top Puffer

Identification

The Lantern Toby can be recognised by its colouration. It is whitish with numerous small blue spots. The snout is yellow with blue lines and spots, and blue lines radiate from the eye. There is a black spot at the base of the dorsal fin. A yellow spot is usually present above the pectoral fin.

Size range

The species grows to 11 cm in length.

Distribution

It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Eastern Indian Ocean to the Central Pacific. In Australia it is known from the northern Great Barrier Reef.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Canthigaster epilampra

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Lantern Toby specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:
epilampra
Genus:
Canthigaster
Family:
Tetraodontidae
Order:
Tetraodontiformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  3. 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 Fishes, Ichthyology, Lantern Toby, Canthigaster epilampra, Tetraaodontidae, grey, brown, blue, yellow, 'normal fish', 10 cm - 30 cm, dots/spots, coral reef, marine, adult,