Animal Species:Scribbled Puffer, Arothron mappa (Linnaeus, 1758)
The Scribbled Puffer lives on coral reefs. The gill opening and pectoral fin base are both surrounded by a large black botch and black lines radiate from the eye.
Alternative Name/s
Map Puffer, Map Toado, Scribbled Pufferfish
Identification
The species is yellowish-grey dorsally, white ventrally and covered with an intricate pattern of dark lines. The gill opening and pectoral fin base are both surrounded by a large black botch and black lines radiate from the eye.
Size range
It grows to 60 cm in length.
Distribution
It has an Indo-West Pacific distribution. In Australia it is known from north-western Western Australia and from the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland to northern New South Wales.
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.
Distribution by collection data
Ozcam map of Scribbled Puffer Puffer specimens in the Australian Museum.
Habitat
The Scribbled Puffer lives on coral reefs.
Classification
- Species:
- mappa
- Genus:
- Arothron
- Family:
- Tetraodontidae
- Order:
- Tetraodontiformes
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Mark McGrouther
, Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:
Tags fishes, ichthyology, Arothron, mappa, Map, Pufferfish, Scribbled Puffer, yellow, grey, black, brown, odd-shaped, round, 30 cm - 1 m, dots/spots, complex pattern, coral reef, marine, adult,
