ANIMAL SPECIES:Smooth Golden Pufferfish, Lagocephalus inermis (Temminck & Schlegel, 1847)
The Smooth Golden Pufferfish is rounded in cross-section. It has a smooth body with a patch of low spines from the chin to the anus. The two teeth in both jaws form a powerful beak.
Identification
The Smooth Golden Pufferfish is rounded in cross-section. It has a smooth body with a patch of low spines from the chin to the anus. The two teeth in both jaws form a powerful beak.
The body and head are green-brown above, yellow-silver on the sides and white below. The pectoral fin is bright yellow and the anal fin is white.
Six species of Lagocephalus are recorded from Australian waters.
Size range
The species grows to 30 cm in length.Distribution
The species occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific.
In Australia it is known from coastal waters of north-western Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country, and south to the southern coast of New South Wales.
Classification
- Species:
- inermis
- Genus:
- Lagocephalus
- 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.
- Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of Northwestern Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
- Gloerfelt-Tarp, T. & P.J. Kailola. 1984. Trawled Fishes of southern Indonesia and northwestern Australia. Jakarta: Directorate General of Fisheries (Indonesia), German Agency for Technical Cooperation, Australian Development Assistance Bureau. Pp. 406.
- Sainsbury, K.J., Kailola, P.J., & G.G. Leyland. 1985. Continental Shelf Fishes of northern and northwestern Australia. An illustrated Guide. CSIRO Division of Fisheries Research. Pp. 375.
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Christopher Power
© Christopher Power
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28 Jun 08
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