ANIMAL SPECIES:Spotfin Porcupinefish, Chilomycterus reticulatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
The Spotfin Porcupinefish is grey above and white below. It has dark spots on the body and fins. There are short immovable spines on the head and body. The species has a dark bar below the eye and another at the rear of the head. There may be a faint bar in the pectoral region and another before the dorsal fin.
Identification
The Spotfin Porcupinefish is grey above and white below. It has dark spots on the body and fins. There are short immovable spines on the head and body.
The species has a dark bar below the eye and another at the rear of the head. There may be a faint bar in the pectoral region and another before the dorsal fin.
Size range
The Spotfin Porcupinefish grows to 75 cm in length.Similar Species
The Spotfin Porcupinefish looks similar to the Three-bar Porcupinefish. The latter species lacks spots on the fins and has more spines on the head and body. It occurs in more southern waters on Australia's east coast.Distribution
It has a patchy distribution in tropical and subtropical marine waters worldwide.
In Australia it is known from north-western Western Australia and northern Queensland to northern New South Wales. It has also been recorded from Lord Howe Island. The fish in the upper images were well south of their recorded distribution.
Habitat
Young fish up to 20 cm in length are pelagic. Adults live on rocky reefs, coral reefs and soft bottoms in depths down to 100 m.
Behaviour and adaptations
Feeding and Diet
It feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates.
Classification
- Species:
- reticulatus
- Genus:
- Chilomycterus
- 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.
- Leis, J.M. Diodontidae. Porcupinefishes (burrfishes). in Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem (Eds). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 6. Bony Fishes part 4 (Labridae to Latimeriidae), estuarine crocodiles, sea turtles, sea snakes and marine mammals. FAO, Rome. Pp. iii-v, 3381-4218.
- 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.
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Spotfin Porcupinefish, Chilomycterus reticulatus - dorsal surface View full size
Craig Worthington
© Craig Worthington
A juvenile Spotfin Porcupinefish, Chilomycterus reticulatus View full size
Craig Worthington
© Craig Worthington
An inflated Spotfin Porcupinefish, Chilomycterus reticulatus View full size
Craig Worthington
© Craig Worthington
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