False-eye Puffer, Canthigaster papua (Bleeker, 1848)

Scientific name: Canthigaster papua
Alternative name/s:
Sharpnosed Puffer, Solander's Toby, or Blue-spotted Toby.
  • Updated
    12/03/21
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Canthigaster papua Click to enlarge image
A False-eye Puffer at a depth of 12m, Ribbon Reef # 10, Great Barrier Reef off Cooktown, Queensland, December 2001. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Canthigaster
    Species
    papua
    Family
    Tetraodontidae
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 9 cm in length.

Introduction

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.

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.

Canthigaster papua

Lateral view of a False-eye Puffer at a depth of 12m, Ribbon Reef #10, Great Barrier Reef off Cooktown, Queensland, December 2001.

Image: E. Schlögl
© E. Schlögl

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.

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.

References

  1. 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.
  2. Randall. 1977. Review of the Sharpnose Pufferfishes (Subfamily Canthigasterinae) of the Indo-Pacific. Records of the Australian Museum. 30(17): 475-517.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  4. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.