Blackspotted Pufferfish, Arothron nigropunctatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
Scientific name: Arothron nigropunctatus
Click to enlarge image
A Blackspotted Pufferfish at a depth of 11 m, "Pixie Gardens", Ribbon Reef #9, Great Barrier Reef, off Cooktown, Queensland, June 2002.
Image: E. Schlögl
© E. Schlögl
© E. Schlögl
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Arothron
- Species
- nigropunctatus
- Family
- Tetraodontidae
- Order
- Tetraodontiformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- The species grows to 25 cm in length.
The Blackspotted Pufferfish occurs on coral reefs feeding off the live coral.
Identification
The Blackspotted Pufferfish can be recognised by its colouration. It is grey to brown above and white to yellow below. There are irregular black spots on the body and a pale band across the snout.
Habitat
The species occurs on coral reefs.
Distribution
The Blackspotted Pufferfish occurs in the Indo-Pacific region.
In Australia it is known from the offshore reefs of north-western Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country, and south to the central coast of 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.
Feeding and diet
It eats mainly live corals.
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 North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
- 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.
- Randall, J.E. 2005. Reef and Shore Fishes of the South Pacific: New Caledonia to Tahiti and the Pitcairn Islands. University of Hawai’i Press. Pp. 584.
