Scribbled Puffer, Arothron mappa (Linnaeus, 1758)

Scientific name: Arothron mappa
Alternative name/s:
Map Puffer, Map Toado, Scribbled Pufferfish
Map Pufferfish, <i>Arothron mappa</i> Click to enlarge image
A Map Pufferfish photographed at night at Tufi home reef, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea, April 2010. Image: Steve Dreezer
© Steve Dreezer

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Arothron
    Species
    mappa
    Family
    Tetraodontidae
    Order
    Tetraodontiformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    It grows to 60 cm in length.

Introduction

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.

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.

Scribbled Puffer
Scribbled Puffer, Arothron mappa, at North Solitary Island
Map Pufferfish, Arothron mappa

Habitat

The Scribbled Puffer lives on coral reefs.

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.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. 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.
  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.