Blackspotted puffer

Biology

Very common in coral reefs, the blackspotted puffer can be found in a wide range of colours, from yellow to grey, as well as with black spots. Under threat, it swallows water until its body swells in an attempt to scare predators away and make capture more difficult. It eats coral, crustaceans, shellfish and seaweed.

Conservation

Since coral reefs are its home, the main threat to this fish is habitat loss.

Curiosities

In Japan, blackspotted puffer is a delicacy called fugu. However, it must be carefully prepared by expert cooks since it contains a powerful poison, tetrodotoxin.