Blotched porcupinefish on a coral reef in the Maldives
The black-blotched porcupinefish (Diodon liturosus), also known as shortspine porcupinefish, is a member of the family Diodontidae. It is found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific on coral and rocky reefs and in inshore waters. Other names are the blotched porcupinefish and the brown-backed porcupinefish. The Black-blotched porcupinefish is a medium sized fish which grows up to 65 cm (26 in), but the average size most likely to be observed is 45 cm (18 in). Its body is elongated with a spherical head with big round protruding eyes and a large mouth that is rarely closed. In case of danger, the porcupinefish can inflate itself by swallowing water to deter the potential predator with its larger volume and it can raise its spines defensively. The porcupinefish concentrates a poison, called tetrodotoxin, in certain parts of its body such as the liver, skin, gonads and the viscera. Tetrodotoxin is a powerful neurotoxin. This defensive system constitutes an additional device to dissuade the potential predators. The Black-blotched porcupinefish is found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific area from eastern coasts of Africa to Japan, the Society Islands and Western Australia, and also the southeast of the Atlantic Ocean on the coast of South Africa. Adults favour lagoons, top reefs and seaward coral or rocky reefs. The porcupinefish's diet is based on Sea urchins, gastropods and crustaceans and it is mainly nocturnal
Size: 3648px × 2736px
Location: Cocoa Island Makunufushi South Malé Atoll Republic of Maldives
Photo credit: © Niall Ferguson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: blotched, coral, diodon, fish, indian, kashi, koli, liturosus, maldives, marine, ocean, porcupinefish, reef, tropical, undersea, underwater, wildlife
