Map Puffer

Arothron mappa

Bislamabalongfis · nilfis— names this kind of animal, not this species alone

rarewhitebrownlinedpoisonoussolitarylargereef

Habitat: Reef
Max size: 65 cm
Depth: 4-30 m
Family: Tetraodontidae

The map puffer, also known as the map pufferfish, scribbled pufferfish, or Kesho-fugu, is a demersal marine fish belonging to the family Tetraodontidae. The map puffer is typically found in tropical and subtropical waters from the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific Ocean. This fish contains tetrodotoxin, a potent and deadly chemical compound used to ward off predators. Despite being highly poisonous, the map puffer can be found both in the aquarium trade and certain food markets.

Adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Side by side, with what tells them apart.

Both are pale puffers covered in dark lines. Map Puffer's lines form a dense maze of broken lines that radiate out from the eye, and it grows to 65 cm. Narrow-lined Puffer's lines run straight along the body from head to tail, it has a black blotch at the base of the pectoral fin and a black-edged tail, and it stays around 30 cm.

See the Narrow-lined Puffer →

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